Selection of Flagship Species and Their Use as Umbrellas in Bird Conservation: A Case Study in Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China
Yifei Wang,
Jie Shi,
Yi Wu,
Wenwen Zhang,
Xiao Yang,
Huanxin Lv,
Shaoxia Xia,
Shengjun Zhao,
Jing Tian,
Peng Cui,
Jiliang Xu
Affiliations
Yifei Wang
School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, 35 East Qinghua Road Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Jie Shi
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biodiversity and Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
Yi Wu
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biodiversity and Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
Wenwen Zhang
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biodiversity and Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
Xiao Yang
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biodiversity and Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
Huanxin Lv
Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Shaoxia Xia
Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Shengjun Zhao
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biodiversity and Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
Jing Tian
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biodiversity and Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
Peng Cui
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biodiversity and Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
Jiliang Xu
School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, 35 East Qinghua Road Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
The concept of flagship species is widely used in conservation biology. Flagship birds play a key role in raising conservation funds, increasing awareness of biodiversity conservation, and maintaining ecosystem services. This study selected flagship bird species in Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China, and assessed their conservation effectiveness and ability to serve as umbrella species. A regional bird survey program from 2019–2022 recorded 361 bird species in Lishui. This study constructed a framework of flagship species selection based on social, ecological, economic, and cultural criteria. The analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method (AHP-EM) was used to rank the score of 361 bird species, and the MaxEnt model was used to analyze the suitable distribution areas of these species. Finally, 10 species, which covered the distribution sites of all 361 bird species, were selected as the flagship species of Lishui. The distribution areas covered all the nature reserves and the priority areas of biodiversity of Lishui, in which these 10 species can also serve as umbrella species to protect local biodiversity. The methodology and ideas in this study could provide insights into the application of conservation concepts at the local level, as well as suggest possible recommendations for local governments to select flagship species for conservation.
