Member states of the European Union are required to establish Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as part of the Natura 2000 network to preserve and restore bird populations. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Göttingen and Dachverband Deutscher Avifaunisten (DDA) used citizen science platforms to evaluate the effectiveness of 742 protected areas for birds across Germany. This research revealed that while some species thrived better inside the SPAs compared to unprotected sites, the overall effectiveness of these areas varied greatly.
Citizen science platforms allow thousands of individuals to contribute to research by submitting their observations of birds. The study utilized the platform ornitho.de, which contains over 90 million records and provides extensive coverage of the country. However, the data collection process is poorly standardised and unsystematic, leading to potential errors. To ensure accuracy, the researchers focused on valuable, complete lists that recorded all birds observed during an outing. By comparing protected areas with unprotected areas that shared similar natural characteristics, the researchers were able to assess the performance of the SPAs.
Analysis of the data revealed that 62 per cent of the species studied were more likely to be found in a Special Protection Area than outside it. However, a comparison over time showed that only 17 per cent of species demonstrated positive developments in protected areas between 2012 and 2022. Meadow birds such as black-tailed godwits and curlews showed some benefits from targeted habitat management efforts. For the remaining 83 per cent of species, there was either no measurable effect or less favorable development inside the protected areas compared to outside. The study also identified situations where the probability of finding a species decreased over time, both inside and outside the protected areas, indicating a need for additional conservation efforts.
Professor Johannes Kamp, who led the analyses at the University of Göttingen, stressed the importance of providing better staffing and funding for Special Protection Areas to restore habitats and support endangered species. Dr. Jakob Katzenberger, who coordinated the research at DDA, highlighted the significant contribution of citizens to collecting biodiversity data through online platforms. This study was made possible by funding from the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) as part of the project ‘Implementation of measures for nationwide harmonised bird monitoring in EU special protection areas’.
Overall, the research showed that while conservationists had initially selected suitable areas for protection in the 2000s, additional efforts are needed to ensure the long-term success of Special Protection Areas. By leveraging citizen science platforms and involving thousands of individuals in data collection, the study was able to track large-scale changes in bird populations effectively. These findings underscore the potential of online platforms as valuable tools for monitoring and managing biodiversity in protected areas.
