Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.4
2.1
Journals
Diversity
Special Issues
Restoring and Conserving Biodiversity: A Global Perspective
share announcement

Restoring and Conserving Biodiversity: A Global Perspective

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 11479

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Thomas H. White, Jr.

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Rio Grande, PR 00745, USA
Interests: psittacine conservation; reintroduction; conservation translocations; ecological restoration; tropical ecology; neotropical birds
Dr. Donald J. Brightsmith

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Schubot Avian Health Center, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Interests: tropical ecology; psittacine conservation; conservation translocations; geophagy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent centuries have seen a dramatic increase in the rate of species extinctions and loss of biodiversity, far in excess of historic epigenic or background extinctions. Often termed the “sixth mass extinction”, it is only during recent decades that the full extent of the associated degradation of global ecosystems has been clearly documented and substantially quantified. Indeed, according to the IUCN, well over 500 species of vertebrates have become extinct since 1900, in addition to yet unknown numbers of plants, insects, and other invertebrates. Biodiversity loss in this context consists of both component and functional losses at the local, regional, and global scales. In some cases, losses of ecosystem functionality are irreversible, and can further result in cascading and catastrophic ecological effects across multiple and interdependent trophic levels. These losses can also be attributed, either directly or indirectly, to modern human activities.

Because current biodiversity loss is the result of human activities, they can also halt, reduce, and, in some cases, even reverse observed losses. Cognizant of this undeniable ecological reality, conservationists and resource managers have increasingly developed and employed novel and effective methods for not only reintroducing and restoring extirpated species and populations, but also restoring the habitats and ecosystems with which they are intricately associated, and on which they—and we—depend. It is for these efforts that this Special Issue of Diversity has been established. Papers are welcomed from across the full spectrum of efforts to restore and conserve ecosystems, habitats, populations, or individual species. The overarching objective is to foster a broad and multidisciplinary sharing of information from diverse efforts around the globe that may provide valuable insights and helpful examples to others engaged in or contemplating similar conservation actions. Biodiversity loss is truly a global issue, and can only be effectively mitigated or ameliorated through shared global solutions.

Dr. Thomas H. White, Jr.
Dr. Donald J. Brightsmith
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • ecological restoration
  • reintroduction
  • habitat conservation
  • extinction
  • conservation translocations
  • ecological communities

