Conservation Planning and GIS

ConservationConservationPlanning andPlanning and

GISGIS

Ken Vance-BorlandKen Vance-BorlandThe Conservation Planning InstituteThe Conservation Planning Institute

A Burning Question:A Burning Question:

Given that money for biodiversity Given that money for biodiversity protection is limited, where should it protection is limited, where should it be invested for maximum benefit?be invested for maximum benefit?

Conservation planning Conservation planning includes five stagesincludes five stages

1.1. Gathering data on the locations of biodiversity Gathering data on the locations of biodiversity components (species, communities, ecosystems, components (species, communities, ecosystems, processes);processes);

2.2. Assessing the extent to which biodiversity is represented Assessing the extent to which biodiversity is represented in existing protected areas;in existing protected areas;

3.3. Identifying additional areas needed for full biodiversity Identifying additional areas needed for full biodiversity protection;protection;

4.4. Implementing protection of those areas; andImplementing protection of those areas; and

5.5. Monitoring protected areas to assure persistence of Monitoring protected areas to assure persistence of biological diversity over time.biological diversity over time.

Margules and Pressey. 2000. Systematic conservation planning. Nature 405:243-253.Margules and Pressey. 2000. Systematic conservation planning. Nature 405:243-253.

A A Conservation Conservation Plan for the Plan for the

Klamath-Klamath-Siskiyou Siskiyou

EcoregionEcoregionReed F. Noss, James Reed F. Noss, James R. Strittholt, Kenneth R. Strittholt, Kenneth

Vance-Borland, Vance-Borland, Carlos Carroll, and Carlos Carroll, and

Pamela FrostPamela Frost

1999. Natural Areas Journal 19:392-411

The Noss ‘Three-Pronged The Noss ‘Three-Pronged Approach’:Approach’:

Special ElementsSpecial Elements Coarse-filter habitat Coarse-filter habitat

representationrepresentation Focal speciesFocal species

The Noss ‘Three-Pronged The Noss ‘Three-Pronged Approach’:Approach’:

Special ElementsSpecial Elements Coarse-filter habitat Coarse-filter habitat

representationrepresentation Focal speciesFocal species

Mean Annual Mean Annual PrecipitationPrecipitation

Mean Annual Mean Annual TemperatureTemperature

Soil Water-Soil Water-Holding Holding CapacityCapacity

Soil DepthSoil Depth

December-July December-July Precipitation Precipitation

DifferenceDifference

July-January July-January Temperature Temperature

DifferenceDifference

Physical Habitat Physical Habitat TypesTypes

Coastal Moist Fertile Lowlands

High Cold

Coastal Rich LowlandsCoastal Wet FertileCoastal Wet Highlands

Coastal Cool MoistCoastal Warm Moist FertileLow Warm Moist FertileLow Dry FertileHigh Moist FertileLow Warm MoistLow HotLow Fertile

Low ModerateHigh Cool MoistHigh Cool

High Cool Poor

Low Dry CoolLow Warm

The Noss ‘Three-Pronged The Noss ‘Three-Pronged Approach’:Approach’:

Special ElementsSpecial Elements Coarse-filter habitat Coarse-filter habitat

representationrepresentation Focal speciesFocal species

Model Variables•Vegetation size and composition•Roads•Hydrography•Digital elevation, slope, aspect•PRISM mean annual precipitation

Proposed: 80% of public land, 50% of entire region.Reserve design based on high-priority roadless areas, with other areas included for:•G1/G2 element occurrences•Other element occurrence concentrations•Late-seral forests•Connectivity between roadless areas

A Multicriteria A Multicriteria Assessment of Assessment of

the the Irreplaceability Irreplaceability

and and Vulnerability of Vulnerability of

Sites the Sites the Greater Greater

Yellowstone Yellowstone EcosystemEcosystem

Reed Noss, Carlos Carroll, Reed Noss, Carlos Carroll, Ken Vance-Borland, and Ken Vance-Borland, and

George Wuerthner George Wuerthner

2002. Conservation Biology 16(4): 895-908

Grizzly bear (Grizzly bear (Ursus arctosUrsus arctos))

Images: Chuck Rumsey, TNCImages: Chuck Rumsey, TNC

18501850

19701970

www.grizzlybear.orgwww.grizzlybear.org

Wolf (Wolf (Canis lupusCanis lupus))

Images: Nova OnlineImages: Nova Online

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Wolverine (Wolverine (Gulo guloGulo gulo))

Gerald and Buff CorsiGerald and Buff Corsi

Elk (Cervus elaphus)Elk (Cervus elaphus)

Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationRocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Vegetation-derived variables Topographic variablesGrizzly Bear forage value - seasonal

Elevation

Grizzly Bear forage value - annual SlopeTransformed Aspect

Other biological data Topographic complexityElk winter range Cirque denning habitatBison range

Satellite imagery metrics (MODIS)

Human-impact associated variables

Brightness - July Human population densityGreenness - July Interpolated human population

densityWetness - July Road and trail densityBrightness - November Management statusGreenness - NovemberWetness - November

Climatic variablesAverage annual precipitationAverage annual snowfall

Variables for: *MODIS July brightness and Greenness; November brightness, greenness and wetness *Slope *Elk winter range *Road density*Management class (private, general public, wilderness, or park) *And interactions between road density and management class and between November brightness and wetness.

