Multi-Area Conservation Strategies Achieving Results Across Multiple Sites and Larger Scales

We’ve been doing varied multi-area strategies all along –Establishing Systems of Conservation Areas –Securing Public Funds for Conservation –Securing Tax or Market-Based Incentives –Developing Conservation Institutions –Replicating Successful Strategies Across Sites –Improving Public Policies to Abate Threats Key Points to Introduce This Step

Multi-area strategies should explicitly... –Abate threats to targets at multiple conservation areas –Enhance the viability of conservation targets at multiple areas, or –Build capacity for successful application of one or more conservation strategies across multiple areas Multi-area strategies for critical threats... –Are target-based –Affect multiple occurrences of a target in similar way and –Operate at a larger spatial scale Structure follows strategy... –Multiple areas may be within or across operating units, political jurisdictions, large-scale project areas, or other relevant aggregations Other Key Points

Common Issues & Recommendations Does the 5-S Framework apply for these strategies? –The 5-S framework is essential for strategies that address critical threats or viability; it may or may not be useful for strategies to develop capacity Who takes responsibility for strategies that require leadership or action beyond a project area? –For now, project teams with similar targets & threats need to self-organize, like the New England hardwood forests What about ecoregional strategies? –Ecoregions are an excellent locus for setting priorities, but are not typically a good locus for strategy implementation. Reasons: for targets, ecological systems cross ecoregional boundaries; for policies, political boundaries are key. Is a multi-area strategy in lieu of, or in addition to, single area strategies (e.g for invasive species threat)? –Do what works best (effective & efficient) at each scale

Helpful Hints... Roll up threats across multiple occurrences of a target to look for patterns and opportunities Often threats will be more idiosyncratic by site