Is the delineation of range maps useful for monitoring Asian bears?

Changes in the distribution of a species can be used to as a metric of conservation status and to identify the loss or gain of isolated populations. This mapping process is a primary tool of the IUCN SSC Red List assessment. Most distribution maps are based on expert opinion or species distribution models based on a combination of species detection records and known habitat and landscape affiliations for that species. However, modeling the distribution for some species is difficult due to low levels of sampling, low detectability, and loose or uncertain associations with landscape attributes. These issues may be particularly prevalent for Asian bears that have generalist habitat requirements and are heavily poached across their range. Presently the range of…