Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas

World natural heritage sites are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity. However, the current contribution and gaps of world natural heritage sites to biodiversity conservation remain unclear. To this end, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the changes in the number and ar...

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Main Author: LIU Mao1,2, XU Xue1,2, LUO Ya1,2*, YANG Shengtian3,4, SHI Chunmao1,2, ZHAO Shuang1,2, LIAO Mengyao1,2
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: China Science Publishing & Media Ltd. (CSPM) 2024-08-01
Series:Guangxi Zhiwu
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Online Access:http://www.guihaia-journal.com/gxzw/ch/reader/create_pdf.aspx?file_no=20240809&year_id=2024&quarter_id=8&falg=1
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author LIU Mao1,2, XU Xue1,2, LUO Ya1,2*, YANG Shengtian3,4, SHI Chunmao1,2, ZHAO Shuang1,2, LIAO Mengyao1,2
author_facet LIU Mao1,2, XU Xue1,2, LUO Ya1,2*, YANG Shengtian3,4, SHI Chunmao1,2, ZHAO Shuang1,2, LIAO Mengyao1,2
author_sort LIU Mao1,2, XU Xue1,2, LUO Ya1,2*, YANG Shengtian3,4, SHI Chunmao1,2, ZHAO Shuang1,2, LIAO Mengyao1,2
collection DOAJ
description World natural heritage sites are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity. However, the current contribution and gaps of world natural heritage sites to biodiversity conservation remain unclear. To this end, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the changes in the number and area of world natural heritage sites, and identified the current conservation gaps of world natural heritage sites in the globally important distribution areas of biodiversity, aimed to provide a reference for future screening of potential areas for world natural heritages sites. The results were as follows:(1)As of July 2021, there were a total of 257 world natural heritage sites, 189 of which had been inscribed on list with the primary purpose of conserving biodiversity, accounting for 73.54% of the total.(2)Of the 189 world heritage sites whose main purpose was the conservation of biodiversity, 80 were located in 16 super-rich biodiversity countries, 89 were located in 30 global biodiversity hotspots, 134 were located in global key biodiversity areas, and 170 were located in 12 vegetation biomes.(3)The differences in the spatial distribution of the number of world natural heritage sites were mainly influenced by the combination of factors such as the natural environment, the level of economic development and population distribution.(4)World natural heritage sites made an important contribution to biodiversity conservation but there were still gaps. In the future, the declaration of world heritage sites can be considered in three directions, those are expanding the list of non-renewable geological sites and biodiversity world heritage sites for inclusion in the categories, emphasizing and enhancing the effectiveness of the protection of unprotected priority areas for biodiversity conservation, and strengthening the distribution of under-represented sites in terms of geographic distribution. The results of the above research will be an important reference for guiding the search for areas of unique biodiversity value that have not yet been inscribed for world natural heritage protection.
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institution OA Journals
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language zho
publishDate 2024-08-01
publisher China Science Publishing & Media Ltd. (CSPM)
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spelling doaj-art-29fdbd35333c434facaa8784592977262025-08-20T02:08:27ZzhoChina Science Publishing & Media Ltd. (CSPM)Guangxi Zhiwu1000-31422024-08-014481495151110.11931/guihaia.gxzw202307030Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areasLIU Mao1,2, XU Xue1,2, LUO Ya1,2*, YANG Shengtian3,4, SHI Chunmao1,2, ZHAO Shuang1,2, LIAO Mengyao1,201. School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China;2. Cultivation Base of State Key Laboratory of Karst Mountain Ecology and Environment of Guizhou Province, Guiyang 550025, China;3. School of Ecological Civilization, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China;4. Institute of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China 1. School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China; 2. Cultivation Base of State Key Laboratory of Karst Mountain Ecology and Environment of Guizhou Province, Guiyang 550025, China; 3. School of Ecological Civilization, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China; 4. Institute of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaWorld natural heritage sites are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity. However, the current contribution and gaps of world natural heritage sites to biodiversity conservation remain unclear. To this end, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the changes in the number and area of world natural heritage sites, and identified the current conservation gaps of world natural heritage sites in the globally important distribution areas of biodiversity, aimed to provide a reference for future screening of potential areas for world natural heritages sites. The results were as follows:(1)As of July 2021, there were a total of 257 world natural heritage sites, 189 of which had been inscribed on list with the primary purpose of conserving biodiversity, accounting for 73.54% of the total.(2)Of the 189 world heritage sites whose main purpose was the conservation of biodiversity, 80 were located in 16 super-rich biodiversity countries, 89 were located in 30 global biodiversity hotspots, 134 were located in global key biodiversity areas, and 170 were located in 12 vegetation biomes.(3)The differences in the spatial distribution of the number of world natural heritage sites were mainly influenced by the combination of factors such as the natural environment, the level of economic development and population distribution.(4)World natural heritage sites made an important contribution to biodiversity conservation but there were still gaps. In the future, the declaration of world heritage sites can be considered in three directions, those are expanding the list of non-renewable geological sites and biodiversity world heritage sites for inclusion in the categories, emphasizing and enhancing the effectiveness of the protection of unprotected priority areas for biodiversity conservation, and strengthening the distribution of under-represented sites in terms of geographic distribution. The results of the above research will be an important reference for guiding the search for areas of unique biodiversity value that have not yet been inscribed for world natural heritage protection.http://www.guihaia-journal.com/gxzw/ch/reader/create_pdf.aspx?file_no=20240809&year_id=2024&quarter_id=8&falg=1world natural heritage sitesnature reservesbiodiversitypotential area
spellingShingle LIU Mao1,2, XU Xue1,2, LUO Ya1,2*, YANG Shengtian3,4, SHI Chunmao1,2, ZHAO Shuang1,2, LIAO Mengyao1,2
Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas
Guangxi Zhiwu
world natural heritage sites
nature reserves
biodiversity
potential area
title Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas
title_full Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas
title_fullStr Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas
title_full_unstemmed Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas
title_short Spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas
title_sort spatial distribution of global world natural heritage sites and suggestions for screening potential areas
topic world natural heritage sites
nature reserves
biodiversity
potential area
url http://www.guihaia-journal.com/gxzw/ch/reader/create_pdf.aspx?file_no=20240809&year_id=2024&quarter_id=8&falg=1
work_keys_str_mv AT liumao12xuxue12luoya12yangshengtian34shichunmao12zhaoshuang12liaomengyao12 spatialdistributionofglobalworldnaturalheritagesitesandsuggestionsforscreeningpotentialareas