Bound within boundaries: How well do protected areas match movement corridors of their most mobile protected species?

Conserving and managing large portions of land to connect wildlife
reserves is an increasingly used strategy to maintain and restore
connectivity among wildlife populations. Boundaries of such conservation
areas are often determined based on expert opinion and socio-political
constraints, yet the extent to which they match species’ movement
corridors is rarely examined. This is mainly due to a lack of data,
particularly on wide-ranging movement behavior such as dispersal.
Nevertheless, empirically assessing the adequacy of protected areas is key
for the implementation of targeted management actions and efficient use of
limited conservation funds. Between 2011 and 2019, we collected
high-resolution GPS data on 16 dispersing African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
coalitions from a free-ranging population in the Kavango-Zambezi
Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA). Spanning five countries and
520’000 km2 the KAZA-TFCA is the world’s largest transboundary
conservation area and a prime example for international conservation
efforts. We used integrated step selection analysis to estimate habitat
selection of dispersers and to create a permeability surface for the
KAZA-TFCA. We compared landscape permeability across different regions
within the KAZA-TFCA as well as outside its boundaries. Lastly, we
calculated least-cost paths and corridors to verify that major movement
routes were adequately encompassed within the KAZA-TFCA. Permeability
within the boundaries of the KAZA-TFCA was more than double compared to
areas outside it. Furthermore, we observed a five-fold permeability
difference among the five KAZA-TFCA countries. We also showed that major
movement corridors of wild dogs ran within the KAZA-TFCA, although some
minor routes remained formally unprotected. Differences in permeability
were mainly related to different degrees of human activities across
regions, and to the presence or absence of rivers, swamps and open water.
The relationship between permeability and other landscape features was
less pronounced. Synthesis and Applications: In this study, we showed how
pertinent dispersal data of a highly mobile species can be used to
empirically evaluate the adequacy of already-existing or planned protected
areas. Furthermore, we observed regional differences in landscape
permeability that highlight the need for a coordinated effort towards
maintaining or restoring connectivity, especially where transboundary
dispersal occurs.