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The ecosystem services (ES) approach has been widely accepted in environmental policies and management as an adequate platform that can serve as a link between nature and society. Many ES are influenced by the landscape structure. Thus, national-scale landscape mapping can potentially contribute to nature conservation management. However, there are no attempts to directly link the ES assessment with the landscape units at a national level. In this paper, we propose an approach for the transformation of paper copy information from old landscape maps to enable the assessment of ES conservation potential at the national landscape scale. The conceptual scheme of the approach contains three main elements: (i) data acquisition; (ii) landscape and ES assessment data processing; and (iii) mapping of ES potential at a landscape level. The results reveal the landscape heterogeneity based on landscape classification and mapping at a national level and the ES conservation potential based on the analyses of the Natural Heritage (NH) in the country to provide ES. The assessment of ES conservation potential using the national scale landscape mapping allows us to analyze the spatial relationships between the landscapes with high conservation value and the existing nature protection network. The conceptual scheme of the study demonstrates how the results of the ES potential provided by the NH at a national level can be combined with the landscape units from the traditional landscape classification schemes to produce various spatial and statistical metrics that reveal how the national system of protected areas coincides with the areas of high ES conservation value.

Local and illegal exploitation of wildlife is particularly widespread in highly populated and bio-diverse countries such as India. In such countries, illicit utilization practices and how these are perceived among local communities are commonly not well-documented. Due to a lack of data, and environmental education measures to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, the extent of this exploitation appears immense and often goes unnoticed. Therefore, in 2019, a series of awareness workshops targeting the conservation of wildlife focused on monitor lizards (Varanidae) was conducted in five districts of West Bengal, India. The environmental awareness workshops were conducted through PowerPoint slide presentations and questionnaires collecting baseline data from the participants regarding their perceptions and relationships to the three species of Varanus recorded for West Bengal. Our findings reveal specific human attitudes and varying local utilization patterns of monitor lizards. This study was the first to communicate and spread awareness in the study areas about why the conservation of local wildlife such as Varanus species is important for ecosystems and human well-being based on the ‘Nature Contributions to People Concept’.

The Soutpansberg Mountain (SM) range in the northern part of the Limpopo Province within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, is a refuge for high diversity of organisms due to its geological history and location. As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA), the spider diversity of the Soutpansberg Mountain was determined over 27 years: 58 families, 293 genera, and 585 species were recorded. The Salticidae with 85 species, followed by Thomisidae (81 species), Araneidae, and Gnaphosidae, with 45 species each, are the most species-rich, while 11 families are represented by single species. Global distributions, endemicity, and conservation assessment are provided for each species using IUCN criteria. Most species (516, 88.1%) are widely distributed with no known threats and are of Least Concern, whereas eight species (1.4%) are of special concern. Of these, five species are Rare and one each is Critically Rare, Vulnerable, and Near Threatened. Twenty-five new species have been described from the SM since 1997, but 17 species (2.9%) are still Data Deficient, and 44 species were not evaluated due to unresolved taxonomy. The SM represents a spider biodiversity hotspot in the Limpopo Province, representing 25.4% of the total spider fauna of South Africa and 64.3% of the known spider fauna of the Limpopo Province.

Vietnam belongs to one of the most well-known global biodiversity hotspots. However, its biodiversity is being threatened by multiple factors such as rapid growth of the human population, habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change. To better prioritize conservation measures for Vietnam’s mammal fauna, this study attempts to identify the threat status, level of endemism, and protected area coverage for approximately 329 recognized taxa. In addition, ex situ conservation measures are investigated by analyzing zoo databases. Our results show that as many as 112 mammal species (~34%) in Vietnam are officially listed as threatened, 36 (~11%) are country endemics, and nine (~3%) are micro-endemic. Nearly all threatened species are currently covered by protected areas, except for two species of high conservation importance, i.e., the micro-endemic Murina harpioloides (Chiroptera) and the threatened Lepus sinensis (Lagomorpha). Our results also suggest that such areas as Hoang Lien Range, northeastern Vietnam, and the central and southern Annamite Mountains require more conservation attention, as they harbor a high number of endemic species. Analyses of the Zoological Information Management System reveal that roughly 60% (67 species) of threatened species are currently kept in zoos (ex situ) across the world, while none of the species listed as “Data Deficient” are currently represented in any ex situ program. Up to 66% of 89 species kept in zoos show a good number of breeding successes in the past 12 months. It is recommended that future conservation efforts focus on unprotected threatened mammals and on evaluating the threat status for “Data Deficient” species. Additionally, the existing protected area system's effectiveness should be improved by creating corridors to provide connectivity for highly mobile and widely distributed mammal species.

A new monotypic genus Foordus gen. nov. with Foordus stefani sp. nov. as the type species is described. A short discussion on other Salticidae with disjunctive distributions is provided.

Despite being the most diverse family of spiders, Salticidae (jumping spiders) are poorly studied in Madagascar with only 47 of the total 105 species recorded in the last 100 years. Here, we describe three new species of Plexippini Simon, 1901 from dry forests in North-western Madagascar as part of an ongoing biomonitoring programme. This paper increases the number of species in the genus Evarcha Simon, 1902 from 93 to 95 and Thyene Simon, 1885 from 55 to 56. Additionally, we publish specimen records of Plexippus petersi (Karsch, 1878) from Madagascar for the first time. All new species are diagnosed and illustrated through photographs and drawings.

Recovering biodiversity across trophic levels is a major challenge in restoration ecology. Specifically, predator population recovery depends on the timely re-establishment of their preferred prey species in restored habitats. Here, we evaluate potential dietary factors contributing to the loss of western burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea (Bonaparte, 1825)) from a newly-restored coastal grassland. We examined owl pellets and found that burrowing owl diets were relatively low in vertebrate prey during their brief occupation of the restoration site (2.6% of prey items; found in 61.8% of sampled pellets). We suggest that preferred food limitation may have been one contributor to the loss of owls from the restoration site. These findings suggest the need to prioritise re-establishment of prey communities for effective long-term recovery of burrowing owls in restored landscapes.

