Analyzing Risks to Protected Areas Using the Human Modification Framework: A Colorado Case Study
A framework that organizes natural and protected areas is often used to help understand the potential risks to natural areas and aspects of their ecological and human dimensions. The spatial (or landscape) context of these dynamics is also a critical, but, rarely considered, factor. Common classification systems include the USGS Gap Analysis Program stewardship coding scheme, the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories, and the American Planning Association Land-Based Classification Standards. The GAP and IUCN framework are coarse classifications (4-8 categories), whereas the APA focuses primarily on private land uses. To address these limitations, we develop here more refined implementation methods based on the human modification framework, which conceptually is rooted in characterizing the degree to which natural processes are free or controlled, and the degree to which landscape patterns are natural or artificial. To provide useful and tighter coupling of specific threats and spatial data surrogates, we refine the conceptual basis by identifying three primary types of human activities that cause human modification of natural systems and patterns. These are land uses associated with urban/built-up, recreation, and production/extraction. We detail specific metrics and common data used as surrogates that can provide a stronger basis for characterizing the degree of human modification. We illustrate our methods by presenting analysis results for a Colorado case study.
- Overview of Conceptual Frameworks : A number of general wilderness frameworks have been established to provide a conceptual basis to understand protected areas.
- Objectives : We find four main limitations of these existing frameworks.
- Methods : Here we further refine the Human Modification Framework to emphasize three primary factors that can be used to characterize land use based on what human activities occur at a given location.
- Results : The composite map of the degree of urban/built-up shows a relatively familiar pattern of urban areas, particularly the cities along the Colorado Front Range.
- Conclusion : In summary, we offer the human modification framework as an explicit approach to better quantify the spatial patterning and degree to which locations have been altered by human activities.
Encyclopedia ID: p3649
