Page 64 - GIS for Science, Volume 3 Preview

Likewise, aggregating across species reveals differences in conservation area priorities between taxonomic groups. These patterns can also be explored in the Half-Earth Project Map.
Degree of human modification
Composition of global conservation network shows the percentage of each biome needed to meet species conservation targets, the amount of human modification contained in the network, and the amount currently protected.
Global Reserve Network Prioritization for Terrestrial Vertebrates (55km)
Takeaways
These results reveal two key takeaways. First, established protected areas do not adequately safeguard global biodiversity to the extent predicted by island biogeographic theory. This result may be discouraging although not surprising. Because biodiversity positively correlates with resource availability, many protected areas were historically placed in regions that did not inhibit resource exploitation and economic interests, which results in areas with less biodiversity protected. In contrast, the second key takeaway should be quite encouraging: by offering a systematic, strategic approach to global biodiversity conservation, spatial planning can help us drastically outperform the expectations of island biogeography. In our terrestrial example, 47.4% of land was needed to meet conservation targets for all species modeled.
47 percent of land
could save all species,
if chosen carefully. ●
Targets met: 100% Targets not met: 0%
15 percent of currently protected land
does not help species as much as expected.
●Targets met: 19% Targets not met: 81%
100 75 50 25
Spatial conservation planning helps us to outperform the expectations of island biogeographic theory. Although our current protection of the planet’s biodiversity is inefficient and insufficient, rapid gains in comprehensive conservation of the biosphere are possible with a strategic, global approach. The results shown here are derived from a model that accounts for all terrestrial vertebrate
0 species. 0 25 50 75 100
Percent of habitat protected
52
This feature layer shows global priority areas of conservation importance for all terrestrial vertebrate groups. Values are summarized within an equal-area grid, with a grid cell area of ~3,025 km2 (approximately 55 km x 55 km in the tropics). This cell size represents the finest resolution at which currently available range map data can be used to accurately infer species presence without further habitat modeling.
GIS for Science
Very High: 75 – 100 High: 50 – 75 Moderate: 25 – 50 Low: 1 – 25
Percent of species protected