Terrestrial Vertebrate Biodiversity in Protected Areas and Indigenous Areas of the Amazon Basin

Protected Areas and Indigenous Territories in the Amazon Basin collectively harbor nearly 95% of terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This study estimates that these conservation units protect 1,188 amphibian species, 947 reptile species, 2,454 bird species, and 860 mammal species—representing 94.67% of Amazonian terrestrial vertebrates, 53.91% of South American species, and 14.92% globally. While National and Subnational Protected Areas alone cover 90.05% of Amazonian vertebrates, Indigenous Territories contribute significantly, housing 85.49%. The research analyzed alpha-diversity at a 1 km² scale and beta-diversity across the basin, revealing high species concentrations in the western Amazon for amphibians (up to 138/km²) and mammals (203/km²), while birds peak at 596/km². Complementarity analysis showed that combining these conservation units effectively protects critical biodiversity hotspots, though individual management categories fall short. Deforestation rates are significantly lower in these areas, underscoring their strategic importance for global biodiversity conservation.

Wallace, R., Torrico, O., Porcel, Z., & Domic, E. (2020). Terrestrial Vertebrate Biodiversity in Protected Areas and Indigenous Areas of the Amazon Basin (, Ed.). Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2020.report.42008