title: Determinants of bird conservation-action implementation and associated population trends of threatened species.
abstract: Conservation actions, such as habitat protection, attempt to halt the loss of threatened species and help their populations recover. The efficiency and the effectiveness of actions have been examined individually. However, conservation actions generally occur simultaneously, so the full suite of implemented conservation actions should be assessed. We used the conservation actions underway for all threatened and near-threatened birds of the world (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species) to assess which biological (related to taxonomy and ecology) and anthropogenic (related to geoeconomics) factors were associated with the implementation of different classes of conservation actions. We also assessed which conservation actions were associated with population increases in the species targeted. Extinction-risk category was the strongest single predictor of the type of conservation actions implemented, followed by landmass type (continent, oceanic island, etc.) and generation length. Species targeted by invasive nonnative species control or eradication programs, ex situ conservation, international legislation, reintroduction, or education, and awareness-raising activities were more likely to have increasing populations. These results illustrate the importance of developing a predictive science of conservation actions and the relative benefits of each class of implemented conservation action for threatened and near-threatened birds worldwide.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 3E1, Fairfax, VA, 22030, U.S.A.. dluther@gmu.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.affiliation: International Union for Conservation of Nature, Rue Mauverney 28, 1196, Gland, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: BirdLife International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K.
authors.forename: Stuart H M
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Butchart
authors.affiliation: Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, U.K.
authors.forename: Matt W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., MS 3E1, Fairfax, VA, 22030, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Marieke E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kester
authors.affiliation: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 1133 Fifteenth Street, N.W. Suite 1100, Washington, D.C., 20005, U.S.A.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamoreux
authors.affiliation: American Bird Conservancy, P.O. Box 249, 4249 Loudoun Avenue, The Plains, VA, 20198-2237, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Upgren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D056727:Endangered Species; D062312:Islands
keywords: IUCN Red List; Lista Roja UICN; acciones de conservación; aves; birds; conservation actions; conservation planning; extinction risk; planificación de la conservación; riesgo de extinción