Allotment (AGs) and community gardens (CGs) are types of urban gardens that provide diverse ecosystem services (ESs) such as climate regulation, beautiful landscapes, biodiversity and food security. Despite this, there are no AGs or CGs in many developing countries such as Iran. One of the main reasons for the lack of development of CGs in developing countries is the lack of proper understanding by policy-makers and citizens regarding the economic value of the ESs provided and the lack of disclosure of the benefits of its construction in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to analyse the preferences of citizens, to examine the existence of a potential market, to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for the creation and operation of CG services and to investigate the factors affecting residents’ WTP in Dezful, Iran. For this purpose, a choice experiment, based on the stated preferences valuation approach, was applied through interviews with 170 respondents living in Dezful urban area. The data were collected during the autumn of 2022 and analysed using conditional logit model. The results indicated that the responding citizens are willing to pay 4.57 USD per month to create CG and operate its ESs in Dezful. Amongst the attributes and ESs of the community garden, citizens valued cultural services the most, followed by provisioning services. In addition, the variables “age”, “being native”, “education”, “household expenditure level” and “awareness and recognition of CG ecosystem services” had a significant effect on WTP. According to the results, it is suggested to follow the policy of creating CGs with the participation of citizens instead of focusing only on the creation of urban green space with a government budget and heavy financial burden. CGs, while providing diverse ESs, can generate sustainable incomes for municipalities and accelerate the movement toward sustainable urban development.

A recent paper highlighted the need for increased attention towards species that have vanished from scientific literature and proposed a new nomenclature in view of needed conservation actions, based on the time interval since their disappearance. Here, we propose to implement this concept by showcasing a taxonomic perspective that is often overlooked in conservation studies. In recent decades, research on vertebrates showed that, in several cases, species considered as undescribed were, in fact, first discovered and already named a long time ago. Quite often they fell into oblivion while being considered synonyms of other taxa until they were re-evaluated in subsequent taxonomic revisions. In this context, we are proposing the concept of “long-lost synonymized” species, asking for greater attention to the discipline of taxonomy, the relevance of specimen-based taxonomy and the value of natural history collections within conservation and academic communities.

Permanent plots are commonly employed to record and monitor temporal changes in plant communities. In this study, we established a permanent plot to monitor the future population dynamics and regeneration of Dipterocarpus cinereus Slooten (Dipterocarpaceae), or Lagan bras, a critically endangered and narrowly endemic tree confined to the Mursala Island in Sumatera Utara Province, Indonesia. Using a quarter-hectare (50 × 50 m2) plot, we collected initial data on the population structure of D. cinereus and the floristic composition of the tree community within the plot. Tree inventories were conducted by measuring all individual trees with a Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of more than 5 cm. In the 0.25-hectare plot established, we recorded 261 trees, representing 76 species, 49 genera, and 32 families of flowering plants. There were seven individuals of D. cinereus in the plot, of which six were in mature stages with a DBH range of 79.5–38.8 cm. The results of our study can serve as baseline data for future monitoring programs of D. cinereus and the accompanying tree community. Furthermore, these results can support the implementation of existing long-term conservation strategies and action plans for the species.

Eight species of Atherigona Rondani, 1856 are recorded from Lesotho for the first time: Atherigona angulata Deeming, 1971, Atherigona chrysohypene Muller, 2015, Atherigona kirkspriggsi Muller, 2015, Atherigona laevigata (Loew, 1852), Atherigona lineata ugandae van Emden, 1940, Atherigona londti Muller, 2015, Atherigona rubricornis Stein, 1913 and a new species Atherigona jordaensi sp. nov. The new species is described and diagnoses for all known species from Lesotho are provided with a brief discussion on their distribution in the country.

Old trees on the South China Sea islands represent a unique and irreplaceable element of the region’s ecological heritage. Their resilience and critical role in maintaining local biodiversity highlight the need for immediate conservation efforts to protect these natural treasures from environmental and human threats.

Cymbidium kanran is classified as a second-level protected plant in China and is also listed in the World Genetic Conservation Plant Registry. Pollen flow is an important factor influencing the genetic structure of plant populations, holding significant relevance in the conservation of endangered plants. In this study, we present a comprehensive exploration of the pollination biology of Cymbidium kanran, encompassing investigations into its flowering phenology, breeding system, floral volatile components, and interactions with pollinating insects. The results showed that: 1) C. kanran exclusively relies on external pollination mechanisms, as automatic self-pollination or apomixis mechanisms are conspicuously absent. Consequently, the natural fruit set rate is significantly lower compared to artificial pollination, highlighting a pronounced pollination limitation. 2) Apis cerana emerges as the primary effective pollinating insect for C. kanran, adeptly carrying both pollinia and anther caps during the pollination process. Notably, C. kanran does not provide any rewards, such as nectar or edible pollen, to entice the pollinators. 3) Contrary to expectations, our glass cylinder experiment demonstrates that the flower color of C. kanran lacks significant attractiveness to pollinators (p=0.1341>0.05). However, the scent emitted by the flowers exhibits considerable allure (p=0.0004

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A new spider species, Selenogyrus foordi sp. nov. (♂♀), is described from Mount Nimba, Guinea. Consequently, we provide the first in vivo photographs of a selenogyrine in the scientific literature and the first record of Selenogyrinae Smith, 1990 from Guinea. We also record S. aureus Pocock, 1897, described from Sierra Leone, from Massif du Ziama Biosphere Reserve, Guinea, representing the second known species for this country.

The study of trophic interactions might be key to understanding the distribution of species on Earth. Particularly, the biogeography of heterotrophic species – such as mammals – could be strongly driven by trophic interactions (diet). Here, we map and discuss the division of dietary strategies (herbivory, frugivory, carnivory, etc.) of terrestrial mammals on a global scale. We analyzed the diet of 4854 extant terrestrial mammal species (with known range and diet data, representing 86.67 % of extant mammal species). We compiled species diets (EltonTraits database), species ranges (International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, database) and climate data (WorldClim database) to illustrate how mammal dietary strategies are distributed across the globe. First, we performed a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) with diet data. Second, we mapped the distribution of the main dietary strategies (PCoA axes) of terrestrial mammals globally. Third, we analyzed how climate relates to dietary strategies. We found that herbivory in mammals is more common in northern and desert areas, which corresponds to areas with lower minimum temperatures and lower precipitation. Mammals feeding on fruits and invertebrates (frugivory and invertivory) are more common in the tropics, which corresponds to areas with higher precipitation and higher minimum temperatures. Mammals feeding on seeds (granivory) are predominant in North America, Europe, Central Asia and Oceania, corresponding to areas with temperate environments. Carnivorous mammals are more common in the Northern Hemisphere and towards the poles, which corresponds to areas with lower minimum temperatures and less extreme dry periods. Terrestrial mammal diets show clear geographical patterns that can be partially explained by climate across the globe.

