1. Conservation Planning Using GIS
Planning for the restoration of native biodiversity within the Goulburn Broken Catchment, Victoria, using spatial modeling
Paper by J. A. Wilson and K. W. Lowe. Printed in Ecological Management and Restoration. 2(1)
Presented by Andrew Michael Lakin , Environmental Studies, GEOG 370, 3/1/10

2. The Problem Human development modifies the natural environment
This modification leads to the decline and loss of many plant and animal species (biodiversity)
Habitats become isolated or fragmented
Hypothesis: Conservation planning can be spatially modeled successfully using GIS software

3. Methods
Site: Goulburn Broken Catchment in Victoria, Australia. Broken down into 7 “bioregions”
Ecological vegetation classes (EVCs) determined for each bioregion
Model created using several different rules which aimed to :
Increase extent of vegetative landscape
Build on existing patterns of vegetation
Improve connectivity between landscapes
Goal set to achieve 15% pre-European vegetative cover

4. Results Model resulted in an increase in the number of large remenants
Increase in total vegetation cover
242,272 “new” hectares of vegetation cover created
Target of 15% pre-European vegetative land cover achieved

5. Conclusion
GIS can be a useful tool in conservation planning.
Criticisms: Follow up needed. Can this model be implemented successfully? If not what obstacles will exist?