Prioritizing actions: spatial action maps for conservation
Spatial prioritization often falls short by emphasizing locations over actions. Spatial action mapping changes that, offering a clear view of where conservation efforts deliver the greatest impact. Explore seven case studies showing how this method enhances biodiversity and human wellbeing globally.
Subject Tags
- Conservation Planning
- Ecosystem management
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
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.
Citation
Tallis, H., Fargione, J., Game, E., McDonald, R., Baumgarten, L., Bhagabati, N., ... & Possingham, H. P. (2021). Prioritizing actions: spatial action maps for conservation. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1505(1), 118-141.
TNC Authors
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Edward Game
Sr. Lead Scientist & Director of Conservation, AP, Asia Pacific Office
The Nature Conservancy
Email: egame@tnc.org -
Robert I. McDonald
Lead Scientist for Nature-based Solutions, Europe
The Nature Conservancy
Email: rob_mcdonald@tnc.org -
Nicholas Wolff
Global Director of Climate Science, Global Science
The Nature Conservancy
Email: nicholas.wolff@tnc.org -
Joe Fargione
Dir of Science, N Amer Region, North America Office
The Nature Conservancy
Email: jfargione@tnc.org -
Christina M. Kennedy
Global Director of Spatial Conservation Science, Global Science
The Nature Conservancy
Email: ckennedy@tnc.org