Conserving Refugia: What Are We Protecting and Why?

Refugia serve as vital conservation tools by buffering environmental conditions and safeguarding species and communities. This study introduces three novel definitions for refugia—persistent, future, and temporary—that integrate ecological and evolutionary dynamics into a decision-making framework applicable across varying temporal and spatial settings. These definitions are supported by criteria for identification, core value, and management strategies to guide both short- and long-term conservation efforts. Using the World Heritage Gondwana Rainforests (WHGR) of eastern Australia as a case study, the research illustrates how recognizing buffer zones, corridor connections, and emergency species translocations can protect critical assets following extreme events like the 2019–2020 fires. The findings emphasize the importance of safeguarding ecological and evolutionary processes across scales to enhance biodiversity conservation outcomes.

Rossetto, M., & Kooyman, R. (2021). Conserving Refugia: What Are We Protecting and Why? Diversity, 13(2), 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020067