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

16 pages, 1015 KiB  
Article
Endemic and Threatened: The Conservation Value of the Philippine Duck
by Khinnel Jay D. Jaafar, Peter Jan D. de Vera, John Paul A. Catipay, Vasileios J. Kontsiotis and Vasilios Liordos
Diversity 2024, 16(10), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16100602 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 960
Abstract
The Philippine duck (Anas luzonica) is a vulnerable species, endemic to the Philippines. The need of local people for food and land has led to the endangerment of the Philippine duck populations through illegal hunting and the conversion of wetlands to [...] Read more.
The Philippine duck (Anas luzonica) is a vulnerable species, endemic to the Philippines. The need of local people for food and land has led to the endangerment of the Philippine duck populations through illegal hunting and the conversion of wetlands to aquaculture and farmland. This study was conducted to determine the willingness to pay (WTP) of residents (n = 500) in Maguindanao provinces for the conservation of the Philippine duck and the effects of conservation attitude and knowledge toward the Philippine duck, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, on WTP. The mean annual WTP for Philippine duck conservation was USD 0.60, and the total estimated annual amount that could be collected was USD 134 thousand when projected based on the number of households in the Maguindanao provinces. A positive conservation attitude and high knowledge increased the WTP for Philippine duck conservation. Females, pet owners, and those with higher income pledged a higher WTP than males, non-pet owners, and those with lower income. This study revealed that local residents are supportive of the conservation of the vulnerable duck populations by paying a considerable amount. These results are critical for designing and implementing outreach programs for increasing awareness and the acquisition of funds urgently needed for the protection and conservation of the remaining Philippine duck population in the area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoring and Conserving Biodiversity: A Global Perspective)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 7332 KiB  
Article
Reintroduction of the Extinct-in-the-Wild Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) in the Caatinga Forest Domain of Brazil
by Cromwell Purchase, Camile Lugarini, Candice Purchase, Ariane Ferreira, Ugo Eichler Vercillo, Mark L. Stafford and Thomas H. White, Jr.
Diversity 2024, 16(2), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16020080 - 26 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 9147
Abstract
We describe efforts to reintroduce the extinct-in-the-wild Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) within its historical range in eastern Brazil. Twenty captive-reared Spix’s Macaws were released, along with 15 Blue-Winged Macaws (Primolius maracana), as heterospecific flocks in two events during the [...] Read more.
We describe efforts to reintroduce the extinct-in-the-wild Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) within its historical range in eastern Brazil. Twenty captive-reared Spix’s Macaws were released, along with 15 Blue-Winged Macaws (Primolius maracana), as heterospecific flocks in two events during the dry and rainy seasons of 2022. We monitored the release groups through daily observation and telemetry tracking from early June 2022 to early June 2023. We documented an overall first-year survival of 58.3% (CI: 37.8–78.7%), with 65% of Spix’s Macaws establishing a stable area of activity within 5 km of the release site, excluding any temporary long-distance forays. Eighty-five percent of released Spix’s Macaws exhibited flock cohesion, including interactions with and integration into wild Blue-Winged Macaw groups at the release site. Several released Spix’s Macaws formed pair-bonds with conspecifics and engaged in nest cavity exploration, breeding behavior, and territorial defense of nest sites, with three females also laying and incubating eggs. One nesting pair successfully hatched and reared chicks in an artificial nest cavity. These releases employed a novel reintroduction strategy using a surrogate species model, the sympatric Blue-Winged Macaw, to “mentor” and facilitate post-release adaptation by the target species and increase the total number of individuals in the release cohort. Lastly, participatory monitoring by local citizens is considered a way to engage and involve local communities in species and habitat conservation and potentially create new employment opportunities in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoring and Conserving Biodiversity: A Global Perspective)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 15222 KiB  
Perspective
Changing Asian Mountain Steppes Require Better Conservation for Endangered Argali Sheep
by Terry V. Callaghan, Irina I. Volkova, Igor V. Volkov, Alexey O. Kuzhlekov, Denis I. Gulyaev and Olga M. Shaduyko
Diversity 2024, 16(9), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16090570 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 686
Abstract
We present a rare insight into the biodiversity of a remote, mountainous area of central Asia and outline challenges to conserve the critically endangered keystone argali (Ovis ammon ammon L.), the largest subspecies of mountain sheep. Existing conservation is set in the context [...] Read more.
We present a rare insight into the biodiversity of a remote, mountainous area of central Asia and outline challenges to conserve the critically endangered keystone argali (Ovis ammon ammon L.), the largest subspecies of mountain sheep. Existing conservation is set in the context of competition with livestock grazing and disturbance by local pastoralists. We suggest how this pressure would increase as pastures become degraded by a future more arid climate. Focusing on the transboundary population, migrating between the Russian and Mongolian Altai over the Sailugem Ridge, we track historical population numbers. Due to increased protection, the argali’s local population is currently growing. However, most argali populations live outside the protected areas where they are forced to compete for forage with livestock. Due to ever-increasing anthropogenic pressures, argali has almost reached the region’s environmental capacity, so the number of local populations is decreasing. Consequently, even the current situation requires more areas of protection, and climate change will accelerate pasture degradation, thereby further increasing competition with livestock. We present various ways to predict the impacts of changes in climate, e.g., the “7 M’s approach” and grazing pressure and then recommend additional conservation measures acceptable for the indigenous population of traditional pastoralists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoring and Conserving Biodiversity: A Global Perspective)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop