Researchers quantify biodiversity credits for tigers and leopards in China

Researchers analyzed habitat changes for Amur tigers and Amur leopards in the Suiyang Administration Branch of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.

The team used camera trap records and environmental data collected between 2017 and 2024 to model how suitable habitats for these flagship species expanded over time. The study found that suitable habitat areas for both species grew significantly during the seven year period. These findings allowed the researchers to develop a biodiversity credit quantification framework.

This system calculates credits by combining habitat area and suitability with the contribution of landscape connectors, which are areas that link different habitat patches. The results showed a large increase in biodiversity credit gains in the latter half of the study period. Based on these calculations, the researchers identified four management tiers and seven functional zones. These zones help park managers prioritize different actions, such as core protection, buffer consolidation, and habitat restoration to improve connectivity for the animals.