the value of research in a protected area ......2100 species of vascular plants (21% of european...

THE VALUE OF RESEARCH IN A PROTECTED AREA :THE VALUE OF RESEARCH IN A PROTECTED AREA :THE VALUE OF RESEARCH IN A PROTECTED AREA :THE VALUE OF RESEARCH IN A PROTECTED AREA :

Sierra Nevada Global Change Sierra Nevada Global Change Sierra Nevada Global Change Sierra Nevada Global Change

Observatory as a case studyObservatory as a case studyObservatory as a case studyObservatory as a case study

Rut Aspizua Cantón

Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua([email protected])

The value of research in Protected AreasSierra Nevada Global Change Observatory as a Case Study

INTRODUCTION TO SIERRA NEVADA GLOBAL CHANGE OBSERVATORY

IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF SNGCO FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF

SIERRA NEVADA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE RESEARCH IN PROTECTED AREAS?

INDEX

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE RESEARCH IN PROTECTED AREAS?

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE IN ACTIVE AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

SOME PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: HOW IS TO WORK ON LONG TERM

MONITORING IN A NATIONAL PARK?





WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE RESEARCH IN PROTECTED AREAS? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE RESEARCH IN PROTECTED AREAS?

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE IN ACTIVE AND ADAPTIVE MANEGEMENT



2000 Km2

Legal protection and

networks

3481 m.a.s.l.

25 KmBiodiversity

hotspot

Biodiversity hotspotBiodiversity hotspotBiodiversity hotspotBiodiversity hotspot

2100 species of vascular plants (21% of European flora) 66 exclusive endemisms(30-40% endemicity in summits), 80% of vegetal endemicity in local biotopes). 26 habitat types from the Habitats Directive

Biodiversity hotspotBiodiversity hotspotBiodiversity hotspotBiodiversity hotspot

Sierra Nevada hosts more than 10.000 species of invertebrates and 200 species of vertebrates

Legal protectioin and networksLegal protectioin and networksLegal protectioin and networksLegal protectioin and networks

� Biosphere Reserve

� Nature 2000 Area

� National Park

� LTER Site

� GLOCHAMORE

� GLORIA Site

Highest altitudes in the Iberian Peninsula: 3.481 m.

Wide altitudinal gradient (200 to 3.481 masl): it reproduces changes

¿Why is Sierra Nevada such an exceptional field ¿Why is Sierra Nevada such an exceptional field ¿Why is Sierra Nevada such an exceptional field ¿Why is Sierra Nevada such an exceptional field

laboratory to study Global Change ?laboratory to study Global Change ?laboratory to study Global Change ?laboratory to study Global Change ?

Mediterranean climate with a wide range of climatic variables:

200 to more than 1.000 mm/año

Big contrast in ecological parameters

Wide altitudinal gradient (200 to 3.481 masl): it reproduces changes

occuring along latitudinal gradients, faster and closer.

Located between Africa and Europe

Very sensitive to environmental changes and a refuge to many

endemic species with distribution area restricted by altitude.

Changes in snowpack dynamics

Emerging diseases in

wildlife.

Altitudinal shifts of species and communities

Changes in phenology

Some things are changing. . .Some things are changing. . .Some things are changing. . .Some things are changing. . .�� ¿ecosystem services?¿ecosystem services?¿ecosystem services?¿ecosystem services?

Changes in water availabillity

Increase of forest pests

* To build the knowledge needed to promote resilience of Sierra Nevada ecosystems to face global

Major projects and networks GLOCHAMORE

Global Change Mountain Regions

Local node

Local actors

ScientistsManagers

change.

* To implement adaptive management of natural resources in Sierra Nevada

node

Red de toma de datos en campo y muestreos sistematizados:

• Describir el estado de las poblaciones.

OBJETIVOS:

• Identificar los patrones de distribución y abundancia de algunos grupos biológicos con carácter bioindicador.

• Selección de buenos indicadores que nos permitan comprobar los efectos del cambio global.

StructureStructureStructureStructure

• Trazar tenencias poblacionales a medio y largo plazo.

Aprovechar información adicional que pueda emplearse para identificar cambios en las propiedades de los ecosistemas:

• Relaciones hábitat/distribuciones-abundancia de especies.

Field laboratory to test

management meassures that

look for ecosystems adaptation to global

change impacts in order to avoid a

reduction on services

provision

Specific tool to storage analyse and

consult generated data to ensure its

accesibility and utility.

Schematic representation of the five main attributes used to characterize the 48 protocols comprising the Sierra Nevada Global-Change Monitoring Programme. Each attribute is defined using either continuous ranges of values (number of variables or series length) or discrete lists (period of data collection, resolution, and spatial extension).

Monitoring ProgrammeMonitoring ProgrammeMonitoring ProgrammeMonitoring Programme

The monitoring programme has aprox. 40 protocols scientifically validated

They collect information for more than 100 environm ental variables

Physical-chemicalwater condition

Trout Ecologicalstate ofstreams

Volume offlow

PhytoplanctonDiatomea

Plecoptera Junipercommunities

Land use change

Humidgrasslands

Forest pests

Spanishibex

GLORIA

Reptiles

Forestregeneration

LepidopteraAmphibia

Wild boar

Dispersantbirds

Snow covermonitoring

Carbon flux

Air pollution

Meteo information

Plant phenology

Protocol complexity

50 years

Time series length

AMAs SN

AMAyA

iEcoLab

Otros grupos

investigación

CMAyOT – Sierra Nevada

Javier Sánchez (Dir. E.N.S.N), Ignacio Henares (Conservador), Blanca Ramos

(Project Director) Antonio Gómez (Rangers Coordination), Jesús Vallejo y M.A. Mesa

(Second Rangers coordinators)

Other research G

roups

Regino Zamora Regino Zamora ((ScientificScientificcoordinationcoordination))

++

UG

R (

ieco

LAB

)

Dpto. Física de la Atmósfera – UGR,

Grupo Puertos y Costas CEAMA

TeamTeamTeamTeam

Rivers &

lakes

AnimalsPlants &

forests

O3NO2NH3

SO2

Climate & atmospheric

pollution

AMAyA (public Agency)

Ignacio Maldonado (Economical responsible)

11 tecnicians, 8 field workers

8 rangers 8 rangers 8 rangers8 rangers

Other research G

roups

++

4 4 peoplepeople fromfrom hishisresearchresearch groupgroup. . ((ScientificScientific and and informationinformationmanagementmanagementcommeteecommetee))

CE

AM

A –

UG

R (

ieco

LAB

)

Costas CEAMA

Dto. Ecología (UGR),

Univ. RJC-Madrid,

Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología,

U. A. Barcelona,

Univ. Insbruk (Austria)

.


Methodologies of Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory

Wiki Biblio manager

Repository of models Thematic

queries and raw data download

Information SystemInformation SystemInformation SystemInformation System

Insects Dispersant birdsSnow cover

AnphibiaPlant phenology

C balance

Spanish Ibex

Forest pests

Brown trout

Input data to the system [ ]

Indicators by ecosystem type and

other spatial entities

Specific tools to aid

decision making

www.obsnev.es


ScientificScientificScientificScientific coordinationcoordinationcoordinationcoordination of of of of researchresearchresearchresearch in Sierra Nevada:in Sierra Nevada:in Sierra Nevada:in Sierra Nevada:

- Exchange of existing information (sharing databases of existinginformation that can be useful to scientists)

- Coordination of research to avoid overlaps and promotesinergies

Density of Research in Sierra Nevada

(Pérez-Luque, A. & Bonet, F. J., 2014)


Demand for Research today in Sierra Nevada

1700 1900 20001800

Research projects authorized in Sierra Nevada Natural Area

20

30

N a

utho

rizat

ion 40

(Ramos-Losada 2012)

Research Projects in

0

10

20N

aut

horiz

atio

n

2002 2006 2012201020082004

Research Projects in Sierra Nevada.National Parks Network

2002 2006 201020082004

0

5

10

15

N R

esea

rch

Pro

ject

s

2012

• It combines scientific knowledge on ecosystems functioning with practical experience .