The African lion Panthera leo is subject to numerous anthropogenic pressures across its natural range. In South Africa, although free ranging populations are increasing, the number of lions in captivity in private commercial facilities far outnumber those in the wild. South Africa’s captive lion industry was reportedly created primarily to generate income and take pressure off wild populations through the supply of captive-bred lions for trophy hunting. However, the industry has become a highly contentious topic under ongoing international scrutiny and debate. Here, we present new information from direct interviews with workers at two closed-access lion facilities located in North West Province, on how some facilities continue to use legal activities, such as captive breeding and hunting, to facilitate their involvement in the illegal international felid bone trade. The sources also report other illegal and unethical activities including animal welfare violations, unsafe conditions for workers, potential shifts to the commercial exploitation of other felid species such as tigers Panthera tigris and incidents involving poaching of captive lions and tigers by non-affiliated actors. Sources described how some facilities use various tools and tactics, such as security cameras, patrols and messaging apps to avoid detection during inspections. If the South African Government is to be successful in meeting its publicly stated goal of ending the captive lion industry, a comprehensive well-managed plan to transition away from current practices is required. To aid enforcement, the industry should also be fully audited, with all facilities officially registered, a moratorium on the breeding of lions and plans put in place to prevent the stockpiling of lion bones.

The Transvolcanic Belt (TVB) of Mexico is a biogeographic province of significant biodiversity, acting as a transition zone between eastern and western Mexico. Using available literature, we collected species lists for amphibians and reptiles in Mexican states within the TVB biogeographic province, updating them with additional literature. The TVB is home to 427 native species of amphibians and reptiles, 154 amphibians and 273 reptiles, which represent 30.5% of the species of amphibians and reptiles in Mexico. The TVB also houses 50 endemic species, with 84 species listed by the IUCN. Threats include habitat destruction and pollution. The TVB shares a significant portion of its amphibian and reptile species with neighboring provinces, particularly the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre del Sur, suggesting a mixture of species from both eastern and western Mexico. Cluster analyses based on species composition reveal distinct groupings of provinces, with the TVB forming a cluster with the Sierra Madre Oriental, Veracruzan, and Sierra Madre del Sur for both amphibians and reptiles. Conservation assessments indicate that a significant proportion of the amphibian and reptile species in the TVB are at risk, primarily due to habitat loss from urbanization, agriculture, and pollution. Urgent conservation actions are needed to protect the unique herpetofauna of the TVB from further decline.

We examined the genetic population structure of the endangered freshwater cyprinid Acheilognathus tabira tabira in the Japanese archipelago, which has only been analyzed in limited sampling in previous studies, based on cytochrome b region of the mitochondrial gene. We confirmed the existence of the same three lineages determined in the previous study, the natural distribution area of Lineage I and II+III were considered to be the Seto Inland Sea and Ise Bay regions, respectively. Furthermore, the Seto Inland Sea region population was divided into five groups inhabiting neighboring water systems using the spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA). We estimated that populations in the Seto Inland Sea region migrated through a single paleowater system during the last glacial period and were then separated and genetically differentiated due to marine transgression. The Yoshino River system population was estimated to be a non-native population because it belonged to the same group as the Lake Biwa-Yodo River system, which is the only separate water system across the Seto Inland Sea. This study provides new evidence of genetic differentiation in A. t. tabira populations within the Seto Inland Sea region, where genetic differentiation has not been detected in previous studies, corresponding to five different groups by significantly increasing the number of individuals and sites compared with previous studies. Therefore, we propose these five groups as conservation units in the Seto Inland Sea region.

Capture-based methods are commonly used for biomonitoring fish assemblages in freshwater. The recent advancement in environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding provides a sensitive, cost-effective, and non-intrusive alternative to traditional methods. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of this approach in river–lake systems has yet to be assessed, and there is ongoing debate regarding the selection of sampling media. In this study, we investigated fish assemblages based on traditional approaches and the eDNA metabarcoding method by analyzing water and sediment from 30 locations along the Baiyang Lake and its inflow rivers (China). The results showed that 21 species were identified based on traditional methods, and a total of 29 species were detected using eDNA, with 22 species found in river water eDNA, 25 species in lake water eDNA, and 27 species in surface sediment samples. Nine benthic fish species were detected exclusively in sediment. The community composition of rivers and lakes revealed by water eDNA is similar, reflecting the biotic homogenization in this river–lake system. A neutral community model (NCM) analysis based on lake water and river water eDNA showed that fish assemblages were not dominated by random processes (5.3 % and 2.7 % concordance with the neutral model, respectively), while analysis of surface sediment eDNA showed more support for random processes (50.2 %). Temperature was the main environmental factor correlated with water eDNA, while NH3–N and TP were the main factors correlating with sediment eDNA.

While monitoring is essential for effective conservation, obtaining occurrence data is often challenging, time consuming and expensive. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has a high number of threatened and endemic species that need effective and urgent conservation actions informed by sound monitoring data. Community (or citizen) science surveys can provide cost-effective data for large areas over extended time and these geocoded and time-stamped observations can deliver information on species of conservation interest. We provide a spatio-temporal analysis of Least Concern, Near Threatened and globally threatened Atlantic Forest endemic bird species from iNaturalist, eBird and WikiAves and analyze species according to their global trends. Together, these three datasets contained 838,880 unique observations of 218 species in 2000–2022, including 95 threatened and Near Threatened species. While the absolute number of observations of threatened and Near Threatened species increased annually, their proportion decreased compared to the total number of observations. Similarly, the proportion of observations of declining species decreased. Through time, the number of non-specialist birdwatchers could have increased, with the higher survey effort resulting in a higher proportion of common (i.e., more easily observed) species. However, this pattern can also reflect real trends, as most threatened and Near Threatened species were declining, leading to decreased detectability and relatively fewer observations, even with the same effort and skills. Decreasing and threatened species need special attention and targeted monitoring. In spite of the biases inherent in non-structured datasets and the difficulties of surveying rare species, community science can provide an effective warning system, and can improve monitoring of species at high risk of extinction.

