Identifying Species Targets at the Landscape/ Seascape Scale

Why do we need Species Targets at the Landscape/ Seascape Scale Ensures that we are focused on our end-goal of biodiversity conservation Enables us to prioritize sites and actions Enables us to measure and evaluate our success Enables us to communicate and engage effectively with partners and stakeholders

Targets of Corridor Conservation Persistence of: Globally threatened spp. … Key biodiversity areas … Critical ecological processes ….  …that cannot be effectively conserved at the spp or site scale alone

Overview of the Process 1.Identify species outcomes for hotspot or HBWA. 2.Identify and delineate key biodiversity areas. 3.Identify species outcomes that cannot be achieved at the site scale alone and require conservation action at the landscape/ seascape scale. 4.Define targets for minimizing extinction risk 5.Define population requirements to meet target 6.Define area requirements to meet target 7.Define connectivity requirements to meet target

Identify species outcomes for hotspot or high-biodiversity wilderness area

Identify and delineate key biodiversity areas for globally threatened and geographically concentrated species

spp. with large home ranges and nomadic species spp. that occur at low densities spp. that move between key biodiversity areas and other migratory species spp. that now occur in small isolated subpopulations due to habitat fragmentation spp. that depend on ecological processes that cannot be maintained through protection at the site scale Identify globally threatened and geographically concentrated species that cannot be conserved at the site scale alone and require conservation action at the landscape/ seascape scale

Species with large home ranges and nomadic species Population with X mature individuals requires more area than in any of the Y largest KBAs identified for the species or in which the species occurs

Species that occur at low densities Population with X mature individuals requires more area than in any of the Y largest KBAs identified for the species or in which the species occurs

Species that move between key biodiversity areas Dispersal: Sub-adult dispersal patterns cannot be accommodated within any of the Y largest KBAs identified for the species or in which the species occurs; Migratory species: Populations regularly move between KBAs.

Species that now occur in small isolated subpopulations due to habitat fragmentation All subpopulations have less than X mature individuals with limited probability of recolonization due to habitat fragmentation

Species that depend on ecological processes that cannot be maintained at the site scale

Quantifying Species Targets for Minimizing Extinction Risk at the Landscape/ Seascape Scale

Population type targets Population reduction less than 30% over 10 yrs or 3 generations Population greater than 10,000 mature individuals At least one subpopulation containing more than 1,000 mature individuals Mature individuals spread across more than one subpopulation More than 10 locations Probability of EW less than 10% over 100 years

Area type targets No continuing decline in Extent of Occurrence Area of Occupancy greater than 2,000 km2 No continuing decline in area/ extent/ quality of habitat

Connectivity type targets No severe fragmentation (i.e. not the case that most of the population found in small relatively isolated populations) Source: Russ (2000)

Assessing Area and Connectivity Requirements for Species Targets at the Landscape/ Seascape Scale

Assess area requirements to meet area type targets Extent of Occurrence: minimum area requirement = current extent of occurrence Area of Occupancy: minimum area requirement = area of occupancy greater than 100/ 2,000 km 2 or current area of occupancy Habitat: minimum area requirement = current area/ extent of habitat, with quality maintained

Assess connectivity requirements to meet connectivity type targets Fragmentation: Map fragments of suitable habitat within Area of Occupancy; Estimate potential populations of largest fragments; If no fragment holds suitable habitat for a sub- population of 1,000 mature individuals, then identify options for connecting fragments to achieve sufficient interconnected habitat to support target subpopulation; Check that increased connectivity does not reduce number of locations/ subpopulations to less than 10.

Assess connectivity requirements to meet connectivity type targets Fragmentation example: Tapirus pinchaque (EN) Population density is 1 per km 2 in protected areas; In Colombia, only 5-6 fragments large enough to support 150 individuals (estimated minimum for viable population in the short- term); Remaining patches could play an important role in conservation of the species if connected to larger patches. Source: Lizcano et al (2002)

Assess connectivity requirements for species that move between sites Movement requirements: Determine movement requirements. Determine movement/dispersal ability and assess possible limitations. Characterize and map current connectivity within landscape/ seascape. Quantify/ specify connectivity requirements.

Assess connectivity requirements to meet connectivity type targets Movement example: For some subpopulations, female migration to upstream nesting sites up to 80km from normal estuarine habitat. Main threat to migration is dam construction which block routes. Target = connectivity between nesting and foraging sites (i.e. absence of dams or adequate mitigation measures such as turtle ladders)

Identify threats that indicate area/ connectivity requirements

Assess area requirements to meet population type targets Define habitat and specific resource requirements; Estimate mean population densities (of mature individuals) and estimate total area of suitable habitat required; Map appropriate habitats and specific resources; Identify any critical habitats and/ or specific resources that can be protected at the site scale and ensure these are incorporated in KBAs; Quantify any additional habitat/ resource requirements to meet population targets.

Example: Casuarius casuarius (VU) Mean population density = per km 2 so population of 10,000 individuals would require 5,000-20,000 km 2. Habitat and resource requirements: Rainforest and associated habitats – requires access to water points and mixture of habitats in areas with seasonal variation in food supply (fruit-bearing trees). Assess area requirements to meet population type targets

Map appropriate habitats Identify critical habitat/ resources for site-scale protection in KBAs