Strategies for ecosystem biomass conservation: Review, analysis and evaluation

Abstract

The objective of this work is to highlight the importance of forest ecosystems as global providers of ecosystem services (ESs), reviewing the main strategies defined on a global scale to ensure their conservation and/or restoration. In particular, at a technical level, this work focuses on protected areas (PAs) as an ecological strategy that can meet both objectives mentioned. Finally, using the Acambuco and Pizarro National Parks in the northwestern Argentina as case studies, the effectiveness of protected areas to safeguard ecosystem samples is investigated. It also reflects on the great challenges in achieving an adequate definition of “effectiveness,” and second, in finding the strategies that make it possible to monitor it. Likewise, at a political level, this article also reflects on the dominant paradigm, its position in relation to nature and ecosystems, and the need to become aware that profound changes must be produced, so that all the technical measures to be implemented have the expected impact.