Brazil, a crucial player in global climate change mitigation, faces challenges in reducing its carbon emissions, of which nearly half are from land use changes. Despite potential reductions that can be achieved through halting deforestation and fostering forest restoration, setbacks in environmental governance have heightened emissions. This article assesses challenges and proposes solutions for conserving and restoring Brazilian biomes in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement by 2030. Notably, net carbon emissions from land-use change and forestry increased twofold from 2017 to 2022 due to deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado. Native vegetation clearing peaked at 2.8 Mha in 2022, the largest area since 2008. The deficit of native vegetation within Legal Reserves and Permanent Protection Areas must be addressed through restoration. Achieving SDGs by 2030 demands urgent action against illegal deforestation, reinforced legislation for secondary forest protection, large-scale restoration programs, and economic incentives for forest conservation through payment for ecosystem services to rural landowners.

Predation risk is perceived by prey and mesocarnivores through risk signals given by large carnivores. These signals can be manipulated without exposing mesocarnivores to real risk, creating landscapes of fear through perceptual traps, altering behavior. Olfactory signals like urine and feces have been used to deter carnivores that predate on livestock, but a more biologically meaningful cue could be more effective. Livestock guardian dogs (LGD) deter carnivores and reduce predation, so using their whole-body odor as a risk signal in a livestock system could contribute to reduce livestock-carnivore conflict. We tested LGD whole-body odor effect on Patagonian foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus and Lycalopex griseus) present in sheep production in three different habitats—forest, scrubland and pastureland—and analyzed behavioral changes. The presence of LGD whole-body odor reduce the presence of foxes in scrubland habitats and could increase fear behavior and reduced food consumption compared to non-scented places. This technique could act as a complement to LGD, amplifying its effect, but the habitat characteristics must be considered to make it effective. LGD whole-body odor, a more realistic risk signal, representing the presence of LGD without exposing mesocarnivores to a real encounter, i.e. a perceptual trap, could contribute to reduce livestock losses and carnivore threats from livestock owners, aiming to facilitate coexistence between livestock production and native carnivores.

Among the several noxious characteristics of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a low environmental degradation rate, as they remain in the environment for decades. One of the measures adopted to mitigate environmental contamination is the imposition of bans and restrictions to several chemical compounds. But are bans being efficient to reduce the amount of such chemicals in the environment? In this systematic review, we analyzed the efficacy of banning POPs using bats as biomonitors in terrestrial habitats. Although bats provide relevant ecosystem services, these animals are highly exposed to chemical organic pollutants such as POPs due to their feeding and behavioral habits. POP concentrations were observed in biological tissues of bats in the genus Myotis (United States), with levels decreasing over the years since the ban. We also noticed a shortage of studies in neotropical regions, where the information gap on several POPs in tropical systems is still a concern in terms of history and intensive use of these toxic chemicals. Few studies were found on emerging POPs or on POPs recently included in the Stockholm Convention. Besides, the specimens in the analyses in the studies reviewed were not separated by sex or age, which may conceal the potential risk of POPs to the conservation of bat populations. We recommend that future research extends beyond chronic POP contamination in bats to also include risk assessment trials, as wild populations may be affected in the long-term, as well as their role in the ecosystem and the economy, requiring long-term studies.

Climate conditions have a strong influence on the distribution of many natural communities; thus, the influence of global climate change may alter ecosystems. High-altitude wetlands in the Central Andes of Argentina (CAA) provide relevant ecosystem benefits and promote human activities. However, a degradation of Andean wetlands has been observed and documented in the last decades. Projecting the impacts of climate change on future distribution of wetlands is an essential subject in ecological studies. In this work, the present and future suitability for wetland systems in a pristine section of the CAA using spatial distribution modeling under low and high-emission scenarios are explored. The studied wetlands are strongly driven by bioclimatic variables such as mean annual temperature, precipitation, and its seasonality. Projections show that most of the currently occupied areas will modify under future climate conditions. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns will decrease the potential suitability in low elevation areas for the next decades for the species inhabiting there, especially south of 29 °S. Additionally, future warmer climatic conditions, greater temperature variability, and reduction in precipitation would probably affect the snow cover and the available water supply which are key limiting factors for the distribution of Andean wetlands. This research is a contribution to understanding possible effects of climate change on high-altitude ecosystems. Mitigation measures for conservation of wetlands in CAA are immediately required to compensate for the impact of climate change under future environmental conditions.

The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a globally threatened species. Its highly mobile capability presents important challenges for conservation planning, especially in extremely geographically complex regions such as Colombia, where little is known about its ecology. Over the past three decades, financial and technical conservation efforts have primarily focussed on reintroduction and local management strategies. However, these initiatives did not properly prioritize the various conservation measures undertaken. We utilized roosting locations across Colombia to identify suitable roosting distribution with high risk because of the anthropogenic impact on a Systematic Planning Tool for decision-making based on robust spatial habitat modelling to define where and how should focus the Andean condor conservation actions in the country. Specifically, we aimed to develop a conservation planning tool to facilitate spatially explicit decision-making. Our results showed that Colombia has at least 19,571.33 km2 of suitable roosting habitat for this species, but over 30% of this area is currently considered to be under conservation risk due to severe anthropogenic impacts. Considering this, we suggested different actions for each proposed area according to potential threats generated by human communities.

Understanding the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on species spatial distribution is challenging, mainly because knowledge of species occurrences is biased. Survey efforts are unevenly distributed causing spatial sampling biases that are normally neglected. Assessing sampling bias is particularly urgent for threatened ecoregions, such as the Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot. Here, we assess spatial sampling biases of small rodents in the Atlantic Forest, using an integrative approach with accessibility and landscape metrics. We built a robust dataset of 11,495 primary records of the Atlantic Forest’s small rodent species, based on information from digitally accessible repositories. We expect that well-sampled sites are spatially aggregated and nearer roads, urban centers, on landscapes with larger forest fragments, and with higher percentage of forest cover. We also expect gaps of small rodents sampling in rare landscape conditions. Our results indicated that only less than 1% of the Atlantic Forest (at 1 km2 cell-size resolution) are well sampled. Following our expectations, the well-sampled sites were spatially aggregated biased toward roads, urban centers, larger forest fragments, and landscapes with higher percentage of forest cover. We also found a survey gap on common landscape conditions. Our findings suggest that the spatial distribution of small rodents at landscape level (1 km2) remains unknown across most of the Atlantic Forest spatial extension. Our findings also point to new priority sites for small mammals sampling on common landscape conditions, in smaller fragments and on remote areas improving spatial distribution knowledge and contributing to conservation policies at landscape level.

