title: Optimized spatial priorities for biodiversity conservation in China: a systematic conservation planning perspective.
abstract: By addressing several key features overlooked in previous studies, i.e. human disturbance, integration of ecosystem- and species-level conservation features, and principles of complementarity and representativeness, we present the first national-scale systematic conservation planning for China to determine the optimized spatial priorities for biodiversity conservation. We compiled a spatial database on the distributions of ecosystem- and species-level conservation features, and modeled a human disturbance index (HDI) by aggregating information using several socioeconomic proxies. We ran Marxan with two scenarios (HDI-ignored and HDI-considered) to investigate the effects of human disturbance, and explored the geographic patterns of the optimized spatial conservation priorities. Compared to when HDI was ignored, the HDI-considered scenario resulted in (1) a marked reduction (∼9%) in the total HDI score and a slight increase (∼7%) in the total area of the portfolio of priority units, (2) a significant increase (∼43%) in the total irreplaceable area and (3) more irreplaceable units being identified in almost all environmental zones and highly-disturbed provinces. Thus the inclusion of human disturbance is essential for cost-effective priority-setting. Attention should be targeted to the areas that are characterized as moderately-disturbed, <2,000 m in altitude, and/or intermediately- to extremely-rugged in terrain to identify potentially important regions for implementing cost-effective conservation. We delineated 23 primary large-scale priority areas that are significant for conserving China's biodiversity, but those isolated priority units in disturbed regions are in more urgent need of conservation actions so as to prevent immediate and severe biodiversity loss. This study presents a spatially optimized national-scale portfolio of conservation priorities--effectively representing the overall biodiversity of China while minimizing conflicts with economic development. Our results offer critical insights for current conservation and strategic land-use planning in China. The approach is transferable and easy to implement by end-users, and applicable for national- and local-scale systematic conservation prioritization practices.
authors: Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Ruidong
authors: R
authors: Wu
authors: The Nature Conservancy China Program, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Yongcheng
authors: Y
authors: Long
authors: Department of Geography, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America.
authors: George P
authors: GP
authors: Malanson
authors: Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Garber
authors: The Nature Conservancy China Program, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Shuang
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment, and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
authors: Diqiang
authors: D
authors: Li
authors: The Nature Conservancy China Program, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Zhao
authors: The Nature Conservancy China Program, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Longzhu
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: School of Nature Reserve, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
authors: Hairui
authors: H
authors: Duo
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical