Prioritizing actions: spatial action maps for conservation

Abstract

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.

Papua at the Crossroads: A Plea for Systematic Conservation Planning in One of the Largest Remaining Areas of Tropical Rainforest

“…Future conservation-centered research in Tanah Papua should further aim at identifying synergies between prosperity aspirations of local communities and regional conservation priorities, to maximize benefits for people and biodiversity. This knowledge will provide important information for reducing uncertainties in the application of landuse planning tools (Tallis et al, 2021). Pathways of participation for Indigenous communities in spatial planning should be developed to capture and support the needs and rights of local communities throughout the development process.…”

“…Integrated landscape approaches can also provide valuable aspects for social-political engagement and set out a process of best-practice for landscape-level planning (Reed et al, 2020). Approaches based on multi-objective prioritization and governance strategies tend to focus on the threats, actions, and costs to conservation, while spatial action mapping aims to explicitly consider the uncertainty of the impacts and interventions through an adaptative planning framework (Tallis et al, 2021). Spatial action mapping provides valuable options for incorporating spatial and multiple objective prioritizations with participatory planning (Tallis et al, 2021).…”

“…Approaches based on multi-objective prioritization and governance strategies tend to focus on the threats, actions, and costs to conservation, while spatial action mapping aims to explicitly consider the uncertainty of the impacts and interventions through an adaptative planning framework (Tallis et al, 2021). Spatial action mapping provides valuable options for incorporating spatial and multiple objective prioritizations with participatory planning (Tallis et al, 2021). However, there are many approaches that can be used to facilitate conservation planning in Tanah Papua.…”

The ties that bind the sagebrush biome: integrating genetic connectivity into range-wide conservation of greater sage-grouse

“…the degree to which gene flow affects evolutionary processes within populations [ 2 ]) can lead to isolated populations that are at greater risk of extirpation and to the detrimental effects of small population sizes [ 3 ], all of which can often be mitigated by targeted management actions [ 4 , 5 ]. Missing in conservation are the spatial action maps delineating where and how much a given action is likely to contribute to achieving stated goals [ 6 ].…”

A framework to select strategies for conserving and restoring habitat connectivity in complex landscapes

“…Categorizing output from a gradient‐based assessment by factors related to conservation urgency and feasibility could help practitioners identify and prioritize suites of implementation strategies that collectively can help reduce fragmentation of the landscape (McRae et al, 2016; Schloss et al, 2021). Using spatial analytical tools to map where different conservation strategies could have an effect can also support conservation planning in myriad ways, including impact quantification, stakeholder identification, and decision support (Tallis et al, 2021).…”