Population Growth Near Protected Areas
Author Information
Author(s): Joppa Lucas N., Loarie Scott R., Pimm Stuart L.
Primary Institution: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Hypothesis
Do protected areas influence human activity near their borders?
Conclusion
There is no evidence of disproportionate population growth near protected areas compared to rural areas.
Supporting Evidence
- There is no evidence for population growth near protected areas to be greater than growth of rural areas in the same country.
- Individual case studies provide examples of unusual population pressures near protected area edges.
- The results contradict those from a recent study by Wittemyer et al.
Takeaway
The study found that people are not moving to live near protected areas more than they are in other rural areas.
Methodology
Analyzed decadal population datasets across 45 countries and 304 protected areas.
Potential Biases
Potential biases from using incompatible datasets in previous studies.
Limitations
The study relies on modeled population datasets which may not capture fine-scale population dynamics.
Participant Demographics
Population data from rural areas in Africa and South America.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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