© Mark Godfrey Component 3: Value-added Tools: Internet-Based GIS Ecosystem Assessment and Reporting Tool for Conservation Decision-Making INTER-AMERICAN BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION NETWORK (IABIN) SIXTH COUNCIL MEETING Bayahibe, Dominican Republic July 2009 Steve Schill Senior Scientist Caribbean Program The Nature Conservancy

TNC Projects with IABIN DGF Project: Value-Added Tools: Ecosystem TN: Protected Areas TN : Protected Area Tools for ArcGIS Training and Capacity Building Watershed Threat Assessments Protected Area Tools for ArcGIS Training and Capacity Building Watershed Threat Assessments Integration of Ecoregional Products Terrestrial/Freshwater Standard Classifications Integration of Ecoregional Products Terrestrial/Freshwater Standard Classifications Consortium Member Management Effectiveness Consortium Member Management Effectiveness Internet-Based GIS Ecosystem Assessment and Reporting Tool

PAT Three Modules: 1. Environmental Risk Surface (ERS) 2. Relative Biodiversity Index (RBI) 3. Marxan Tools Schill and Raber, 2008

Environmental Risk Surface (ERS)

Requires: 1)Targets 2)Planning Units 3)Analysis Extent Relative Biodiversity Index (RBI)

Requires 4 data layers: Targets (points, lines, polygons) Planning Units ERS Model (cost surface) Protected Areas Marxan Support Tools

PAT Tools: Systematic Conservation Design

Viability Status Threats Status Mngmt Status Mitigate Threats Implement Mngmt Plan Improve Viability Mitigate Threats Improve Viability Implement Mngmt Plan Improve Biodiversity Mitigate Threats Implement Mngmt Plan = Effective Conservation Evaluating Effective Conservation

IABIN Component 3: Tool Objectives Integrate IABIN’s Ecosystem and Protected Area Thematic Networks Provide a simplistic “manager’s dashboard” approach for querying and visualization of effective conservation Permit conservation decision-makers to cross- query ecosystems with protected area information Spatial and tabular reporting of ecosystems and protected areas

What is the level of effective conservation for each ecosystem and within each protected area? Where are the gaps in effective management for each of these ecosystems? Given limited resources, where are the most suitable areas to implement conservation strategies? Visualization and Reporting Tool

What ecosystems exist in each protected area and what kind of management are they lacking? What are the ecosystem percentages in each of the eight categories? For each ecosystem not meeting the goal, where do we need to improve viability? reduce threats? improve management? Visualization and Reporting Tool

Developing Future Threat Models SLR RESILIENCE

Viability and Threat Models VIABILITY THREAT

Intent Reserve is established to provide high-quality spawning, rearing and adult habitat for fishes. No fishing or diving allowed. Biodiversity Focus DurationThe fishing and diving ban is stated for 5 years.Short Term Effective Management Potential Planning Framework: There is a management prescription in place to address instances of fishing and diving. Most to Full Potential Governance:The local island community holds regular meetings to evaluate reserve mgnt and resolve issues that arise. Resources:There is sufficient funding and staffing for a patrol boat. Evaluating Management Effectiveness

Cross-walking Questions to Fit EMP Sub-indicators

Conservation Management Status

Target Assessment: Mangroves VIABILITY THREAT MNGNT

Effective Conservation of Mangroves

Developing a Data Model

Ecosystem Assessment and Reporting Tool

Output Reporting Tables

Be able to use other reporting units besides protected areas: countries, sub-national political units, watersheds, ecoregions Display of other TN databases via WMS/WFS links Being able to generate report by user-defined geographical unit Calculation of how much of an ecosystem is protected based on certain management criteria. Planned Utilities for the Tool