Prioritizing actions: spatial action maps for conservation

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 1505; no. 1; pp. 118 - 141
• Main Authors: Tallis, Heather, Fargione, Joe, Game, Edward, McDonald, Rob, Baumgarten, Leandro, Bhagabati, Nirmal, Cortez, Rane, Griscom, Bronson, Higgins, Jonathan, Kennedy, Christina M., Kiesecker, Joe, Kroeger, Timm, Leberer, Trina, McGowan, Jennifer, Mandle, Lisa, Masuda, Yuta J., Morrison, Scott A., Palmer, Sally, Shirer, Rebecca, Shyamsundar, Priya, Wolff, Nicholas H., Possingham, Hugh P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: adaptive management; Biodiversity; Conservation; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Conservation of Natural Resources - statistics & numerical data; conservation priorities; decision support tools; Ecosystem; ecosystem services; Environmental quality; Geographic Mapping; Humans; Impact analysis; Mapping; optimization; Original; Spatial Analysis; spatial planning; spatial planning; conservation priorities; biodiversity; decision support tools; optimization; adaptive management; ecosystem services
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14651

Spatial prioritization is a critical step in conservation planning, a process designed to ensure that limited resources are applied in ways that deliver the highest possible returns for biodiversity and human wellbeing. In practice, many spatial prioritizations fall short of their potential by focusing on places rather than actions, and by using data of snapshots of assets or threats rather than estimated impacts. We introduce spatial action mapping as an approach that overcomes these shortfalls. This approach produces a spatially explicit view of where and how much a given conservation action is likely to contribute to achieving stated conservation goals. Through seven case examples, we demonstrate simple to complex versions of how this method can be applied across local to global scales to inform decisions about a wide range of conservation actions and benefits. Spatial action mapping can support major improvements in efficient use of conservation resources and will reach its full potential as the quality of environmental, social, and economic datasets converge and conservation impact evaluations improve. Spatial prioritization is a critical step in conservation planning, a process designed to ensure that limited resources are applied in ways that deliver the highest possible returns for biodiversity and human wellbeing. In practice, many spatial prioritizations fall short of their potential by focusing on places rather than actions, and by using data of snapshots of assets or threats rather than estimated impacts. We introduce spatial action mapping as an approach that overcomes these shortfalls.