title: Latin American protected areas: Protected from chemical pollution?
abstract: Protected areas (PAs) are critically important means to preserve species and maintain natural ecosystems. However, the potential impacts of chemical pollution on PAs are seldom mentioned in the scientific literature. Research on the extent of the occurrence of chemical pollution inside PAs and in-depth assessments of how chemical contaminants may adversely affect the maintenance of species abundance, species survival, and ecosystem functions are scarce to nonexistent. We investigated 1) the occurrence of chemical contaminants inside 119 PAs in Latin America from publically available databases, and 2) reviewed case studies of chemical contaminants and pollution in 4 Latin American PAs. Cases of chemical pollution and contamination inside Latin American PAs mostly originated from sources such as mining, oil, and gas extraction. To date, the focus of the research on chemical pollution research inside Latin American PAs has been primarily on the detection of contamination, typically limited to trace metals. Where management actions have occurred, they have been reactive rather than proactive. Protected areas established in wetlands are the most affected by chemical pollution. Based on the information from the pollution and/or contamination occurrence and the case studies analyzed, Latin American PAs are not well safeguarded from chemical pollution, resulting in both challenges and opportunities to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:360-370. © 2016 SETAC.
authors: Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.|Present address: Centro de Humedales Río Cruces, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
authors: Ignacio A
authors: IA
authors: Rodríguez-Jorquera
authors: Proyecto Yacaré-Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias, (ICiVet-UNL-CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Siroski
authors: Department of Aquatic System, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Center, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario, Concepcion, Chile.
authors: Winfred
authors: W
authors: Espejo
authors: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Nimptsch
authors: Laboratory for the Study of Aquatic Pollution and Ecotoxicology (NEPEA), São Paulo State University, São Vicente Campus (UNESP Campus do Litoral Paulista), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Paloma Gusso
authors: PG
authors: Choueri
authors: Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos Campus (UNIFESP-Santos), Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Rodrigo Brasil
authors: RB
authors: Choueri
authors: Department of Wildlife Ecology, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors: Claudio A
authors: CA
authors: Moraga
authors: Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Mora
authors: Soil and Water Quality Laboratory, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Wimauma, Florida, USA.
authors: Gurpal S
authors: GS
authors: Toor
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007843:Latin America
keywords: Biodiversity conservation; Contaminants; Metals; Pollution; Protected areas