• Assessing, almost in real time , the effects of management

Seguimiento de los Efectos del Cambio Global en Sierra NevadaNombre del área de seguimiento (ej. Poblaciones y especies clave de fauna)

Turning information into useful knowledge for ecosystems m anagement. Assesing the effects to learn from the experience

From theory to practice in active and adaptive managementFrom theory to practice in active and adaptive managementFrom theory to practice in active and adaptive managementFrom theory to practice in active and adaptive management

• Assessing, almost in real time , the effects of management experimental practices to apply the newly acquired knowledge to the following decision making step

• Uncertainty is assumed in our interaction with live systems

• From problem definition to experimental design, data collection, analysis & interpretation � Iterative process open to continuous revision, leading toprogressively more accurate decisionmaking.

Action

ACTION AND ADAPTIVE

Action

Decision Making

Analysis/ interpretation

Managers

Local stakeholders

Managers

Local stakeholders

Managed Area

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

in practiceAssessment

Data gathering &

interpretation

Problem definition & objectives

Managers ScientistsScientists

Scientists

Local stakeholders

Managers Scientists

Local stakeholders

Action

ACTION AND ADAPTIVE

Action

Decision Making

Analysis/ interpretation

Managers

Local stakeholders

Managers

Local stakeholders

Example: management of oak woods(Quercuspyrenaica ) toenhance its

resilience to CC

20 m.

10 m.

Managed Area

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

in practiceAssessment

Data gathering &

interpretation

Problem definition & objectives

Managers ScientistsScientists

Scientists

Parcela experimental

para la toma de datos

??

Local stakeholders

Managers Scientists

Local stakeholders


1. From theory to practice in Active Adaptive Management . What do we need?

� A change in management policy: include uncertainty into the equation to work with, not against

� A change in the way we work: closer communication between scientists and managers to:

- Allow the latest scientific knowledge being applied to management actions

- Designing and implementing mechanisms to continuously feed management decisions through the analysis of results


2. Long term monitoring is needed to study changes caused by CC over time and see the effects of management ove r time under a GC scenario.

3. For 1 & 2 become a widely applied reality some c hanges are needed…

� Changes in scientific scoring: applied science should be valued through� Changes in scientific scoring: applied science should be valued throughdifferent creteria

� Changes in financial instruments to facilitate/promote long term monitoring

4. Integrated research is needed: more coordination among scientific groups

� Transdisciplinary teams (study multiple causes and effects of CG)

� Strengthen coordination to optimize efforts locally


� All the mentioned needs could be incorporated intosome kind of “European Standards Commitment of applied research in P.A.”Science would be valued according to:

i. The definition of a main common problem (resulting from a participationprocess managers & scientists together).

ii. The direct applicability of the results in the management of the P.A. (scored by managers)

iii. The coordination with other scientific groups (= topic ≠ area & ≠ topic = area)

iv. The generation of knowledge from management practices

v. The generation and use of long time series

vi. Information return to managers of P.A. not only in scientific format


+ Great challenge to have the opportunity to:

* Studying processes I can see on the field:

* Working with people from ≠ backgrounds: biologists, forestry engineers, environmental scientists, sociologists, computer scientists, sociologists, computer programmers,…

* Working with people from ≠ occupational contexts: public (managers), university, rangers, private and public companies…

+ Specialized: I can focus my energy in the topics I like most

- Uncertainty : difficulties for financing long term monitoring

In colaboration with:

Thank you very much for your Thank you very much for your Thank you very much for your Thank you very much for your attention !attention !attention !attention !

the value of research in a protected area ......2100 species of vascular plants (21% of european...

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