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# ####

# ### 10 0 10 20 Miles

Biggydem500

Gyarivers.shp

Gyalakes.shp

Sever altowns.shp

Conservation Science Inc.

10 0 10 20 Miles

Biggydem500

Gyarivers.shp

Gyalakes.shp

Se ver altowns.shp

albers

Conservation Science Inc.

Fine Filter EmphasisFine Filter EmphasisSpecial elements: 90-100%Special elements: 90-100%

Biophysical habitats: 15-25%Biophysical habitats: 15-25%Focal species: 30-50%Focal species: 30-50% Focal Species Focal Species

EmphasisEmphasisSpecial elements: 50-100% Special elements: 50-100%

Biophysical habitats: 15-25%Biophysical habitats: 15-25%Focal species: 50-75%Focal species: 50-75%

Coarse Filter Coarse Filter EmphasisEmphasis

Special elements: 50-100% Special elements: 50-100% Biophysical habitats: 35-50%Biophysical habitats: 35-50%

Focal species: 30-50%Focal species: 30-50%

Great Sand Hills Great Sand Hills Regional Regional

Environmental StudyEnvironmental Study

Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, U. of Regina, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, U. of Regina, U. of Central Florida, U. of Saskatchewan, U. of Central Florida, U. of Saskatchewan,

the Conservation Planning Institute, and othersthe Conservation Planning Institute, and others

Roads Gas well pads Cattle watering holes)

398 instudy area

1244 instudy area

Landcover (grassland) strata

Imp

act

str

ata

Herbaceous Disturbed Juniper Shrubby

Waterholes

Gas pads

Roads

10 i +10 c

30 i +30 c

30 i +30 c

30 i +30 c

30 i +30 c

40 i +40 c

40 i +40 c

40 i +40 c

120 +120

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

10 i +10 c

Totals

i = impact (case) site, c = control (distant from impact) site

Birds and mammals:1. Baird’s sparrow2. Brown-headed cowbird3. Chestnut-collard longspur4. Clay-colored sparrow5. Common nighthawk6. Grasshopper sparrow7. Horned lark8. Long-billed curlew9. Marbled godwit10. Ord’s kangaroo rat11. Savanna sparrow12. Spotted towhee13. Sprague’s pipit14. Upland sandpiper

Rare & Medicinal Plants:15. Beaked annual skeleton-weed16. Chokecherry17. Low milk vetch18. Prairie moonwort19. Six-weeks fescue20. Small lupine21. Smooth arid goosefoot22. Windflower

Exotic Plants:23. Canada thistle24. Crested wheat25. Kentucky bluegrass26. Smooth brome

27. Range health

Species models from the 2006 field data

Less developed

Highly developed

Roads and RAER were used to classify the GSH:• 1.88 km/km2 (mean [1.54] + ½ standard deviation) used to divide the GSH into 2 zones (min size 9-sq mi):

• ‘highly’ developed zone (≥1.88 km/km2)• ‘less’ developed zone (< 1.88 km/km2)

RAER 1.2 km/km2 roads

Road density:

65% 50% 40% 30% 20%

Exploring a range of goals with Marxan

sum runs scores ≥75

60%30%

Epilogue

Our proposal Minister’s recommendation

Paired Study: Paired Study: Queensland and Queensland and

OregonOregon

““The biodiversity planning The biodiversity planning component should be component should be

integrated into an integrated into an implementation framework implementation framework

and not vice versa”and not vice versa”

Cowling and Pressey 2003, Biological Conservation 112:1-13

Current Work: the Paired Study Project

Concluding thoughtsConcluding thoughts Approaches to answering ‘the Approaches to answering ‘the

burning question’ are constantly burning question’ are constantly evolving evolving

Frontiers in conservation science Frontiers in conservation science and planning include:and planning include:

o Freshwater conservationFreshwater conservationo Integrated land-freshwater-sea analysis and Integrated land-freshwater-sea analysis and

planningplanningo Ecosystem services valuation and Ecosystem services valuation and

downstream cost/benefit sharingdownstream cost/benefit sharingo Climate changeClimate changeo Limits to growthLimits to growtho Implementation: the knowing-doing gapImplementation: the knowing-doing gap

Burning Questions?Burning Questions?

Ken Vance-BorlandKen Vance-BorlandThe Conservation Planning InstituteThe Conservation Planning Institute

Corvallis, OregonCorvallis, Oregonkenvb@consplan.net

www.conservationplanninginstitute.orgwww.conservationplanninginstitute.org