Delaying conservation actions for improved knowledge: How long should we wait?

• Published in: Ecology Letters
• Main Authors: Grantham, H. S., Wilson, K.A., Moilanen, Atte, Rebelo, Tony, Possingham, H.P.
• Other Authors: Holyoak, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Science 2009
• Subjects: Biodiversity data; Cape Floristic Region; Dynamic conservation planning; Resource allocation; Uncertainty; C1; 960801 Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Flora; Fauna and Biodiversity; 0502 Environmental Science and Management; 050205 Environmental Management; 050206 Environmental Monitoring; 050209 Natural Resource Management; 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:181470

Decisions about where conservation actions are implemented are based on incomplete knowledge about biodiversity. The Protea Atlas is a comprehensive database, containing information collated over a decade. Using this data set in a series of retrospective simulations, we compared the outcome from different scenarios of information gain, and habitat protection and loss, over a 20-year period. We assumed that there was no information on proteas at the beginning of the simulation but knowledge improved each year. Our aim was to find out how much time we should spend collecting data before protecting habitat when there is ongoing loss of habitat. We found that, in this case, surveying for more than 2 years rarely increased the effectiveness of conservation decisions in terms of representation of proteas in protected areas and retention within the landscape. If the delay is too long, it can sometimes be more effective just using a readily available habitat map. These results reveal the opportunity costs of delaying conservation action to improve knowledge.