Beyond Reserves: A Research Agenda for Conserving Biodiversity in Human-modified Tropical Landscapes

Chazdon, RL; Harvey, CA; Komar, O; et al. Beyond Reserves: A Research Agenda for Conserving Biodiversity in Human-modified Tropical Landscapes BIOTROPICA, 41 (2): 142-153 MAR 2009
This paper is, in effect, a gap analysis on the state of the science of human-modified tropical landscapes. The authors use this analysis to develop a 12-topic research agenda across 3 major areas; biodiversity status and landscape ecology, interactions between people and their environment, and restoration ecology. I imagine that his paper has already been labeled a “must read” for many of you with experience in this field. For those of us that are new, this paper not only provides a very useful and accessible overview of “where things stand”, but its literature review makes the paper a worthy read on its own.
I thought there were 2 other interesting parts. First, the authors said that, “We lack a framework for assessing the costs and benefits of different objectives of habitat-based restoration. These costs and benefits need to be assessed on both economic and biological bases…” Where do social bases fit in here? Second, they conclude by suggesting that the research agenda they have proposed is best accomplished in an interdisciplinary framework—nothing revolutionary, but I wonder how frequently this is actually done in practice.

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