Conservation Letters: A journal of the Society for Conservation Biology. 22 May 2020
Thieme, ML, Khrystenko, D, Qin, S, et al. Dams and protected areas: Quantifying the spatial and temporal extent of global dam construction within protected areas. Conservation Letters. 2020;e12719. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12719
Journal article co-authored by Shalynn M. Pack, Round River staff
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) are an essential tool for freshwater biodiversity conservation. Given past and expected future global increases in dams and impacts of dams on freshwater ecosystems, we document the number of dams existing or planned within PAs, their history, and the extent of PA downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) proximally caused by dams. Globally, at least 1,249 large dams are located within PAs; two‐thirds (907) were built before PA establishment. Additionally, 14% of planned geolocated hydropower dams (509 dams) are located within PAs. PADDD events have also legalized dam construction within existing PAs. Environmental safeguards should preclude development of dams within or adjacent to PAs and prioritize dams within PAs for possible removal and restoration.
The full journal article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12719
And as a pdf here: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/conl.12719
