Chapter 2
Trade-offs in High Mountain Conservation
Francisco Lloret
Abstract High mountain ecosystems present features that determine their conservation: isolation, harsh environmental conditions and steep gradients. The vulnerability of ecological systems to disruptive agents can be addressed by
considering exposure to these agents and the sensitivity of the system. Conservation
management usually offsets trade-offs of resources allocated to minimise exposure
with strategies designed to reduce sensitivity. Although exposure to human action
may be reduced in high mountains by isolation, this effect is offset by disruptive
agents operating at global or regional scales, such as pollution and climate change.
In the long term, climate change can be expected to have a strong impact on alpine
habitats, as the dispersal of their native species is severely constrained.
Alternatively, high mountains may provide refuges for threatened species currently
populating lower altitudes. When reducing exposure is not a feasible strategy, the
alternative is to reduce sensitivity, which in high mountains would focus on
improving connectivity, preserving habitat quality and controlling antagonistic
interactions such as grazing. Lowering vulnerability to climate change requires
interventions in various contributing drivers. Cost-effective models make help to
optimise the outcome of different goals subject to trade-offs, and they can also be
useful for allocating alternative actions over time. The application of ecological
trade-off concepts helps to frame conservation from a functional perspective. This
approach should also take into account the fact that the functional properties of
ecological entities are multifactorial and interactive. This concept is recognised in
ecosystem services that present negative correlations—trade-offs—as well as positive ones—synergies.
Keywords Climate change Á Conservation Á Ecosystem services Á Ecosystem
management Á Exposure Á High mountain Á Sensitivity Á Trade-off
F. Lloret (&)
CREAF-UAB, Edifici C, Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
e-mail: Francisco.Lloret@uab.es
© The Author(s) 2017
J. Catalan et al. (eds.), High Mountain Conservation in a Changing World,
Advances in Global Change Research 62, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-55982-7_2
37
Trade-offs in High Mountain Conservation
Francisco Lloret
Abstract High mountain ecosystems present features that determine their conservation: isolation, harsh environmental conditions and steep gradients. The vulnerability of ecological systems to disruptive agents can be addressed by
considering exposure to these agents and the sensitivity of the system. Conservation
management usually offsets trade-offs of resources allocated to minimise exposure
with strategies designed to reduce sensitivity. Although exposure to human action
may be reduced in high mountains by isolation, this effect is offset by disruptive
agents operating at global or regional scales, such as pollution and climate change.
In the long term, climate change can be expected to have a strong impact on alpine
habitats, as the dispersal of their native species is severely constrained.
Alternatively, high mountains may provide refuges for threatened species currently
populating lower altitudes. When reducing exposure is not a feasible strategy, the
alternative is to reduce sensitivity, which in high mountains would focus on
improving connectivity, preserving habitat quality and controlling antagonistic
interactions such as grazing. Lowering vulnerability to climate change requires
interventions in various contributing drivers. Cost-effective models make help to
optimise the outcome of different goals subject to trade-offs, and they can also be
useful for allocating alternative actions over time. The application of ecological
trade-off concepts helps to frame conservation from a functional perspective. This
approach should also take into account the fact that the functional properties of
ecological entities are multifactorial and interactive. This concept is recognised in
ecosystem services that present negative correlations—trade-offs—as well as positive ones—synergies.
Keywords Climate change Á Conservation Á Ecosystem services Á Ecosystem
management Á Exposure Á High mountain Á Sensitivity Á Trade-off
F. Lloret (&)
CREAF-UAB, Edifici C, Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
e-mail: Francisco.Lloret@uab.es
© The Author(s) 2017
J. Catalan et al. (eds.), High Mountain Conservation in a Changing World,
Advances in Global Change Research 62, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-55982-7_2
37