Identifying Gaps in Conservation Networks: of Indicators and Uncertainty in Geographic-based Analyses
Flather C, Wilson KR, Dean DJ, McComb WC. 1997. Identifying Gaps in Conservation Networks: of Indicators and Uncertainty in Geographic-based Analyses. Ecological Applications. 7(2):531-542
This article explores diversity gaps and conservation planning. Protecting biological resources has often been accomplished by establishing reserves that are managed to perserve their natural condition. Reserve establishment is a common conservation strategy, however, protected areas managed strictly for biological conservation comprise only about 3% of the terrestrial land base on this planet. Such a limited land area can be expected to maintain only a small proportion of the globe's biota. It is not yet known how to allocate limited conservation resources in a manner that guarantees comprehensive protection of the biota. A concept that has emerged as a strategy for reserve planning is gap analysis, a process where cartographic techniques are used to identify underrepresented elements of biological diversity (i.e., gaps) in an existing network of protected areas. Gap analysis has been used in conservation planning for over 25 years and has recently been formalized as a program to complete a comprehensive evaluation of biodiversity conservation in the United States. By overlaying maps of land ownership and management status on vegetation and species distribution, 'gaps' in the extant conservation network can be determined in a geographically explicit manner. It is cautioned that gap analysis is deceptively simple and it should be followed by detailed biological examination prior to setting conservation priorities. This article's purpose is to review a set of assumptions and issues that the authors feel is critical to the implementation and interpretation of gap analysis. Specifically, the two issues that are reviewed are: (1) Is there support for using biodiversity indicators to reflect overall diversity patterns? and (2) What is the implication of uncertainty in delineating reserve boundaries?
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Flather, Curtis; Wilson, Kenneth; Dean, Denis; McComb, William
- Units
- VOYA
- Keywords
- Biodiversity, conservation network, Gap Analysis, indicator taxa, Management, Species Diversity, Species Richness