The use of biosphere reserves by a wide-ranging avian scavenger indicates its significant potential for conservation

GUIDO, JORGELINA M; ALARCÓN, PABLO AE; DONÁZAR, JOSÉ A; HIRALDO, FERNANDO; LAMBERTUCCI, SERGIO A

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Año: 2019 vol. 47 p. 22 - 29

0376-8929

The framing of environmental conservation has been changing, mainly towards a reconciliationbetween human needs and nature conservation. A major challenge of biosphere reserves (BRs) isthe integration of biodiversity conservation and the sustainable development of local communities.Although these areas are large, they are often not large enough to contain themovements ofwide-ranging species. We studied immature Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) movements toevaluate their habitat use in relation to protected areas (PAs).We particularly aimed to determinewhether BRs significantly increase the protection of this wide-ranging species. We analysed themovement overlap of 26 GPS-tagged birds with the PAs of Patagonia, and we evaluated preferencesfor particular landscape categories with a use?availability design. Condors were mainlylocated in unprotected areas (56.4%), whereas 26.4% of locations were within InternationalUnion for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) PAs and 17.2%of locations were in BRs (not includingIUCNPAs).When compared to availability, birds preferred BRs over other areas, highlighting theimportance of BRs in protecting species that forage in humanized areas. However, the lack ofcontrols and management policies expose condors to several threats, such as poisoning andpersecution, in both private lands and BRs. Implementing strict management practices forBRs will help to conserve wide-ranging scavengers that feed in humanized areas.