ABSTRACT Rocky areas are widespread across many biomes globally and provide critical habitat for a diverse range of species. One group commonly associated with rocky areas are reptiles, with many species adapted to exploit the unique structural and microclimatic characteristics of rocky areas. However, the extent to which reptile species depend on rocky habitats remains poorly documented. Using International Union for Conservation of Nature habitat data, we determined that 25.5% of terrestrial squamates are associated with, and 10.5% are dependent on, rock habitats. Of these species, 20.6% of rock associated, and 21.7% of rock dependent species, are classified as threatened. Rock dependent species were 51% more likely to be Critically Endangered than non‐rock dependent species. Rock associated and rock dependent species had smaller range sizes and higher evolutionary distinctiveness than other squamates. Concerningly, despite rocky habitats being important for over a quarter of the world's squamate species, they are commonly overlooked and receive limited protection.
ABSTRACT Seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries is a globally pervasive conservation issue, yet evidence for effective, scalable mitigation remains limited. In a gillnet fishery off the United Kingdom (1057 sets), we evaluated two above water deterrents (AWDs); “scarybird” kites (“kites” hereafter) and looming‐eyes buoys (LEBs) for reducing seabird bycatch. Both AWDs significantly reduced the chance of auk bycatch occurring (kites = −71%, LEB = −59% lower odds of a bycatch event) and magnitude when it did occur (kites = −62%, LEB = −68% reduction in bycatch per unit effort) relative to controls. Kites had a stronger deterrent effect < 30 m from the device whereas LEBs were moderately effective over a broader range. Bycatch peaked in winter, and where net mesh sizes were 100–120 mm, indicating that targeted deployments of AWDs can maximize conservation benefit, while minimizing operational disruption. Given the ubiquity of gillnet fisheries, simple, low‐cost AWDs offer a practical route to reducing bycatch and supporting conservation policy.
ABSTRACT Rapid climate change is reducing the effectiveness of protected areas (PAs), yet exposure metrics alone do not indicate whether species can reach suitable climates. Targeting focal large terrestrial mammal taxa, we developed a climate‐informed connectivity framework integrating climate velocity, climatic residence time, and energetics‐based functional connectivity to assess the feasibility of climate‐driven redistribution across Europe. Combining habitat resistance with normalized terrain‐related energetic costs revealed spatially heterogeneous climate‐tracking opportunities. Small PAs with short residence times warrant particular attention because they provide limited internal space for tracking baseline climatic conditions and are often embedded in landscapes with low movement potential. Our framework revealed widespread mismatches between climatic stability and connectivity across Europe's PA network, providing a spatial basis for prioritizing restoration and connectivity under climate change.
ABSTRACT The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for conserving 30% of lands and waters by 2030 while respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Yet urgent timelines for recognizing other effective area‐based conservation measures (OECMs) can constrain Indigenous Nations’ authority over whether, when, and on what terms recognition proceeds. We argue that equitable pursuit of Target 3 requires respect for Indigenous temporalities and temporal sovereignty. Drawing on scholarship and on work with Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Canada's Redberry Lake Biosphere Region, we show that elapsed time is not failure or inaction. Elapsed time may reflect Indigenous Nations deliberating through Nation‐authorized institutions, exercising free, prior, and informed consent, and agreeing on stewardship responsibilities. We propose four changes to OECM policy and practice so urgent conservation does not override Indigenous decision‐making and governance authority.
ABSTRACT Conservation initiatives have successfully restored many populations of large vertebrates. Although human–wildlife conflict can occur at any stage of population decline or recovery, successful conservation produces an additional challenge: recovering populations generate increasing numbers of dispersing individuals that move beyond protected areas into human‐dominated landscapes. These movements can intensify livestock depredation, crop damage, threats to human safety, and political opposition to conservation. I argue that dispersal from recovering populations represents a distinct and increasingly important pathway through which conservation success may contribute to conflict. Using examples from large carnivores, I show how demographic recovery, dispersal behavior, and landscape connectivity interact to shape conflict risk. I further argue that dispersal‐driven conflict is often treated as a local problem even though it arises from broader conservation successes, effectively shifting many of the costs of recovery onto neighboring communities. Anticipating dispersal‐driven conflict through monitoring, connectivity planning, community engagement, and proactive management may therefore be necessary to improve both conservation outcomes and long‐term coexistence between people and wildlife. Because these conflicts arise in part from successful recovery efforts, addressing them should be viewed as a core responsibility of conservation management rather than solely as a burden on neighboring communities.
