A decision framework to integrate in-situ and ex-situ management for species in the European Union

Johanna Staerk; Fernando Colchero; Melissa Kenney; Kerrie Wilson; Wendy Foden; Jamie Anthony Carr; Zjef Pereboom; Lucie Bland; Nate Flesness; Tara Martin; Julia Fa; Hugh Possingham; Dalia Conde

doi:10.3389/fcosc.2023.1298850

A decision framework to integrate in-situ and ex-situ management for species in the European Union

Johanna Staerk^*, Fernando Colchero, Melissa Kenney, Kerrie Wilson, Wendy Foden, Jamie Anthony Carr, Zjef Pereboom, Lucie Bland, Nate Flesness, Tara Martin, Julia Fa, Hugh Possingham, Dalia Conde^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Zoos and aquaria in the European Union (EU) can play a crucial role in the conservation of EU species, as they currently hold nearly half (49%) of EU terrestrial vertebrates. In this study, we analyzed the species composition and population sizes of EU zoos and developed a framework to prioritize recommendations for additional ex-situ and in-situ interventions for 277 at-risk EU species. Our results showed that EU zoos currently hold 39% of threatened EU species, 27% of EU endemic species, 62% of EU species vulnerable to climate change, 20% of EU species listed by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), 25% of Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) EU species, while only 5% are subject to ex-situ conservation. Using our framework, we found that additional captive breeding was recommended for 60-61%% of species while expanding protected areas was recommended for only 2–22%, as 217 out of 277 species already met habitat protection targets. Both interventions were recommended for up to 20% of species, while the remaining 18% required no interventions because captive populations and habitat protection fully met targets. Our flexible framework can support more effective integrated conservation planning decisions for EU species and help identify target species for further in-depth assessment by the IUCN Ex-situ guidelines.

Original language	English
Number of pages	13
Journal	Frontiers in Conservation Science
Volume	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1298850
Publication status	Published - 11 Jan 2024

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10.3389/fcosc.2023.1298850Licence: CC BY

fcosc-04-1298850 (1)
© 2024 Staerk, Colchero, Kenney, Wilson, Foden, Carr, Pereboom, Bland, Flesness, Martin, Maiorano, Fa, Possingham and Conde.
Final published version, 1.6 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "A decision framework to integrate in-situ and ex-situ management for species in the European Union",

abstract = "Zoos and aquaria in the European Union (EU) can play a crucial role in the conservation of EU species, as they currently hold nearly half (49%) of EU terrestrial vertebrates. In this study, we analyzed the species composition and population sizes of EU zoos and developed a framework to prioritize recommendations for additional ex-situ and in-situ interventions for 277 at-risk EU species. Our results showed that EU zoos currently hold 39% of threatened EU species, 27% of EU endemic species, 62% of EU species vulnerable to climate change, 20% of EU species listed by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), 25% of Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) EU species, while only 5% are subject to ex-situ conservation. Using our framework, we found that additional captive breeding was recommended for 60-61%% of species while expanding protected areas was recommended for only 2–22%, as 217 out of 277 species already met habitat protection targets. Both interventions were recommended for up to 20% of species, while the remaining 18% required no interventions because captive populations and habitat protection fully met targets. Our flexible framework can support more effective integrated conservation planning decisions for EU species and help identify target species for further in-depth assessment by the IUCN Ex-situ guidelines. ",

author = "Johanna Staerk and Fernando Colchero and Melissa Kenney and Kerrie Wilson and Wendy Foden and Carr, {Jamie Anthony} and Zjef Pereboom and Lucie Bland and Nate Flesness and Tara Martin and Julia Fa and Hugh Possingham and Dalia Conde",

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AU - Staerk, Johanna

AU - Colchero, Fernando

AU - Kenney, Melissa

AU - Wilson, Kerrie

AU - Foden, Wendy

AU - Carr, Jamie Anthony

AU - Pereboom, Zjef

AU - Bland, Lucie

AU - Flesness, Nate

AU - Martin, Tara

AU - Fa, Julia

AU - Possingham, Hugh

AU - Conde, Dalia

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A decision framework to integrate in-situ and ex-situ management for species in the European Union

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