In the decade of global ecological restoration efforts, Brazil intends to restore 12 million hectares of degraded areas. This will require an ample offer of seeds of native species, unavailable on the current market, which is partly due to inadequate legislation. We reviewed the literature on native seed production and the specific legislation in Brazil, and compared with rules of other countries to identify good examples to be followed. We first verified a lack of regulation concerning the seed collection in natural environments in Brazil, which contrasts with the Society of Ecological Restoration (SER) recommendations. Best practices for seed collection should be developed by environmental agencies. Second, the scarcity of accredited laboratories for native seed quality analysis is a limitation in Brazil. The development of strategies for streamlined accreditation that align with SER's quality standards for native seeds meant for restoration purposes is an important step. Furthermore, the regulation of the trade of seed mixtures in Brazil is currently restrictive and requires a revision of norms to facilitate their use, as the case in the European Union. The mixtures directly harvested from remnants are promising to promote restoration, especially of grassy ecosystems. Another aspect is the establishment of Seed Transfer Zones (STZs) to promote the use of locally adapted ecotypes and to ensure the conservation of genetic diversity in restoration. Our study indicates how examples from other countries and the SER guidelines can guide advances in Brazilian legislation and streamline the development of a seed supply chain for ecological restoration.

Wetlands play an important role for water, carbon storage and biodiversity in the seasonally dry and hot environments of tropical savannas. Peatlands, which are permanent wetlands, are important as the carbon-richest parts of wetland ecosystems with a strong ability to store carbon, retain water and regulate its flow. With this first review on peatlands in the Cerrado we synthesize existing knowledge and gaps on their distribution and types in the biome including, vegetation, soil properties, carbon stocks and hydrogeomorphology. Peatlands are embedded in wetland complexes in valleys, groundwater-fed oligo- to mesotrophic, with wet grass- and shrubland, Vereda or riparian swamp forest vegetation. Average peat depth is 1.4 meters and soil carbon stocks in the first meter can be 9 times higher than in mineral soils under Cerrado dryland vegetation, reaching about 1000 t carbon per hectare. Total soil carbon stock estimates (3.19 Gt C) in peatlands equal 13.3% of the total soil carbon in the Cerrado in only 0.7% of its total area, although large uncertainties exist. Actual peatland occurrence appears to be more abundant than current soil and peat maps suggest. The high rate of transformation of the native vegetation into industrial agriculture and wood plantations, which affects large parts of the Cerrado, is a major cause for the degradation and the loss of peatlands and other wetlands. However, the extent of peatland degradation and resulting carbon losses remain unfathomed. We identified research needs such as better mapping and monitoring, and recommend including peatlands into wetland classification systems in Brazil.

The subdivision of Amazonia in large interfluvial areas of endemism (delimited by major rivers), based mostly on bird species distributions, has been a recurrent starting point to the understanding and conservation of the biome’s megadiversity. Yet, no areas of endemism or regionalization have been described for the well over 100 bird species that occupy floodplain habitats along the rivers, and thus are not expected to have ranges delimited by the rivers themselves. Here, through spatial analyses of updated range maps (based on a dataset with more than 80 thousand occurrence records), for a revised list of 182 floodplain specialized bird taxa, we identified ten areas of endemism and a complementary habitat-specific regionalization of the biome (with 13 regions). For the floodplain birds, Amazonian major rivers are segmented into distinct areas of endemism rather than these areas being delimited by the rivers. The well-established large interfluvial areas of endemism are appropriate for terra firme species but fail to account for taxa associated with floodplain habitats. Natural history traits and taxonomy of endemic species suggest that both ecological and historical processes have contributed to the patterns found. This new regionalization is consistent with the view of Amazonia as a mosaic of ecoregions and offers a complementary scheme for studies on the evolution and conservation of the floodplain component of its biodiversity.

“The biodiversity of the Caatinga is poorly known” has been a mantra among studies on biodiversity in Brazil, including birds. However, species richness in semiarid regions is expected to be lower than that in other ecosystems, and studies in the Caatinga have increased in recent decades. Therefore, this narrative may not only reflect knowledge bias. Here, we gathered complementary datasets of bird assemblages from literature and an online database of the Caatinga and other phytogeographic domains in Brazil. We then employed novel spatial and temporal predictive statistics to address this question. We estimate that the Caatinga is only six species short of fully knowing its taxonomic diversity. We did find important spatial knowledge gaps regarding species distribution, but only higher than that of the Atlantic Forest. The species richness and distribution of Caatinga birds are as well-known as the Pampa and Pantanal and are better known than the Cerrado and the Amazon rainforest. Our findings challenge the notion that the Caatinga is the poorest known region regarding birds. Bird research in the region should focus on advancing a research and conservation agenda that enhances understanding of regional biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics while promoting ecological syntheses for tropical dry forests.

Often, Latin America conservation policy implicitly assumes past references to define worth-conserving ecosystems. However, the Pleistocene/pre-human reference is based on biophysical conditions impossible to be restored; the early Holocene reference overlooks that early humans likely caused massive extinctions; pre-European references fail to acknowledge that indigenous societies were often unsustainable and that many valuable ecosystems are in part a colonial legacy; pre-industrial references underplay the role of biological invasions, modern technology and socioeconomic development to preserve, increase or generate biodiversity. The Anthropocene rapid dynamics requires forward-looking policies that incorporate change as a source of biodiversity and resilience, actively accept that urbanization and modern agriculture can play a key role in conservation, challenge the prevalence of nativism and eco-alarmism, and emphasize that research should focus on shaping future socio-ecological scenarios, that would necessarily differ from the past.

Words and terms evoke responses in us, independently of their original meaning. Precise language matters because terminology can affect conservation. For example, current deforestation rates put the Amazon in the spotlight of global conservation, particularly after the “savannization of the Amazon” was proposed. This term associates cleared or degraded forests with savannas, reinforcing prejudices against natural savannas. The Cerrado is the world’s largest and richest savanna, but receives less conservation attention and resources. Firstly, we showed a multisector Cerrado neglect: number of protected areas, non-governmental organizations, academic human resources, and companies were larger in the Amazon, but deforested area was proportionally smaller. Secondly, we analyzed the academic use of “savannization of the Amazon.” In all 481 studies using this term, human action was implied, and most meant that degraded Amazon does not become old-growth savanna. We propose abandoning the use of “savannization of the Amazon”, promoting the support and attention the Cerrado needs.

