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Letter/Communication
Tropical field stations yield high conservation return on investment
Conservation letters, v 17(2), e13007
04 Mar 2024
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Conservation funding is currently limited; cost-effective conservation solutions are essential. We suggest that the thousands of field stations worldwide can play key roles at the frontline of biodiversity conservation and have high intrinsic value. We assessed field stations’ conservation return on investment and explored the impact of COVID-19. We surveyed leaders of field stations across tropical regions that host primate research; 157 field stations in 56 countries responded. Respondents reported improved habitat quality and reduced hunting rates at over 80% of field stations and lower operational costs per km2 than protected areas, yet half of those surveyed have less funding now than in 2019. Spatial analyses support field station presence as reducing deforestation. These “earth observatories” provide a high return on investment; we advocate for increased support of field station programs and for governments to support their vital conservation efforts by investing accordingly. [The letter is signed by over 100 individuals.]
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Details
- Title
- Tropical field stations yield high conservation return on investment
- Creators
- Timothy M Eppley - Portland State UniversityMary K Gonder - Drexel University, BiologyDavid M Montgomery - Drexel University, Biology
- Publication Details
- Conservation letters, v 17(2), e13007
- Publisher
- Society for Conservation Biology
- Resource Type
- Letter/Communication
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001185027800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85186868050
- Other Identifier
- 991021864305804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation