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Preprint
Priorities for expanding the protected area system in Bangladesh
Research Square, Vol.28 November 2022
Research Square Company
2022
Abstract
Human-induced threats are severely impacting biodiversity globally. Although protected areas play an essential role in safeguarding biodiversity from anthropogenic threats, the performance of such areas in tropical countries remains poorly understood. Here we examined the capacity of protected areas in Bangladesh to represent biodiversity, and identified priority areas to address conservation shortfalls. To achieve this, we used citizen science data to model the suitable habitats of 1,097 vertebrate and invertebrate species. Our results indicate that existing protected areas in Bangladesh are insufficient to conserve the country’s remaining biodiversity. Although protected areas cover 4.6% of Bangladesh, we found that only 6 of 1,097 species (0.005%) are adequately represented, and 22 species are entirely absent from the existing protected area system. To address these shortfalls, our spatial prioritization approach identified priority areas that span 32% of Bangladesh. The priority areas are mostly distributed across the northeast and southeast regions of Bangladesh. The priority areas with the greatest irreplaceability (top 10%) tended to be located in forests and, to a lesser extent, agricultural landscapes. Our findings serve to inform conservation policies for the Bangladesh government and, more generally, the implementation of the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework.
Details
- Title
- Priorities for expanding the protected area system in Bangladesh
- Authors
- Shawan Chowdhury (Author) - The University of QueenslandRichard A Fuller (Author) - The University of QueenslandMd Rokonuzzaman (Author) - University of DhakaShofiul Alam (Author) - University of DhakaPriyanka Das (Author) - University of DhakaAsma Siddika (Author) - University of DhakaMahzabin Muzahid Labi (Author) - University of DhakaSayam U Chowdhury (Author) - University of CambridgeSharif A Mukul (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research CentreMonika Böhm (Author) - Indianapolis ZooJeffrey Hanson (Author)
- Publication details
- Research Square, Vol.28 November 2022
- Publisher
- Research Square Company
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2310848/v1
- ISSN
- 2693-5015
- Copyright note
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99698696402621
- Output Type
- Preprint
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