Systematic Conservation Planning
Introduction
Systematic conservation planning (SCP) is a framework for identifying spatial priorities and guiding the design, implementation, and evaluation of area-based measures for biodiversity conservation and restoration.[1][2].SCP uses explicit objectives, transparent decision criteria, and data on biodiversity features and socio-economic factors to select areas that meet stated targets efficiently [3] [4].
History
Work on reserve selection and complementarity in the 1980s, including early algorithmic approaches in Tasmania, helped establish the foundations for SCP [5]. The operational model was consolidated in the early 2000s [1].
The systematic conservation planning process
SCP is a stage-wise approach for conservation planning and implementation. Commonly cited concepts in SCP include complementarity, representativeness, adequacy, irreplaceability, connectivity, threat, and vulnerability [6]. The operational model includes 11 steps split into the three main stages of framing, prioritisation, and implementation [7].
| Stage | Step |
|---|---|
| Framing | 1. Scope and cost the planning process |
| 2. Identify and involve stakeholders | |
| 3. Describe the context for conservation areas | |
| 4. Identify conservation goals | |
| Prioritisation | 5. Collect data on conservation features |
| 6. Collect data on socio-economic variables and threats | |
| 7. Set conservation objectives | |
| 8. Review current achievement of objectives | |
| 9. Select additional conservation areas | |
| Implementation | 10. Review current achievement of objectives |
| 11. Select additional conservation areas |
Spatial prioritisation tools
SCP often employs decision-support software to identify areas where conservation objectives can be achieved at minimal cost [4].
Commonly used tools include:
- Marxan and Marxan with Zones: Identifies near-optimal solutions for reserve design or multi-zone solutions under cost and target constraints.
- Zonation: Prioritises areas by iteratively removing the least valuable planning units, retaining those that contribute most to achieving conservation objectives.
- prioritizR: A package developed for the R programming language, prioritizR generates optimal solutions for conservation planning. It integrates advanced features like multi-objective optimisation.
- CLUZ: A QGIS plug-in for the design of conservation area and nature recovery networks. It acts as a link to Marxan and Marxan with Zones software packages and can also be used with solutions identified within PrioritizR.
Applications
Systematic conservation planning is applied in areas such as:
- Protected area design and expansion [8], and broader networks such as nature recovery networks [9].
- Marine spatial planning, including zoning processes and management planning [10].
- National and regional biodiversity planning, including long-running programmes in South Africa that integrate SCP across policy and practice [11].
- Integration with policy goals for biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as UNDP’s Essential Life Support Areas (ELSA) mapping [12].
- Planning for climate resilience [13]
Relevance to global policy
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) includes targets on restoration (Target 2), area-based conservation (Target 3), and integrated spatial planning (Target 1). SCP is one approach used to plan towards these targets [14].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Margules, C. R.; Pressey, R. L. (May 2000). "Systematic conservation planning". Nature. 405 (6783): 243–253. doi:10.1038/35012251. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 10821285.
- ↑ Rittenhouse, Chadwick (2017-10-30). "Conservation planning: informed decisions for a healthier planet". Landscape Ecology. 32 (11): 2219–2221. doi:10.1007/s10980-017-0577-9. ISSN 0921-2973.
- ↑ Odenbaugh, Jay (2007-11-21). "Sahotra Sarkar, Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy: An Introduction". Biology & Philosophy. 24 (4): 541–550. doi:10.1007/s10539-007-9087-5. ISSN 0169-3867.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jung, Martin; Adams, Vanessa; Alagador, Diogo André; Álvarez-Romero, Jorge Gabriel; Araujo, Miguel; Arponen, Anni; Beger, Maria; Beher, Jutta; Carvalho, Silvia (2024-10-24). "An interoperable and standardized protocol for reporting systematic conservation planning projects". doi.org. doi:10.31219/osf.io/9vrxf. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ↑ Pressey, R. L. (September 2002). "Classics in physical geography revisited". Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment. 26 (3): 434–441. Bibcode:2002PrPG...26..434P. doi:10.1191/0309133302pp347xx. ISSN 0309-1333.
- ↑ Sinclair, Samuel P.; Milner-Gulland, E.J.; Smith, Robert J.; McIntosh, Emma J.; Possingham, Hugh P.; Vercammen, Ans; Knight, Andrew T. (2018-05-03). "The use, and usefulness, of spatial conservation prioritizations". Conservation Letters. 11 (6). Bibcode:2018ConL...11E2459S. doi:10.1111/conl.12459. ISSN 1755-263X. Unknown parameter
|article-number=ignored (help) - ↑ Frazão Santos, Catarina; Agardy, Tundi; Andrade, Francisco; Calado, Helena; Crowder, Larry B.; Ehler, Charles N.; García-Morales, Sara; Gissi, Elena; Halpern, Benjamin S.; Orbach, Michael K.; Pörtner, Hans-Otto; Rosa, Rui (2020-05-04). "Integrating climate change in ocean planning". Nature Sustainability. 3 (7): 505–516. Bibcode:2020NatSu...3..505F. doi:10.1038/s41893-020-0513-x. ISSN 2398-9629.
- ↑ Sinclair, Samuel P.; Milner-Gulland, E.J.; Smith, Robert J.; McIntosh, Emma J.; Possingham, Hugh P.; Vercammen, Ans; Knight, Andrew T. (2018-05-03). "The use, and usefulness, of spatial conservation prioritizations". Conservation Letters. 11 (6). Bibcode:2018ConL...11E2459S. doi:10.1111/conl.12459. ISSN 1755-263X. Unknown parameter
|article-number=ignored (help) - ↑ Smith, Robert; Cartwright, Samantha; Fairbairn, Andrew; Lewis, Deborah; Gibbon, Gwili; Stewart, Claire; Sykes, Rachel; Addison, Prue (2021-06-15). "Developing a Nature Recovery Network using systematic conservation planning". doi.org. doi:10.32942/osf.io/wqstj. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ↑ Kenchington, R. A.; Day, J. C. (2011-02-16). "Zoning, a fundamental cornerstone of effective Marine Spatial Planning: lessons learnt from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia". Journal of Coastal Conservation. 15 (2): 271–278. Bibcode:2011JCC....15..271K. doi:10.1007/s11852-011-0147-2. ISSN 1400-0350.
- ↑ "Home - SANBI". Retrieved 2025-07-15.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Mapping Essential Life Support Areas to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (Report). UNDP's Development Futures Series Briefs and Working Papers. United Nations Publications. 2024-04-21. doi:10.18356/30053307-75.
- ↑ Reside, April E.; Butt, Nathalie; Adams, Vanessa M. (2017-09-27). "Adapting systematic conservation planning for climate change". Biodiversity and Conservation. 27 (1): 1–29. doi:10.1007/s10531-017-1442-5. ISSN 0960-3115.
- ↑ Giakoumi, Sylvaine; Richardson, Anthony J.; Doxa, Aggeliki; Moro, Stefano; Andrello, Marco; Hanson, Jeffrey O.; Hermoso, Virgilio; Mazor, Tessa; McGowan, Jennifer; Kujala, Heini; Law, Elizabeth; Álvarez-Romero, Jorge G.; Magris, Rafael A.; Gissi, Elena; Arafeh-Dalmau, Nur (2025-04-01). "Advances in systematic conservation planning to meet global biodiversity goals". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 40 (4): 395–410. Bibcode:2025TEcoE..40..395G. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2024.12.002. ISSN 0169-5347. PMID 39880725 Check
|pmid=value (help).
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