More than half of Protected Area (PAs) designations in Southeast Asia are ineffective at controlling deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂), according to a study which analysed the integrity of 80 PAs across the region.

Established by governments, international organisations, or local communities, PAs are regions such as national parks and nature reserves where human activities are restricted or regulated to protect threatened species, and ecosystems. They are also important in the fight against climate change, as they serve to protect the role forested areas play in storing carbon, and keeping it out of the atmosphere.

Southeast Asia is home to over 1,300 terrestrial PAs, comprising about 12% of land cover, and is one of the most biologically diverse yet vulnerable regions in the world. Over the past two decades, it has faced rapid deforestation from logging and agricultural expansion. However, data on the effectiveness of PAs since their establishment has been inconsistent.

In a study published in Current Biology, a research team led by Dr Rachakonda Sreekar from the University of Queensland and Professor Koh Lian Pin from the Centre of Nature-based Climate Solutions at NUS analysed 80 recently established PAs across Southeast Asia that have a history of deforestation, examining both the levels of deforestation and carbon emissions, before and after their establishment.

Using satellite imagery and geospatial datasets from 2000 and 2020, the researchers constructed a synthetic control using 978 neighbouring patches of unprotected forests (non-PAs) with similar characteristics to the 80 PAs being analysed and determined whether the establishment of the PAs had any impact on deforestation and carbon emissions compared to forests without protection.

“Synthetic control is a statistical method used to estimate what would have happened if a specific treatment or policy has not been established. We used 978 unprotected forest patches to construct a synthetic control for each of the 80 protected areas, resulting in a total of 80 synthetic controls,” Dr Sreekar said.

Effective protected areas

Among the 80 PAs analysed, 36 were found to be effective in reducing deforestation compared to their synthetic controls. These 36 PAs prevented the loss of 78,910 hectares of forest, translating to 2.10 megatons of CO₂ emissions avoided annually. They also protected up to 91 species of threatened birds and 98 species of threatened mammals.

Ineffective protected areas

However, the remaining 44 PAs showed no evidence of reduced deforestation, with similar or higher deforestation rates compared to their synthetic controls. These PAs lost 72,497 hectares of forest, releasing 2.07 megatons of CO₂ annually. This is almost equivalent to the emissions prevented by the effective PAs, offsetting any benefits made by the effective PAs.

The ineffective PAs also endangered 121 bird species and 105 mammal species, many of which rely exclusively on these habitats for survival.

What makes a PA effective or ineffective?

Researchers ascertained that the ineffectiveness of a PA is likely due to management factors caused by funding shortfalls.

PAs that reported their management objectives to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature were more likely to be effective (52%) compared to those who did not (32%). The IUCN classifies PAs based on their management objectives, ranging from strict protection (category I) to sustainable extraction of resources is permitted (category VI). This highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in PA management. Many PAs that lack clear objectives are “paper parks” — existing in name only with little on-the-ground enforcement.

Besides local-scale management factors, the availability of national level funding could also impact the effectiveness of PAs. The researchers used gross domestic product (GDP) per capita as an indicator for PA funding, and found that the proportion of effective PAs increases with increased funding. Countries with a higher GDP per capita, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, had a greater proportion of effective PAs compared to countries with a lower GDP per capita, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, and Timor-Leste.

What can be done?

To address these challenges, the researchers advocate for increased funding where it is estimated that at least USD 17 million in additional funding is needed annually to improve the management of the 44 ineffective PAs, which span 1.5 million hectares.

Governments must also decide whether to continue expanding ineffective PAs or redirect funding to improve the effectiveness of those that are more likely to be effective.

Rachakonda and colleagues recommend market-based strategies such as nature-based carbon credits to generate additional income for PA management. They estimate that improving management of the ineffective PAs could prevent 2.07 megatons of CO₂ emissions annually, translating to USD 12 million per year in carbon credits. These funds would then be reinvested in PA management.

While financing and improved management are crucial to improving the effectiveness of PA policies, it is also important to consider society’s responsibility in pursuing conservation. A recent study found that 72% of evaluated carbon offset projects conflicted with the interests of local communities. To avoid such conflicts, local communities must be involved in the design and implementation of conservation projects. Such outreach is particularly important in improving the long-term success of the PA.

While PA financing and management clearly remains a major challenge, it is certainly within our ability to implement change and improve the effectiveness of PA policies. This will start by shifting the focus from quantity to quality, and ensuring resources are sufficiently applied to ensure PAs generate net climate and biodiversity benefits across the region.