Do the Protected Areas Network of the State of Minas Gerais Maintain Viable Populations of the Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris)?

Abstract

Historically, the creation of protected areas has occupied a forefront role among conservation strategies to protect wildlife. However, the effectiveness of such areas in maintaining viable populations has been a matter of debate. The present study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the protected areas network in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, in maintaining viable populations of Tapirus terrestris. We used the software VORTEX to model the viability of tapir populations in 65 protected areas found in the state. Our results indicate that 14 protected areas are not able to maintain lowland tapir populations in the long-term. It was also observed that 16 protected areas would suffer from genetic erosion and demographic stochasticity. Four protected areas would hold populations under the negative effects of genetic stochasticity. A total of 31 protected areas are predicted to hold viable populations. The results stress the necessity of more efficient and careful planning for resource allocation in the management of protected areas in the state of Minas Gerais, or population declines and local extinctions are expected to affect the lowland tapir in the near future.