Abundance and composition of the medium to large-sized mammals in a private area of a REDD+ project in Acre, Brazil

Abstract: The implementation of private areas focused on conservation of species and habitats, combined with REDD+ policies, has become an important ally for biodiversity conservation, expanding the conservation areas of the most varied habitats, covering key groups such as large mammals, which are extremely important for the maintenance of ecosystem services. In the upper region of the Purus River in Acre, Brazil, an inventory was carried out using camera-traps, of medium and large mammals community in a private REDD+ area, known as the Purus Project. A total of 19 species of mammals were recorded with an effort of 1859 trap-nigths, including rare, endangered and key species. It is estimated that the richness for the area is of 22 species. Endangered and rare species such as the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) presented high rates of relative abundance compared to other Conservation Units (UCs). The richness of medium to large-sized mammals recorded in the Purus Project underscores the importance of REDD+ in private areas for the conservation of this group, given the challenges for inclusion and creation of new protected areas. REDD+ projects in privates' areas become an important component for conservation of species and the connection between public conservation units favoring the spread of species and populations between areas, and consequently the gene flow.

摘要：以物种与栖息地保护为核心的私人保护区域，结合减少毁林和森林退化所致排放量（REDD+）政策，已成为生物多样性保护的重要支撑力量；其拓展了各类栖息地的保护范围，覆盖了大型哺乳类等关键类群——此类群对生态系统服务的维持至关重要。在巴西阿克里州普鲁斯河上游区域，研究团队针对一处名为“普鲁斯项目（Purus Project）”的私人REDD+保护区域，采用相机陷阱（camera-traps）开展了中大型哺乳类群落的本底调查。本次调查累计1859个相机诱捕夜，共记录到哺乳类19种，其中包含稀有、濒危及关键物种。经估算，该区域的哺乳类物种丰富度可达22种。与其他保护地（Conservation Units, UCs）相比，貘（Tapirus terrestris）、短耳犬（Atelocynus microtis）等濒危稀有物种的相对丰度占比更高。普鲁斯项目所记录的中大型哺乳类物种丰富度，凸显了私人REDD+区域对该类群保护的重要价值——这也契合当前新建及纳入新保护地所面临的诸多挑战。私人区域内的REDD+项目，既是物种保护的重要组成部分，也可连通公共保护地，助力物种及种群在区域间扩散，进而促进基因交流。