The Cerrado, the second largest biome in Brazil and home to nearly 5% of global biodiversity, has experienced a resurgence of devegetation due to the expansion of agribusiness activities. For the last two years, the devegetated area was more than one million hectares per year, surpassing the suppressed vegetation in the Amazon for the same period. Thus, the biome that is already the most impacted in Brazil is rapidly going to a critical tipping point of conservation, when conservation actions, like habitat restoration and species management, will be inviable due to the high cost. Such a situation results from political decisions taken years ago to expand the agricultural frontier to its northern portion, where environmental and social impacts are of high concern. We argue that a new development model is urgently needed to be implemented in the region with most of the remaining natural area.

Biodiversity, ecosystems and the services they provide are crucial to the sustainable development of cities, the health and well-being of residents and the maintenance of urban ecological security. The continued decline of global species biodiversity and ecosystem service function has seriously affected the sustainable development of regional social economy. The core of ecological civilization thought is sustainable development, and promoting sustainable development is also the path and means to achieve ecological civilization. As the significant birthplace of ecological civilization thought of “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, Huzhou has always been committed to creating an “important window” for building an ecological civilization and actively integrating biodiversity conservation into ecological conservation. Through unremitting efforts in recent decades, Huzhou has successfully achieved green sustainable development and reversed the trend of biodiversity loss. Thus, there is a need for a systematic review of successful initiatives in this region and identify the experiences and methods that can advance the sustainable development also in other parts of the world.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of pollution caused by stone quarries on the morpho-anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology of a medicinal wild bramble Rubus plicatus Weihe & Nees. Samples were collected from two natural protected areas: Iron Gates Natural Park and Jiu Gorge National Park, both located in the southwestern part of Romania, and two unpolluted areas from these parks as background sites. We carried out the following analyses on the collected leaves of this taxon: morphology, micromorphology, anatomy, assimilating pigments, heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cr, Fe), dry mass, bioactive compounds (total phenols and flavonoids), and antioxidant capacity. The results showed more stomata, higher amounts of assimilating pigments, higher amounts of heavy metals (especially lead), less dry mass, less phenols, and more flavonoids in Rubus plicatus leaves from polluted areas compared to areas without sources of pollution. The increased number of stomata and the amounts of assimilator pigments revealed the mechanisms developed by this species in order to survive in polluted conditions.

Spatial epidemiology tools play a critical role in effectively allocating resources to curb the spread of animal diseases. This study focuses on classical scrapie (CS), an animal prion disease identified in Portugal, which infects small ruminant flocks and has been shown to be experimentally transmissible to wild cervids. Utilising remote sensing technologies and semi-automatic classification models, we aimed to evaluate the risk of interspecies prion transmission from domestic small ruminants to wild cervids (hosts). To achieve this, we gathered data related to hosts and infected small ruminant flocks. Furthermore, we collected and processed freely available, medium-resolution satellite imagery to derive vegetative and biophysical spectral indices capable of representing the primary habitat features. By employing a pixel-based species distribution model, we integrated the compiled geographical distribution data and spectral data with five supervised classification algorithms (random forest, classification tree analysis, artificial neural network, generalised linear model, and generalised additive model). The consensus map allowed accurate predictions of spatialised regions exhibiting spectral characteristics similar to where CS and its hosts were initially identified. By overlapping suitable territories for disease and host occurrence, we created a spatially explicit tool that assesses the risk of prion spill-over from domestic small ruminants to wild cervids. The described methodology is highly replicable and freely accessible, thus emphasising its practical utility. This study underscores the substantial contribution of model-based spatial analysis to disease monitoring and lays the groundwork for defining populations at risk and implementing targeted control and prevention strategies, thus safeguarding both animal and public health.

In the face of ongoing anthropogenic pressure and biodiversity loss, there is a need to protect nature more effectively. Therefore, we propose a comprehensive and consecutive approach utilising landscape ecological principles and methods for effective landscape protection and spatial nature conservation. Methods applicable in various conditions are exemplified through case studies from the Šumava National Park, the largest NP in Czechia. Using a set of spatial environmental, landscape ecological and geographical data we can: Characterise the area of interest from the physical-geographical, socioeconomic, and management point of view to create the concept´s framework and review important background information for analysis of the area. Therefore, the key factors for landscape protection and biodiversity conservation are defined. Analyse trends and processes of landscape dynamics in terms of land cover, landscape structure and habitat fragmentation and connectivity, which helps us to set main objectives of landscape protection and nature conservation. Use data about environment conditions and key species and habitat occurrence to model habitat suitability, identify their suitable areas, and thus improve their protection. As a result, areas of high conservation value are distinguished. Synthetize outputs of the above-mentioned steps and prioritise the target goals of landscape protection and biodiversity conservation in the area of interest. This leads to the effective zonation, which is a necessary condition for the application of appropriate management measures.

The current study employed diverse statistical and machine learning techniques to investigate the biodiversity and spatial distribution of phytoplankton cysts in the Black Sea. The MaxEnt distribution modeling technique was used to forecast the habitat suitability for the cysts of three potentially toxic microalgal taxa (Lingulodinium polyedra, Polykrikos hartmannii, and Alexandrium spp.). The key variables controlling the habitat suitability of Alexandrium spp. and L. polyedra were nitrates and temperature, while for the P. hartmannii cysts, nitrates and salinity. The region with the highest likelihood of L. polyedra cyst occurrence appears to be in the western coastal and shelf waters, which coincides with the areas where L. polyedra red tides have been documented. The projected habitat suitability of the examined species partially overlapped, perhaps as a result of their cohabitation within the phytoplankton community and shared preferences for specific environmental conditions, demonstrating similar survival strategies. The north-western region of the Black Sea was found to be the most suitable environment for the studied potentially toxic species, presumably posing a greater risk for the onset of blooming events. Two distinct aspects of cysts’ ecology and settlement were observed: the dispersal of cysts concerns their movement within the water column from one place to another prior to settling, while habitat suitability pertains to the particular environment required for their survival, growth, and germination. Therefore, it is crucial to validate the model in order to accurately determine a suitable habitat as well as understand the transportation patterns linked to the particular hydrodynamic properties of the water column and the distinct features of the local environment.

