The Effect of Multi-Use Landscapes on Mammal Assemblages and Its Implication for Conservation

It has become clear that state-owned protected areas (PAs) are insufficient in preserving the world's spatially heterogenous biodiversity. Private land conservation could contribute significantly to national conservation goals, without further burdening state resources. In South Africa, legislation has been introduced to incentivise private landowners to contribute to national biodiversity goals. In this study, we used camera trap arrays and hierarchical multi-species occupancy modelling to evaluate the impact of land-use on mammal (body mass >0.5 kg) diversity in the drylands of South Africa. Four hundred and fifty-one camera traps were deployed across a statutory PA, private PA and a neighbouring group of farmlands, covering similar to 2096 km(2). Although trophic species richness were similar across all three land-uses, occurrence and detection probabilities of larger (>20 kg) species were low in the farmlands and highest in the private PA. In contrast, smaller species had higher occurrence probabilities in the farmlands, where large predators and megaherbivores have been extirpated. Differences in species-specific occurrence probabilities were primarily driven by land-use context, as opposed to fine-scale habitat attributes. These results highlight how a land-use matrix incorporating statutory PAs, private PAs and well-managed rangelands can benefit wildlife conservation, as long as these land-uses are included in carefully developed regional conservation planning.

Automated summary

It has been recognized that state-owned protected areas are not enough to preserve the world's diverse biodiversity. Private land conservation can be a significant contribution to national conservation goals without excessive use of state resources. In South Africa, legislation has been introduced to encourage private landowners to support national biodiversity goals. This study used camera traps and occupancy modeling to assess the impact of land-use on mammal diversity in the drylands of South Africa. Results showed that a land-use matrix incorporating statutory and private protected areas and well-managed rangelands can benefit wildlife conservation, as long as these land-uses are included in carefully developed regional conservation planning.