Insights from citizen science reveal priority areas for conserving biodiversity in Bangladesh

Shawan Chowdhury; Richard A Fuller; Md Rokonuzzaman; Shofiul Alam; Priyanka Das; Asma Siddika; Sultan  Ahmed; Mahzabin Muzahid Labi; Sayam U Chowdhury; Sharif A Mukul; Monika Böhm; Jeffrey O Hanson

doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2023.08.025

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Insights from citizen science reveal priority areas for conserving biodiversity in Bangladesh

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Insights from citizen science reveal priority areas for conserving biodiversity in Bangladesh

Shawan Chowdhury, Richard A Fuller, Md Rokonuzzaman, Shofiul Alam, Priyanka Das, Asma Siddika, Sultan Ahmed, Mahzabin Muzahid Labi, Sayam U Chowdhury, Sharif A Mukul, …

One Earth, Vol.6, pp.1315-1325

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.08.025

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Abstract

The tropics contain a vast majority of species, yet our understanding of tropical biodiversity is limited. Here we combine species locality data from scientific databases and social media to examine the coverage of species by existing protected areas in Bangladesh and identify priority areas for future expansion. Although protected areas cover 4.6% of Bangladesh, only five species (0.004% of 1,097 species) are adequately represented, and 22 species are entirely absent from the existing protected-area system, including seven threatened species. Our spatial prioritization identified priority areas comprising 39% of Bangladesh, mainly in the northeast and southeast. The most irreplaceable areas (top 10%) are in hill forests and, to a lesser extent, agricultural landscapes. Our findings inform conservation policies for the Bangladesh government in order to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets. In general, the approach can be broadly applicable to countries with limited data in global biodiversity repositories.

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Title: Insights from citizen science reveal priority areas for conserving biodiversity in Bangladesh
Authors: Shawan Chowdhury (Corresponding Author) - The University of Queensland
Richard A Fuller (Author) - The University of Queensland
Md Rokonuzzaman (Author) - University of Dhaka
Shofiul Alam (Author) - University of Dhaka
Priyanka Das (Author) - University of Dhaka
Asma Siddika (Author) - University of Dhaka
Sultan Ahmed (Author) - University of Dhaka
Mahzabin Muzahid Labi (Author) - University of Dhaka
Sayam U Chowdhury (Author) - University of Cambridge
Sharif A Mukul (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Monika Böhm (Author) - Indianapolis Zoo
Jeffrey O Hanson (Author) - Carleton University
Publication details: One Earth, Vol.6, pp.1315-1325
Publisher: Cell Press
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.08.025
ISSN: 2590-3322; 2590-3330
Copyright note: This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Grant note: DFG-FZT 118, 202548816 / German Research Foundation Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99966894202621
Output Type: Journal article

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