The present study focused on investigating the population structure and breeding biology of a species of Porcellanid crab, Petrolisthes boscii (Audouin, 1826). Evaluating the population ecology of the species is essential considering its crucial role in ecological functions including the nutrition cycle and its potential vulnerability to environmental stressors. The samples were collected over a period of 12 consecutive months (from March 2019 to February 2020) in an area of 500 m2 during low tide, utilizing the catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) method when the water receded. The collected specimens (859 individuals) were categorized into males (407 individuals), non-ovigerous females (452 individuals), and ovigerous females (303 individuals). The assessment of fecundity was conducted by measuring the egg characteristics, including the total number, size, and weight of the eggs, as well as the carapace width of the ovigerous females. There was an evident difference in size, with males (8.60 ± 2.76) being significantly larger compared to females (8.39 ± 2.46) (p < 0.001). The overall and monthly sex ratios were female-biased (1:1.17). Moreover, the size frequency distribution revealed a bimodal distribution in male as well as female individuals. Ovigerous females occurred in all the months, which shows that the species breeds continuously throughout the year, with peaks in the months of March to May and August to October. There was a significant positive relationship observed among the size of ovigerous females and their total number of eggs (130.39 ± 83.31), egg mass weight (150 ± 110 mg). The study may provide baseline information for future studies on the impacts of a continuously altering environment and the consequences of increasing anthropogenic pressure on coastal areas.

Abstract Population surges of crown‐of‐thorns starfish (COTS) (Acanthaster spp.) are a leading cause of coral cover loss on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). While COTS culling has been undertaken since 2012 little is known about how the public perceive COTS culling or how perceptions vary among social groups. Drawing on survey data collected in 2018 and 2022 we test the relative influence of demographic variables, social and institutional variables, and beliefs concerning the risks and benefits of culling, on public acceptance for the culling of COTS on the GBR. In contrast with previous research suggesting a polarization of views, we found limited opposition to culling (12% in 2018 and 8% in 2022). Remaining respondents, however, were almost equally divided between those who agreed or strongly agreed with culling and those who were neutral or only slightly in agreement. The strongest predictors of support, in terms of standardized mean odds ratios, were the perceived social, environmental, and ethical responsibility of culling (1.57), the manageability of culling risks (1.46), the personal importance of the GBR to the respondent (1.33), trust in science to deliver solutions (1.30), confidence in management of the GBR (1.26), and how much of a threat respondents believed COTS posed to the Reef (1.25). These findings suggest public communications about COTS culling might usefully focus on how scientific understanding, ongoing research, ecosystem monitoring, and partnerships with Reef Traditional Owners and stakeholders guide operations.

Abstract Biocultural diversity is declining globally. Cultural keystone species (CKS) are one promising pathway by which biocultural approaches to conservation, which seek to protect both biological and cultural diversity, might be implemented in practice. We traced the evolution of the CKS concept in relation to Indigenous Peoples in the Canadian context through a scoping review of the literature from 2000 to 2021 and nine in‐depth interviews with Indigenous Guardians and knowledge holders. Emergent themes in this scoping review indicate that CKS, rather than being viewed as objects for conservation, can be understood as ongoing relationship(s) between the cultural and ecological, which are intimately tied to language, knowledge, practices, and places in ways that are deeply interconnected. One cannot protect CKS, therefore, without also protecting the relationships that people (or groups of people) have to that species. We conclude by recommending further investment in policies and programs that support enabling mechanisms for Indigenous Peoples to maintain, manage, and restore relationships with CKS.

Abstract Earth's forests are continually monitored by both the satellite record and the lived experiences of nearly 2 billion forest‐proximate peoples. Generally, the satellite record summarizes production estimates, such as percent tree cover, at regular, relatively coarse scales. Conversely, local perceptions tend to capture changes at irregular and very fine scales. While the utility of both of these sources of information has been widely demonstrated in isolation, little work has explored in what contexts they are expected to correlate or deviate, or how they might be quantitatively integrated. Here, we collect gridded information on community perceived and remotely sensed mangrove cover change across 719 0.5‐km grids in Pemba Island, Tanzania. We reveal variation in the association between these two data sources across different wards (shehia) and explore the reasons for this variation using interviews and direct observation. We find that shehia with the greatest alignment between perceived and remotely sensed mangrove change tended to have little planting or natural regeneration of mangrove propagules and large areas of complete cover loss. Alternatively, in shehia with the lowest alignment, we find high levels of natural and/or human‐assisted mangrove recolonization and selective harvesting of individual trees and branches. These findings indicate that the alignment between local knowledge and satellite observations of mangrove cover change systematically increases with the scale of change in this system. Finally, we demonstrate a practical workflow for quantitatively leveraging these misalignments by optimizing across both data sources to identify restoration priority areas.

Abstract Human–elephant conflict is growing in Africa as human populations and development increases, creating disturbance to elephant habitats. Beehive fences have been trialed as a coexistence tool with some success but all studies have looked at small sample sizes over a short time period. Our study analyses the behavior of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) that approached a network of beehive fence protected farms in two conflict villages over 9 years next to Tsavo East National Park. We compare differences in elephant raids and beehive occupation rates annually, during a drought, and during peak crop production seasons. Out of 3999 elephants approaching our study farms 1007 elephants broke the beehive fence and entered the protected farm areas (25.18%). This was significantly less than the 2649 encounters where elephants remained either outside the farm boundary or broke into the control farms (66.24%). A further 343 elephants entered the farm by walking through a gap at the end of a fence (8.56%). The annual beehive fence break‐through rates averaged 23.96% (±SE 3.15) resulting in a mean of 76.04% elephants deterred from beehive fences protected farm plots. Over six peak crop growing seasons the beehive fences kept between 78.3% and 86.3% of elephants out of the farms and crops. The beehive fences produced one ton of honey sold for $2250; however, a drought caused a 75% reduction in hive occupation rates and honey production for 3 years after negatively impacting honey profits and the effectiveness of the fences. Beehive fences are very effective at reducing up to 86.3% of elephant crop‐raids during peak crop seasons after good rainfall, but any increase in elephant habitat disturbance or the frequency and duration of droughts could reduce their effectiveness as a successful coexistence tool.

Abstract Reintroduction programs have increased amid unprecedented biodiversity loss, yet the success of these programs lag. A prominent reason for program failure is dispersal beyond the planned range of the population. Management techniques, such as hazing, can be used to prevent movement beyond set boundaries, but to be effective long‐term, the animals must learn to avoid the areas where they are hazed. Although concepts of animal learning have been used to improve reintroduction programs, learning is not often explicitly tested or used as an indicator of program success. We used a conservation behavior framework to evaluate how a range of management techniques influenced learning in a reintroduced population of bison in Banff National Park, Canada. We hypothesized exposure to stronger negative stimuli would enhance learning, leading to more pronounced behavioral responses. Specifically, we tested the degree to which management actions (i.e., drift fence encounters, foot, horseback, helicopter, and combined hazing) elicited behavioral responses and how they facilitated learning. Consistent with our predictions, drift fence interactions and foot and horseback hazing elicited fewer behavioral responses of a smaller magnitude than helicopter hazing or combined methods, suggesting these techniques cause less disturbance to the bison. Bison continually returned to locations where they encountered management actions that caused the least disturbance, demonstrating a lack of associative learning. Bison appeared to form negative associations with locations where they were hazed via helicopter or combined methods, however, and rarely returned to these locations. Evaluating management techniques is essential for improving conservation success. We demonstrate that by bridging the fields of conservation biology and animal learning, we can understand how management techniques influence learning and behavior thereby facilitating effective conservation plans that incorporate disruption levels of the animals, financial costs, and overall effectiveness. Effective conservation plans, in turn, improve our likelihood of successfully managing and recovering species.

