Human Footprint and Conservation Trade-offs in Global Biodiversity Hotspots

Abstract

Global biodiversity hotspots like tropical rainforests and coral reef systems are exposed to unprecedented anthropogenic pressures in spite of their vital ecological importance. This study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and species distribution models to quantify human footprints in biodiversity hotspots, examining spatial patterns of human activity and their implications for ecosystem integrity. Our results indicate that there is high spatial heterogeneity in anthropogenic pressures, with intensity of human footprint varying across various biodiversity hotspots. The most significant human impacts were observed in Southeast Asian rainforests and reef coastal ecosystems, where land use change, resource exploitation, and climate change pose cumulative threats. We promote an integrated spatial planning approach that balances conservation objectives with sustainable community development, with context-dependent management strategies. The results highlight the need for collective transboundary conservation action and community-managed options that are able to acknowledge socioeconomic realities but also preserve ecological integrity of such irreplaceable ecosystems.