CONTEXT: Studies underline a need for transboundary conservation policies in Asian countries

PROTECTED AREAS (PAS)

• Importance of Protected Areas (PAs)
  • PAs are a widely used strategy for global biodiversity conservation.
  • Definitions and protection levels of PAs vary considerably.
• Typical Focus of PAs
  • PAs are often designed to safeguard charismatic species like tigers or elephants.
  • They are envisioned as inviolate areas, prioritizing species protection.
• Need for Connectivity in PAs
  • Conceptually, PAs should be interconnected to facilitate flora and fauna movement.
  • This connectivity is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and species survival.
• Challenges with Fragmented Landscapes
  • Establishing PAs in fragmented landscapes poses challenges to connectivity.
  • Partial protection of landscapes can hinder the movement of species across PAs.

SITUATION IN ASIA

• Asia’s Biodiversity Hotspot and Transboundary Challenges
  • Asia hosts a rich biodiversity, with many countries sharing borders.
  • Around 82% of threatened species are in transboundary areas, but only 22% of these are protected.
  • PAs away from international borders face significant challenges.
  • Asia is densely populated, leading to increased human impact on forested landscapes and PAs.
• Human Activities’ Impact on PAs and Biodiversity
  • Studies reveal human activities like agriculture expansion and development projects negatively affect forested landscapes and PAs.
  • Climate change further threatens species in remote and hostile environments across Asia.

DATA FROM RECENT STUDIES

• Sizes of Protected Areas decrease as distance from the border increases, varying based on each country’s policies.
• PAs near borders are about three times closer to each other than those farther away.
• This proximity suggests closer ties between neighboring countries’ PAs than within the same country
• There is forest cover decline in PAs across several Asian countries from 2011 to 2019 which was contrasted with neutral or improved forest cover in countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTSTop of Form

• Challenges for Threatened Wildlife
  • Small or fragmented Protected Areas (PAs) may not effectively protect wildlife distributed across large geographic areas.
  • Partial protection within a species’ range in one country is insufficient for conservation.
• 30 by 30 Protocol
  • Over 190 countries have ratified the Kunming-Montreal protocol, aiming to protect 30% of their landmass by 2030.
  • Expanding PAs near borders and including community-protected landscapes under Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) could be beneficial.
• Wildlife and National Boundaries
  • Wildlife are not constrained by national boundaries and roam freely.
  • Limited progress in establishing transboundary conservation areas in Asia calls for inspiration from global examples.
• Thor Heyerdahl’s Perspective
  • Thor Heyerdahl’s quote highlights the arbitrary nature of borders in wildlife conservation.
  • Policymakers in Asian countries can draw inspiration to transcend national boundaries for effective conservation.