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Evaluating protected area location in Borneo

Protected Areas are crucial for wildlife conservation – but their location is often influenced more by human expediency rather than biodiversity benefit. A new paper led by Ewan Macdonald demonstrates this reality in the context of Sunda clouded leopard conservation in Borneo. Through comparing seven protected area scenarios against modelled forest loss, the authors show that the existing Bornean protected area network is likely insufficient to safeguard populations of clouded leopards into the future given it predominantly comprises areas at low risk of forest loss regardless of their protection status. Meanwhile, other areas of important habitat for this threatened species are under significant threat. The authors also explore forest carbon stocks, showing that if conservation efforts were focused in areas of highest conservation priority, both species populations and genetic diversity as well as higher levels of forest carbon could be secured.

The authors highlight how clouded leopards are an ideal case study given WildCRU’s long-running and ongoing species research programme, as well as their role as keystone predators in the ecosystem. This study serves to demonstrate challenging trade-offs between conservation goals, economic development and community wellbeing faced the world over.

The paper can be accessed here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44185-024-00052-8