Abstract The ecosystem system services framework has potential to help clarify wildlife management challenges at the single species scale, but existing methods struggle to capture the complex values and tradeoffs at play in human–wildlife interactions. We worked with community scientists to gather and use stories (n = 150) as a source of ecosystem services data about living alongside eastern coyotes (Canis latrans var) in rural Vermont, United States. Our a priori ecosystem service assessment showed that human–coyote interactions can have simultaneous positive and negative human well‐being impacts at both the sample scale and for individual interviewees. Our research identified emergent themes that lent insight into how interviewees justified different kinds of relationships with coyotes. We applied a tradeoffs lens to evaluate three policy options based on their potential to mitigate ecosystem disservices and maximize ecosystem services from human–coyote interactions. We found that ecosystem services assessment rooted in a dataset of stories revealed policy‐relevant understanding of value conflicts and alignments at the sample scale without overshadowing the nuances of individual interviewees' experiences.

Abstract The maternal roosting behavior of migratory, tree‐dwelling bat species remains poorly understood. From 2016 to 2020 we radio‐tagged 53 adult female silver‐haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) and tracked them to their day roosts to evaluate roosting habits in a cottonwood (Populus) forest in the floodplain of the Bitterroot River in western Montana. We investigated roost tree characteristics of maternity colonies such as canopy closure, tree size, and decay stage, as well as the daily roost fidelity of tagged bats. Additionally, we marked 55 bats with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to assess interannual fidelity to summer habitat. We tracked bats to 94 unique roost trees. Based on previous studies, we expected silver‐haired bat maternity colonies to roost in tall, large diameter trees. We modeled roosting probability as a function of tree height, day of year, and the interaction of these terms. We found bats preferred taller trees earlier in the year, but overall roosting probability decreased throughout the season and tree height had lesser influence on roosting probability later in the year. Bats used tall trees with high canopy closure in early stages of decay during periods of pregnancy and lactation, while the effect of these tree attributes lessened later in the season, perhaps after lactation when energetic constraints were reduced for adult females to prepare for migration by entering torpor during the day. Bats used an average of 5.2 roost trees during the young rearing period and remained in the same roost for an average of 1.5 consecutive days. While daily roost fidelity was low, we documented interannual fidelity to summer habitat from nine individuals. We found silver‐haired bat roosting preferences vary with time, are tree‐specific, and policies targeting conservation of the species should manage flood regimes to promote cottonwood establishment, height growth, and a mosaic of riparian habitats.

Abstract Effective conservation practices require addressing the divide between research and implementation. Co‐production, which emphasizes collaboration and diverse knowledge exchange, is increasingly recognized as valuable in conservation to address this challenge, yet empirical insights remain limited. This case study explores using a Community of Practice (CoP) as an avenue for facilitating co‐production in shorebird conservation. Centering researchers and practitioners within implementation initiatives, we evaluate factors enabling a successful CoP and barriers hindering members' experiences. Capacity emerged as the predominant barrier, while the leading factors contributing to CoP success were having a dedicated space to support labor division, relationship building, and informal learning among CoP members. Leveraging our evaluation insights, we offer practical recommendations for structuring a CoP to optimize these benefits and advance the integration of CoPs and co‐production principles in conservation practice.

Abstract Digital games are an increasingly dominant form of digital entertainment with billions of players globally. While most of these games have a commercial focus, fields like public health and education have seen a growth of “serious games,” which aim to solve real world problems. In the context of biodiversity conservation, mobile games have been controversial, with some raising concerns around the way digital channels risk replacing the very nature they portray, therefore deepening a “nature‐deficit disorder.” We ran a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of the mobile game “Kākāpō Run” on pro‐environmental behaviors amongst a cohort of 200 participants in New Zealand. Kākāpō Run was developed by a UK conservation charity, and aims to increase the support for Kākāpō conservation, as well as to increase pro‐environmental behaviors linked to Kākāpō conservation. Study participants completed a 10‐minute questionnaire before spending 1 hour playing their assigned mobile game over seven days. This was monitored by asking participants to share screenshots of their app usage for the duration of the experiment. After this, all participants re‐took the questionnaire. We found a positive impact across some knowledge and attitudes questions, behavioral intentions linked to willingness to volunteer time and support policies aiming to remove invasive predators, as well as manage pet cats actively. However, we found no change in willingness to donate or actual donations. This research showcases both the potential of mobile games for conservation outreach and marketing, and the importance of rigorous impact evaluation. We call for conservationists engaged in designing and promoting mobile games to approach game design and evaluation in a more research‐centered way to help develop an evidence base around the intended and unintended consequences of game playing. This mainstreaming of gaming science across conservation will be critical to allow mobile games to realize their potential as a leading communication channel.

Abstract Protected areas and biological corridors play a crucial role in conserving biodiversity and promoting connectivity between habitat patches. Bhutan, known as a stronghold for tigers (Panthera tigris), has dedicated a significant portion of its land to a network of protected areas and biological corridors. However, these areas face risks from illegal activities, posing challenges for their management. To address this, the Department of Forests & Park Services in Bhutan deployed an adaptive management framework, informed by the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool in 2016 in the Divisional Forest Office, Sarpang, an important corridor area outside of official protected area boundaries. This study analyses 5 years of data (2017–2021) recorded through a monitoring tool to assess changes in ranger activities and on‐ground observations. The results show improved data availability, increased patrol effort, enhanced monitoring of wildlife, and a reduction in threat detection over time. Furthermore, camera trap surveys targeting tigers reveal a potential increase in the number of individual tigers utilizing the corridor since the adoption of the tool and other management actions. These findings highlight the effectiveness of these efforts in a critical wildlife corridor.