Conservation in heavily urbanized biodiverse regions requires urgent management action and attention to governance
Item
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Title
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Conservation in heavily urbanized biodiverse regions requires urgent management action and attention to governance
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Description
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Journal article from Conservation Science and Practice uses a Priority Threat Management approach to calculate the cost-effectiveness of biodiversity conservation action and co-governance in urbanized areas. Authors focus on species in the Fraser River estuary and argue for strategic planning, governance, and large-scale investment.
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volume
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3
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issue
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2
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pages
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15
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Date
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02/2021
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Language
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en
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doi
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10.1111/csp2.310
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issn
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2578-4854, 2578-4854
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Abstract
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Throughout history, humans have settled in areas of high biodiversity. Today these areas are home to our biggest urban centers with biodiversity at increasing risk from escalating cumulative threats. Identifying the management strategies to conserve species within such regions, and ensuring effective governance to oversee their implementation, presents enormous challenges. Using a novel Priority Threat Management (PTM) approach that calculates the cost-effectiveness of conservation action and co-governance, we discover that the 102 species at risk of local extinction within Canada's most diverse, heavily urbanized coastal region, the Fraser River estuary, require urgent investment in management strategies costing an estimated CAD$381 M over 25 years. Our study also suggests that co-governance underpins conservation success in urban areas, by increasing the feasibility of management strategies. This study underscores that biodiversity conservation in heavily urbanized areas is not a lost cause but does require strategic planning, attention to governance, and large-scale investment.
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Publisher
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Conservation Science and Practice
