Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Integrative conservation of biodiversity: Identifying priority species and sites for sustainable land management in Veracruz, Mexico

Universidad Veracruzana, Inst. de Investigaciones Biológicas, Mexico

Abstract

Land use change in tropical regions poses unprecedented challenges to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. The state of Veracruz, Mexico, represents a critical case study, as it is one of the country's most biodiverse regions, harboring exceptional endemism, while facing severe habitat fragmentation and transformation. This research presents an integrative conservation approach that combines spatial modelling, risk assessment, and multi-criteria analysis to identify priority species and sites for conservation in the context of sustainable land management.
Our research line "Integrative Conservation of Biodiversity" addresses three fundamental questions: (1) Which sites are priorities for species conservation? (2) Which species should be prioritised for conservation efforts? (3) How can we achieve sustainable management of forest ecosystems considering different facets of diversity? Using a transdisciplinary approach, we integrate taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity data with spatial analysis, species distribution modelling, and socio-economic factors to support evidence-based conservation decisions.
Key findings include the development of a Conservation and Prioritisation Index (CPI) that overcomes limitations of traditional risk assessment methods by incorporating georeferenced distribution data, endemism levels, and habitat loss metrics. Applied to Veracruz's cycads, the CPI revealed significant spatial patterns of extinction risk, with species such as Zamia vazquezii and Z. inermis exhibiting critical conservation status due to their restricted distributions and ongoing habitat loss. Our spatial prioritisation analysis identified forest fragments with high conservation value, many of which fall outside existing protected areas, highlighting gaps in current conservation networks.
The research demonstrates how integrative approaches can reconcile agricultural development with biodiversity conservation. By identifying priority conservation sites and vulnerable species, we provide tools for land-use planning that considers both productive potential and ecosystem integrity. Our work on protected area management, including the development of management plans for the "San Felipe II" Natural Protected Area, exemplifies how scientific knowledge can be translated into practical conservation actions.
This approach offers a replicable model for other tropical regions facing similar challenges, emphasising the importance of evidence-based conservation strategies that integrate multiple dimensions of biodiversity while considering human needs and sustainable development goals. The methodology supports policy-making processes and contributes to reconciling land system changes with planetary health through informed decision-making and inclusive governance.

Keywords: Biodiversity conservation, endemic species, land use change, protected areas, spatial prioritisation, species distribution modelling, tropical ecosystems, Veracruz

Contact Address: Jorge Antonio Gómez Díaz, Universidad Veracruzana, Inst. de Investigaciones Biológicas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, e-mail: jorggomezuv.mx