Landscape context influences efficacy of protected areas and agri-environment scheme delivery for breeding waders

Protected areas (PAs) and agri-environment schemes (AESs) are the main
policy mechanisms for addressing terrestrial biodiversity loss in Europe.
Landscape context can moderate their efficacy but has not been studied for
both mechanisms concurrently. Both mechanisms are widely used to
address ongoing declines of waders breeding on lowland wet grassland.
Using a repeat, nationwide (England) survey we investigate the role of PA
status (nature reserves and a statutory designation), AES (bespoke and
general options), surrounding landcover (up to 1500 m), soil properties
and range position (core versus periphery) on field-level breeding
occupancy and abundance change of four declining waders between 2009/10
and 2020/21. Field occupancy of Northern Lapwing Vanellus
vanellus, Common Redshank Tringa totanus and Common Snipe Gallingo
gallinago was associated with PA status, being highest in reserves.
Abundance change was more positive on fields in reserves than in
unprotected or designated non-reserve sites for Lapwing, Redshank, and
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata. Fields under bespoke wader AES
management were more likely to hold Lapwing and Redshank, which could
reflect local redistribution or effective option targeting. Although there
was limited evidence that AES increased wader abundance, habitat
maintenance options within and outside PAs maintained, and habitat
creation/restoration options within reserves increased, Lapwing and
Redshank abundance. Fields surrounded by more wet grassland were
more likely to be occupied by Lapwing and Curlew, particularly in
designated non-reserve sites (Curlew only) and reserves. The same was true
for Redshank and Snipe, but only in designated non-reserve sites (Snipe
only) and reserves. For Lapwing and Redshank, abundance change was more
positive where surrounding wet grassland cover was greater. Synthesis and
applications: Landscape context strongly moderates PA efficacy for
breeding waders, with reserve fields performing particularly well when
surrounded by favourable habitat. Further work is needed to establish the
mechanism(s) behind these findings, but future conservation investment
might prioritise expanding existing reserves, or the creation of large,
new blocks with reserve-level management. Future deployment of wader AES
outside of reserves could focus on population maintenance, but to increase
abundance schemes need to deliver higher habitat quality at sufficient
scale.