1. Scale and Conservation Planning The scale of investigation may have profound effects on the patterns that one finds the obvious patterns of scale perceived by the conservation planner rarely coincide with the spatial structure and configuration that drive the behavior and ecosystem processes that are the subject of conservation efforts

2. We review concepts of scale and provide examples of how scaling issues can affect different aspects of conservation planning selection of conservation targets, identification and impacts of threats, delineation of conservation priority areas, and the influence and aggregation of local actions toward realizing broader conservation goals.

3. Definitions and Concepts Scale (general): Characteristic of a set of observations that have a definable grain and extent. What can be observed when a system is looked at with a specific grain and within a defined extent

4. Definitions and Concepts Cartographic (i.e., Data) Scale: The accuracy and precision with which spatial observations are recorded Ecological Scale: The scales at which a processes or patterns it creates can be observed. Grain refers to the smallest element upon which a process depends. Extent is the coarsest pattern a process produces.

5. Definitions and Concepts Analysis Scale: The scale selected to address a specific analysis objective where extent is defined by maximum the project boundaries and grain is the smallest unit being considered. Analysis scale is under the control of the planner and may be different than data or ecological scale.

6. Individual Responses Population Responses Ecological System Responses Natural Processes Conservation Threats Biophysical Environment Fine-scale Conservation Planning Coarse-scale Conservation Planning Extent Time Short Long LargeSmall Invasive Species Landscape Mosaics Habitat Loss/Modification Climate Change Succession Dispersal Habitat Use/ Modification Reproduction Foraging Home Ranges PedogenesisFire Regimes Regional Patterns

7. Why is scale is important to conservation planning Sage Grouse: – Negatively associated with agriculture at the range-wide scale – Positively associated with agriculture at the landscape scale – Negatively associated with agriculture at the site scale

8. Cartographic Scale

9. Influence of Scale on Inferences from Data Grain of data for different conservation questions: – Priority regions – Priority sites – Site-scale prioritization – Management planning

10. A. B. C. Figure 1. Scale for analysis in conservation planning is determined by the extent of the planning area and the finest analysis unit used (i.e., grain). For effective conservation planning, the analysis scale must be appropriately matched with the scale of the data used in the conservation plan (i.e., cartographic scale) and the scales relevant to the conservation targets and threats. Olsen et al. (2001, A) used ecoregions at their grain to define globally (i.e., extent) significant areas for conservation. Dobson et al. (200X) looked at the occurrence of endangered species with a grain of counties within the extent of the United States (B). In their Pacific Northwest Coast Ecoregional Assessment (C), The Nature Conservancy used 400-ha squares as their grain to establish near-shore marine conservation priorities within the extent of the Pacific Northwest Coast Ecoregion (REFERENCE).

11. Scaling Conservation Planning Where Questions

12. Scaling Conservation Planning Scaling Where Questions - the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem

13. How Questions TNC’s CAP process (CMP standards)

14. When Questions Example from Castle Creek, Owyhee County, ID

15. Research needs Conclusions

16. Spatial Scale Temporal Scale Fine-scale Planning Coarse-scale Planning Fine Coarse Short Long Individual Responses Population Responses Community Responses Natural Processes Conservation Threats Succession Dispersal Habitat Modification Foraging ReproductionHome Range Climate Change PedogenesisFire Regimes Habitat Loss/Modification Invasive Species