Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment
This study assesses the conservation effectiveness of 21 protected areas (PAs) in Northern Morocco, comprising 3 parks and 18 Sites of Ecological and Biological Interest (SBEIs), against five major landscape pressures (LSPs): deforestation, infrastructure extension, agricultural expansion, fires, an...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Conservation |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/4/3/29 |
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| author | Hamid Boubekraoui Zineb Attar Yazid Maouni Abdelilah Ghallab Rabah Saidi Abdelfettah Maouni |
| author_facet | Hamid Boubekraoui Zineb Attar Yazid Maouni Abdelilah Ghallab Rabah Saidi Abdelfettah Maouni |
| author_sort | Hamid Boubekraoui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study assesses the conservation effectiveness of 21 protected areas (PAs) in Northern Morocco, comprising 3 parks and 18 Sites of Ecological and Biological Interest (SBEIs), against five major landscape pressures (LSPs): deforestation, infrastructure extension, agricultural expansion, fires, and population growth. We propose a novel quantitative methodology using global remote sensing data and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA). Data were sourced from Global Forest Change (GFC), Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD), Burned Area Product (MODIS Fire_CCI51), and World Population datasets. The combined impact of the five LSPs was measured using a cumulative effect index (CEI), calculated with the Shannon–Wiener formula at a 1 km<sup>2</sup> scale. The CEI was analyzed alongside the distance to the PAs’ network using Moran’s index, identifying four spatial association types: high–high (<i>HH</i>), high–low (<i>HL</i>), low–low (<i>LL</i>), low–high (<i>LH</i>), and non-significant (NS) cells. This analysis defined four zones: inner zone (IZ), potential spillover effect zone (PSEZ), statistically non-significant zone (SNSZ), and non-potential effect zone (NPEZ). Conservation effectiveness was quantified using the conservation ratio (<i>CR</i>), which compared the prevalence of <i>LL</i> versus <i>HL</i> units within IZs and PSEZs. Four disturbance levels (very high, high, medium, and low) were assigned to <i>CR</i> values (0–25%, 25–50%, 50–75%, 75–100%), resulting in sixteen potential conservation effectiveness typologies. Initial findings indicated similar deforestation patterns between protected and unprotected zones, with wildfires causing over half of forest losses within PAs. Conservation effectiveness results categorized the 21 PAs into nine typologies, from high conservation to very high disturbance levels. A significant positive correlation (71%) between CRs in both zones underscored the uniform impact of LSPs, regardless of protection status. However, protected natural area zones in the parks category showed minimal disruption, attributed to their advanced protection status. Finally, we developed a methodological framework for potential application in other regions based on this case study. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e01ad890cc34278bacfd02e816407b0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-7159 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-8e01ad890cc34278bacfd02e816407b02025-08-20T01:55:28ZengMDPI AGConservation2673-71592024-08-014345248510.3390/conservation4030029Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness AssessmentHamid Boubekraoui0Zineb Attar1Yazid Maouni2Abdelilah Ghallab3Rabah Saidi4Abdelfettah Maouni5Biology, Environment and Sustainable Development Laboratory, ENS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan 93000, MoroccoBiology, Environment and Sustainable Development Laboratory, ENS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan 93000, MoroccoBiology, Environment and Sustainable Development Laboratory, ENS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan 93000, MoroccoRegional Directorate of the National Agency for Waters and Forests, Tetouan BP 722, MoroccoBiology, Environment and Sustainable Development Laboratory, ENS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan 93000, MoroccoBiology, Environment and Sustainable Development Laboratory, ENS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan 93000, MoroccoThis study assesses the conservation effectiveness of 21 protected areas (PAs) in Northern Morocco, comprising 3 parks and 18 Sites of Ecological and Biological Interest (SBEIs), against five major landscape pressures (LSPs): deforestation, infrastructure extension, agricultural expansion, fires, and population growth. We propose a novel quantitative methodology using global remote sensing data and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA). Data were sourced from Global Forest Change (GFC), Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD), Burned Area Product (MODIS Fire_CCI51), and World Population datasets. The combined impact of the five LSPs was measured using a cumulative effect index (CEI), calculated with the Shannon–Wiener formula at a 1 km<sup>2</sup> scale. The CEI was analyzed alongside the distance to the PAs’ network using Moran’s index, identifying four spatial association types: high–high (<i>HH</i>), high–low (<i>HL</i>), low–low (<i>LL</i>), low–high (<i>LH</i>), and non-significant (NS) cells. This analysis defined four zones: inner zone (IZ), potential spillover effect zone (PSEZ), statistically non-significant zone (SNSZ), and non-potential effect zone (NPEZ). Conservation effectiveness was quantified using the conservation ratio (<i>CR</i>), which compared the prevalence of <i>LL</i> versus <i>HL</i> units within IZs and PSEZs. Four disturbance levels (very high, high, medium, and low) were assigned to <i>CR</i> values (0–25%, 25–50%, 50–75%, 75–100%), resulting in sixteen potential conservation effectiveness typologies. Initial findings indicated similar deforestation patterns between protected and unprotected zones, with wildfires causing over half of forest losses within PAs. Conservation effectiveness results categorized the 21 PAs into nine typologies, from high conservation to very high disturbance levels. A significant positive correlation (71%) between CRs in both zones underscored the uniform impact of LSPs, regardless of protection status. However, protected natural area zones in the parks category showed minimal disruption, attributed to their advanced protection status. Finally, we developed a methodological framework for potential application in other regions based on this case study.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/4/3/29protected areasforest loss driversconservation effectivenesslandscape pressuresnorthern Morocco |
| spellingShingle | Hamid Boubekraoui Zineb Attar Yazid Maouni Abdelilah Ghallab Rabah Saidi Abdelfettah Maouni Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment Conservation protected areas forest loss drivers conservation effectiveness landscape pressures northern Morocco |
| title | Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment |
| title_full | Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment |
| title_short | Forest Loss Drivers and Landscape Pressures in a Northern Moroccan Protected Areas’ Network: Introducing a Novel Approach for Conservation Effectiveness Assessment |
| title_sort | forest loss drivers and landscape pressures in a northern moroccan protected areas network introducing a novel approach for conservation effectiveness assessment |
| topic | protected areas forest loss drivers conservation effectiveness landscape pressures northern Morocco |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/4/3/29 |
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