The boundary model: A geographical analysis of design and conservation of nature reserves

Abstract It is widely recognised that nearly all parks and reserves are too small to protect their biological diversity. In response to this problem, we have been developing a multidisciplinary ‘boundary model’ that focuses upon the processes of exchange across the administrative edges of nature reserves. The model incorporates known dynamics from various disciplines and describes the interactions of these forces across the boundary. These disciplines include biogeography, ecology, and human effects, influences and attitudes in an understanding of reserve boundary vulnerability and effectiveness. The boundary model recognises the development of edges in association with the establishment of the administrative boundary. However, it discerns between ‘natural’ and ‘generated’ edges that are based upon the differing stimuli for their development and change. Segmentation of the boundary is recognised as a manifestation of environmental heterogeneity. The boundary model suggests that exposure of the reserve is a major determinate of potential vulnerability. Effectiveness of reserve protection is hypothesised to be more dependent upon what crosses the boundary than upon any internal processes alone.