Protected areas, as a research topic, encompass geographically defined spaces that are formally designated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives, typically the long-term maintenance of biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and associated ecosystem services. Scientific inquiry focuses on their design (e.g., size, shape, connectivity), governance regimes, management effectiveness, and socio-ecological outcomes, including impacts on species persistence, genetic diversity, habitat integrity, and local communities. Research also examines zoning, threat mitigation, monitoring frameworks, and the integration of protected areas into broader landscape and seascape planning, as well as their role in meeting international conservation targets and informing evidence-based environmental policy.
Recently, heavy rains have caused flooding in Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, resulting in the loss of at least two lives. In U.S. national parks, maintaining visitor safety can be complicated because it is difficult ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 2, 2026
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An environmental DNA study by a multi-institutional research collaboration has revealed distinct regions of extraordinary marine biodiversity that can help inform management of a proposed marine park in Western Australia's ...
Ecology
Sep 1, 2026
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In 2020, Mexico joined 150 nations committing to protect 30% of its territory by 2030 as part of the global 30x30 initiative. More than halfway through the decade, there is ongoing debate about how to effectively expand protected ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 28, 2026
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Sea turtles are famous for being prodigious wanderers. Guided by Earth's magnetic field, ocean currents and the sun, they tend to crisscross the seas in search of food, returning to the region of their birth every few years ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 27, 2026
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Australia is one of the world's great ocean nations. It is home to more marine species than any other country, with ocean ecosystems spanning all five of the world's climate zones, from the coral-rich tropics to the icy shores ...
Ecology
Aug 24, 2026
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Over 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of protected tropical forest—an area double the size of Wales—have been lost to wildfires since 2001.
Earth Sciences
Aug 14, 2026
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Feral cats and foxes now roam across almost all of Australia. These predators are a major reason why many species have been driven to extinction.
Plants & Animals
Aug 13, 2026
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Nature is not doing well in Australia. Many unique mammals, birds and insects are struggling. Entire ecosystems are collapsing.
Ecology
Aug 9, 2026
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Shedd Aquarium has sent four zebra shark eggs to contribute to a conservation effort for the endangered species, marking the Chicago nonprofit's first delivery to Raja Ampat, Indonesia. As a founding partner of ReShark, Shedd ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 4, 2026
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46
The bison carried on grazing peacefully as the flames approached, imperturbable despite the fires ravaging the land around their wildlife park west of Madrid.
Environment
Jul 31, 2026
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