Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Reducing Tropical Forest Fires
Author Information
Author(s): Nelson Andrew, Chomitz Kenneth M.
Primary Institution: International Rice Research Institute
Hypothesis
Do strictly protected areas reduce forest fire incidence more effectively than multiple use protected areas and indigenous areas?
Conclusion
Strictly protected areas are effective in reducing forest fire incidence, but multiple use protected areas are even more effective.
Supporting Evidence
- Strict protected areas reduced fire incidence by 2.7–4.3 percentage points.
- Multi-use protected areas were found to be more effective than strictly protected areas.
- Indigenous areas reduced fire incidence by 16.3–16.5 percentage points.
- Protected areas in Africa showed a modest impact on fire incidence.
- Fire rates in protected areas generally decline with increasing remoteness.
Takeaway
Protected areas help keep forests safe from fires, and some types, like those that allow local people to use the land, work even better.
Methodology
The study used matching methods to compare fire incidence in protected areas versus unprotected areas, controlling for various factors.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the placement of protected areas on less desirable lands may affect the results.
Limitations
The study may not account for all forms of legal protection outside of IUCN classifications and does not measure leakage of deforestation.
Participant Demographics
The study focuses on developing countries with tropical forests.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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