High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in France

Abstract Intact natural landscapes are essential to both biodiversity conservation efforts and human well-being but are increasingly threatened and lack sufficient protection. Bold National and International protected area targets aim to address this problem, yet the question remains – where will th...

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Main Authors: Jonathan Carruthers-Jones, Adrien Guetté, Steve Carver, Thierry Lefebvre, Daniel Vallauri, Laure Debeir, Toby Aykroyd, Christian Barthod, Pascal Cavallin, Sophie Vallée, Fabienne Benest, Erwan Cherel, Zoltan Kun, Olivier Debuf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02160-0
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author Jonathan Carruthers-Jones
Adrien Guetté
Steve Carver
Thierry Lefebvre
Daniel Vallauri
Laure Debeir
Toby Aykroyd
Christian Barthod
Pascal Cavallin
Sophie Vallée
Fabienne Benest
Erwan Cherel
Zoltan Kun
Olivier Debuf
author_facet Jonathan Carruthers-Jones
Adrien Guetté
Steve Carver
Thierry Lefebvre
Daniel Vallauri
Laure Debeir
Toby Aykroyd
Christian Barthod
Pascal Cavallin
Sophie Vallée
Fabienne Benest
Erwan Cherel
Zoltan Kun
Olivier Debuf
author_sort Jonathan Carruthers-Jones
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Intact natural landscapes are essential to both biodiversity conservation efforts and human well-being but are increasingly threatened and lack sufficient protection. Bold National and International protected area targets aim to address this problem, yet the question remains – where will these areas be located? Using France as a case study, we present a high-resolution method to map naturalness potential. The resulting map, CARTNAT, performs well at identifying areas which have already been recognised as worthy of strong protection, under both National and International designations, however, only 1% of the top 10% of high naturalness areas in France are currently strongly protected. CARTNAT is already being used to highlight potential sites for new protected areas supporting the French National Strategy for Protected Areas to 2030. We argue that spatially informed participatory decision making of this type has the potential to deliver on national and international protected area policy objectives.
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issn 2662-4435
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Communications Earth & Environment
spelling doaj-art-75ef3184d8c64d0ba3f52fa58f7013dd2025-08-20T02:17:04ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-04-016111110.1038/s43247-025-02160-0High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in FranceJonathan Carruthers-Jones0Adrien Guetté1Steve Carver2Thierry Lefebvre3Daniel Vallauri4Laure Debeir5Toby Aykroyd6Christian Barthod7Pascal Cavallin8Sophie Vallée9Fabienne Benest10Erwan Cherel11Zoltan Kun12Olivier Debuf13University of Helsinki, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science & Faculty of Agriculture and ForestryUniversité de Tours, UMR CITERES, CITERES-DATESchool of Geography, University of LeedsIUCNWWF FranceIUCN French CommitteeWild EuropeMinistry of Environment (Retired), French GovernmentConservatoire du LittoralConservatoire Botanique of the AlpsNational Forest Centre, New AquitaineIUCN French CommitteeWildland Research InstituteFrench Office for Biodiversity, French GovernmentAbstract Intact natural landscapes are essential to both biodiversity conservation efforts and human well-being but are increasingly threatened and lack sufficient protection. Bold National and International protected area targets aim to address this problem, yet the question remains – where will these areas be located? Using France as a case study, we present a high-resolution method to map naturalness potential. The resulting map, CARTNAT, performs well at identifying areas which have already been recognised as worthy of strong protection, under both National and International designations, however, only 1% of the top 10% of high naturalness areas in France are currently strongly protected. CARTNAT is already being used to highlight potential sites for new protected areas supporting the French National Strategy for Protected Areas to 2030. We argue that spatially informed participatory decision making of this type has the potential to deliver on national and international protected area policy objectives.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02160-0
spellingShingle Jonathan Carruthers-Jones
Adrien Guetté
Steve Carver
Thierry Lefebvre
Daniel Vallauri
Laure Debeir
Toby Aykroyd
Christian Barthod
Pascal Cavallin
Sophie Vallée
Fabienne Benest
Erwan Cherel
Zoltan Kun
Olivier Debuf
High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in France
Communications Earth & Environment
title High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in France
title_full High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in France
title_fullStr High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in France
title_full_unstemmed High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in France
title_short High-resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in France
title_sort high resolution naturalness mapping can support conservation policy objectives and identify locations for strongly protected areas in france
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02160-0
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