JUNE 22, 2020
A recent study, led by the
University of Helsinki, used a novel combination of statistical methods and an
exceptional data set collected by hunters to assess the role of protected areas
for carnivore conservation in Finland.
Overall, protected areas do not
harbor higher densities of large carnivore species than unprotected lands.
These areas even had declining wolverine densities within their limits while
populations outside remained overall stable over a 30-year study period. The
study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
The international group of
authors, led by Dr. Julien Terraube from the Faculty of Biological and
Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki, proposes that the results
do not indicate that protected areas are unimportant for carnivore
conservation, as they may support seasonal habitats and prey for these highly
mobile species. However, the outcomes highlight complex socio-ecological
pressures on carnivore populations that vary in both time and space and affect
the conservation outcomes of protected areas. For example, the largest Finnish
protected areas are located in Lapland, and due to their sizes these areas are
most suitable for large carnivores. However, the areas seem unable to maintain
stable wolverine populations, which may be linked to increased conflicts with
herders in the reindeer husbandry area.
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