European Alps Biodiversity

 


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Italy and its Protected Areas

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  Italy presents a highly diversified and complex network of protected areas which cover around 21.5% of terrestrial territory and 8.8% of marine territory (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023). Nonetheless, these areas are continuously reported as lacking of appropriate financing which leads to poor management plans resulting with the inability to protect the areas from illegal activities, such as pastures, tourism or fishing (WWF Italia 2018).  During an investigation by WWF Italia in 2018 where protected areas personnel itself responded to a survey exploring the current status of Italian Protected Areas, respondents highlighted some key points of development regarding risks and opportunities (WWF Italia 2018).  First of all, the main threat for Italian Protected Areas, especially Marine territories, is identified with Climate Change as the leading problem, followed by littering, naval traffic, illegal fishing or poaching and invasion of alien species (WWF Italia 2018).  To re...
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Umbrella Species as a Conservation Practice: Benefits and Limitations

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An umbrella species in the context of ecology and biodiversity is defined by the Oxford Reference as "a species of plant or animal that has a large home range and broad habitat requirements, both of which overlap with other species, so that if it is given a large enough area for its own protection the other species will also benefit" (Park 2012). They represent a shortcut for the maintenance of biodiversity considering the consistent limitations on finance, knowledge and time for action (Roberge 2004). However, the adoption of umbrella species as conservation practice is equivocal based on the empirical data of its effectiveness (Thornton 2016).  This tool is useful in determining the minimum size for conservation areas, selecting the sites to be included in reserve networks and setting minimum standards for composition and processes of ecosystems (Roberge 2004).  When charismatic umbrella species are selected, they can also become a representative surrogate for sympatric spe...
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Biosecurity of invasive species in isolated ecosystems

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MAMMAL ERADICATION PROGRAMS to prevent extinction of threatened native vertebrate species: Islands present a great opportunity and need for biodiversity conservation as they host 75% of known extinction species since 1500 as well as 36% of species classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Given the relevance of these territories and also the increasing pace of biodiversity loss of the last decades, it is important to develop a framework which would allow us to prioritize projects for conservation in isolated ecosystems. Such frameworks must include considerations on financial resources, political will as well as stakeholders involvement. Moreover, it is important to mention that a big obstacle arises from the availability of reliable data on species distributions which would consequently influence the assessment of eradication options. Finally, political feasibility must be carefully considered and incorporated through an objective methodology as it would eventually imp...
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