By combining ecoregional data from terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, we improved spatial efficiency when choosing priority sites for conservation. More efficient results were illustrated in selected priority areas of integrated versus un-integrated Marxan solutions. Integrated scenarios resulted in more features meeting their conservation goals in less area than when terrestrial and marine targets were processed separately.
Note: Output from Marxan and other decision support tools are intended to support the decision making process for managers and practitioners, not to provide “the answer.” The maps therefore serve to illustrate the point of spatial efficiency from a planning perspective and not necessarily from an implementation one. Only through extensive scientific and socio-economic review could final conservation priorities be determined and implementation opportunities examined.
Site Selection Analyses
