Global protected‐area coverage and human pressure on tidal flats
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Tidal flats are a globally distributed coastal ecosystem important for supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Local to continental‐scale studies have documented rapid loss of tidal habitat driven by human impacts, but assessments of progress in their conservation are lacking. We analysed human pressure on tidal flats, and measured their representation in protected areas using a newly developed, internally‐consistent estimate of distribution and change for the world's tidal flats. We discovered that 68% of the current extent of tidal flats is subject to moderate to very high human pressure (Human Modification Index > 0.1), but that 31% of tidal flat extent occurred within protected areas, far exceeding percent protection of the marine (6%) and terrestrial (13%) realms. Net change of tidal flat extent inside protected areas was similar to tidal flat net change outside protected areas between 1999 and 2016. Substantial shortfalls in tidal flat protection occurred across Asia, where large intertidal extents coincide with high to very high human pressure (Human Modification Index > 0.4‐1), and net tidal flat losses up to 86.4 km² (83.9 km²‐89.0 km²; 95% confidence interval) occurred inside individual protected area boundaries within the study period. Taken together, our results show substantial progress in protected area designation for tidal flats globally, but that protected area status alone does not prevent all habitat loss. Safeguarding the world's tidal flats will thus require deeper understanding of the factors that govern their dynamics and effective policy that promotes holistic coastal and catchment management strategies.
Journal
Conservation Biology
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Volume
35
ISBN/ISSN
1523-1739
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Issue
3
Pages Count
11
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Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
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EISSN
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DOI
10.1111/cobi.13638