Principles and Tools for Planning the Conservation of Threatened Species

Abstract

Biodiversity is being lost at unprecedented rates. Area and threat-based conservation measures act too slowly or inadequately for species already threatened with extinction and more urgent, intensive action is often required. Science-based conservation planning for these species emerges as a critical tool to ‘bend the curve’ of biodiversity loss. Thousands of species need this attention, but few receive it. A massive global upscaling of planning effort is imperative. Governments and organisations need clarity on how to plan effectively, while funders need evidence that good planning leads to positive outcomes for species. First, I reviewed the case for species conservation planning to clarify why it is important, where it sits in the broader landscape of biodiversity planning, and how many species are likely to need it. Second, I comprehensively reviewed planning advice from different countries, organisations and academic studies. This yielded consensus on crucial elements of a species conservation plan, a common acknowledgement of under-resourcing, a shared impetus for more efficient planning methods and a trend towards greater stakeholder involvement. Third, I investigated whether species conservation prospects are measurably better with planning than without it. For 35 planning projects completed in 23 countries over 13 years, IUCN Red List assessments showed aggregate decline to extinction slowed after planning and was reversed within 15 years. Conversely, counterfactual simulations projected around eight extinctions without planning, evidencing planning’s positive impact on species status. Fourth, I explored the utility of Population Viability Analyses (PVA), through in-depth analysis of New Zealand’s critically endangered kākāpō. These analyses suggested that more regular supplies of preferred foods and larger carrying capacities may lead to management independence. PVA can therefore play a pivotal role in planning for species with small or highly fragmented populations. Fifth, I demonstrated integration of PVA, Disease Risk Analysis and in situ and ex situ consideration into stakeholder-inclusive planning for Tasmanian devils, showing the tangible, immediate conservation progress that resulted. My research offers a roadmap for effective conservation planning, underscores the value of integrating PVA into planning for specific species and provides compelling evidence that good planning benefits species conservation outcomes.