Practical application of biodiversity surrogates and percentage targets for conservation in Papua New Guinea

• DOI: 10.1071/pc010289
• Publication Date: 2016-05-26T00:22:18Z
• Authors: Daniel P. Faith; C. R. Margules; P. A. Walker; J. Stein; G. Natera
• Keywords: Complementarity (molecular biology); New guinea; Global biodiversity

A conservation planning study in Papua New Guinea (PNG) addresses the role of biodiversity surrogates and targets, context trade-offs required for given real-world costs constraints. In a trade-ofts framework, must be judged terms their success predicting general complementarity values ? amount additional an area can contribute to protected set. Wrong predictions low (and consequent allocation non-protective land uses) may more worrisome than wrong high protection, perhaps unnecessarily forgoing other uses benefiting society). Trade-ofts targets work well when are based on surrogate information that is expressed as continuum variation. The PNG used hierarchical variation environmental domains vegetation types, nominated target then dictated level within those hierarchies was used. Internationally-promoted provide potential basis comparative evaluation protection levels among countries or regions. However, conventional application percentage focusing proportions total habitat does not serve goal sustainability because miss-used restrict protected. At same time, recent complaints about equally misguided claiming, species-area curves, 10% imply 50% extinctions. We apply new approach PNG, which maximum diversity could by unconstrained country becomes working target. Reaching require area, constraints (e.g., existing reserves) costs. baseline analysis we found at 564 combined with 608 domains, country. This process determining also revealed some "must-have" areas any future plan. Sur.h must-have were identified 15%-based satisfaction 10%-based practice 16.8% (Faith et al. 2001a). low-cost proposed set corresponded greater net benefits relative our two approaches.