conservation planning
An example from western NSW
Marxan analysis
Define the problem
Plan the analysis
Gather and process data
Planning units
Conservation features
Cost, clumping, targets, etc.
The problem
Woodlands subject to
heavy clearing.
Declines in biodiversity
Report commissioned
by NSW Department of
Environment, Climate
Change and Water
(DECC)
The region
Western Woodlands
Way (WWW)
75,425 km2
located in the sheepwheat belt of north
western NSW
Region is a mix of
conservation
reserves, agricultural
land, and small urban
areas.
The plan
Planning units
Based on a cadastral
map (2006) of all
properties within
WWW.
Set status of planning
units according to
objectives.
Result was 3582
planning units available
for selection.
Conservation features
40 woodland-dependent species.
Point location data from the Atlas
of New South Wales Wildlife
(provided by DECC).
Created current and historic
species distribution models.
Using the modelling software Maxent
Cost
Cost assigned to each
planning unit was the
cost of restoration.
Restoration cost
based on rateable
value of the land.
Clumping
Results
Connecting existing
habitat.
Some selected
properties already
covered by native
woodland.
Application
Metapopulation models.
Implementation will
involve working with land
owners.
Re-run Marxan with new PU
status data.
Lessons
Marxan is flexible and can be used in
some creative ways.
Marxan is a powerful tool but the context
of the problem is important.