Minimizing cross-realm threats from land-use change: A national-scale conservation framework connecting land, freshwater and marine systems

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.108954
• Publication Date: 2021-01-13T05:05:16Z
• Authors: Vivitskaia J.D. T...; Scott Atkinson; Hugh P. Possingham; Nate Peterson; Simon Linke; James R. Allan; Alu Kaiye; Malcolm Keako; James Sabi; Bernard Suruman; Vanessa M. Adams
• Keywords: Realm; Marine Spatial Planning; Marine conservation; Marine protected area

There is a growing recognition that conservation strategies should be designed accounting for cross-realm connections, such as freshwater connections to land and sea, ensure effectiveness of marine spatial protection minimize perverse outcomes changing land-use. Yet, examples integration across realms are relatively scarce, with most targeting priorities in single realm, or freshwater, while minimizing threats originating terrestrial ecosystems. To date, no study has optimized multiple produce spatially explicit integrated plan simultaneously accounts human activities at national scale. This represents major gap the application existing planning theory. We present scale framework selecting protected areas using case Papua New Guinea (PNG) integrates systems ecological connectivity account benefits land-use climate change. The relative importance both forests inshore reef environments PNG subsistence commercial livelihoods emphasizes considering between sea. was commissioned by Conservation Environment Protection Authority identifies comprehensive set meet targets Our national-scale prioritization useful agencies managers looking implement actions given objectives, including watershed management biodiversity protection, ensures efficient effective