ESM270: Conservation Planning and Priority Setting
Spring 2016; W 10:00-11:15
Instructor: Ben Halpern ()
Office hours: Wednesdays 11:15-12:30 and by appointment
TA: Becca Gentry ()
Office hours: Mondays 4-5pm; Wednesdays 11:15-12:30
Overview
For most weeks there will be a lecture/discussion on a central topic in conservation planning (Monday) and a lab-based exercise using a planning tool designed to apply that topic (Wednesday). Lectures will include presentation and discussion of case studies that illustrate the topic in practice; readings are assigned to help provide context and background for the discussion and should be read prior to class. Optional readings really are optional – I provide them as a resource for you, not as something I expect you to read for class. Assignments are due at the start of class on the day listed.
Lectures
Each week we will explore a different aspect of conservation planning, through key readings, case study examples, and lecture. You are expected to do all required readings prior to lecture and to participate in discussions based on those readings (and the lecture) each week; recommended readings are optional. Each week a different group of ~5 students will facilitate ~10 minutes of discussion on the papers. Groups should either develop 2-3 questions based on the readings or use the readings/weekly topic to frame a discussion/debate on the topic. All readings are available on Gauchospace.
Lab Sections
In each lab section you will explore a different conservation planning tool using actual data for a particular case study region. Each lab session will begin with an overview of the tool and a brief demonstration, and any additional guidance on data to be used for the assignment. In some cases assignments are short enough to complete the analysis during lab, but several will likely require extra time outside class time.
Grading
Written assignments: 10 points each (100pts total).
Attendance and participation: 3 points each class (60pts total).
Class participation
Students are required to actively participate in the course. All assignments should be done individually, not in groups. Full attendance is required, except under approved special circumstances, such as illness or family emergency. Students must contact the instructor () to request an excused absence prior to the lecture.
Week 1
Monday, March 28 (lecture)
Introductions, course structure; conservation planning and setting the stage
Wednesday, March 30 (lecture/discussion)
Conservation elements and setting conservation objectives
Case studies: CI’s hotspots (global); TNC’s ecoregions (global/regional)
Readings:
Required: Kareiva & Marvier 2012, Soule 2013
Optional: McCauley 2006, McCauley_responses 2006, Soule 2014, Doak et al. 2014, Max 2014, Tallis et al. 2014
Assignment 1 due: What should conservation objectives be (plus discussion/debate)
Week 2
Monday, April 4 (lecture)
Species-level conservation targets (viable populations)
Case studies: Steelhead trout; Mission Blue butterfly
Readings:
Required: Beissinger and Westphal 1998, Doak et al. 2015
Optional: Tear et al. 1993, Ziegler et al. 2013
Wednesday, April 6 (lab)
Species range mapping
Week 3
Monday, April 11 (lecture)
Multi-species priorities and multi-criteria planning
Case studies: Global 200 ecoregions; Mojave conservation plan (revisit hotspots)
Readings:
Required: Myers et al. 2000, Karieva & Marvier 2007
Optional: Bonn & Gaston 2005, Moffett & Sarkar 2006, Regan et al. 2007, Eken et al. 2004
Wednesday, April 13 (lab)
Mapping hotspots
Assignment 2 due: Using Maxent to map species ranges
Week 4
Monday, April 18 (lecture)
Scaling up (conservation networks and portfolios)
Case studies: rezoning the Great Barrier Reef; SF Bay Area Lands Conservation
Readings:
Required: Rodrigues & Gaston 2001, Sala et al. 2003, Williams et al. 2004
Optional: Cabeza & Moilanen 2001, Leslie et al. 2003, Watson et al. 2014
Wednesday, April 20 (lab)
Marxan as a planning tool
Assignment 3 due: Using ArcGIS to map hotspots in the California Current
Week 5
Monday, April 25 (lecture)
Conservation in a dynamic world
Case studies: Columbia Plateau; California MPA network
Readings:
Required: Hannah et al. 2007, Pressey et al. 2007, Runge et al. 2014
Optional: Beier et al. 2011, Block et al. 2011, Martin et al. 2007, Boyce et al. 2006
Wednesday, April 27 (lab)
Circuitscape
Assignment 4 due: Prioritizing conservation in Morro Bay
Week 6
Monday, May 2 (lecture)
Restoration, reintroductions and rewilding
Case studies: Great Lakes restoration; restoration of threatened species on islands
Readings:
Required: Seddon et al. 2014, Sarrazin & Barbault 1996; Sudding et al. 2015
Optional: Allan et al. 2013, Possingham et al. 2015, Hobbs 2006, Donlan et al. 2005
Wednesday, May 4 (lab)
Hijacking tools for restoration planning
Assignment 5 due: Exploring connectivity between patches
Week 7
Monday, May 9 (lecture)
Ecosystem services
Case studies: Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii; Massachusetts wind farms; Belize marine spatial planning
Readings:
Required: Egoh et al. 2007, Daily et al. 1997, Daily et al. 2009
Optional: Polasky et al. 2008, White et al. 2012, de Groot et al. 2002, Naeem et al. 2015
Wednesday, May 11 (lab)
InVEST
Assignment 6 due: Exploring how to make restoration more strategic
Week 8
Monday, May 16 (lecture)
Social science in conservation planning
Case studies: Icelandic ITQs; global REDD efforts; CA MLPA process (revisited)
Readings:
Required: Ostrom 2009, Ehrlich et al. 2012, Smith et al. 2003
Optional: Bracheres et al. 2004, Cinner et al. 2009, Halpern et al. 2013
Wednesday, May 18 (lab)
AHP elicitation
Assignment 7 due: Mapping ecosystem services
Week 9
Monday May 23 (lecture)
EBM/Comprehensive Planning
Case studies: Baltic Sea Action Plan; Mojave solar energy
Readings:
Required: Halpern & Agardy 2013, Bain et al. 2008 (skim this one)
Optional: Maxwell et al. 2013
Wednesday, May 25 (lab)
Cumulative Impact mapping through SeaSketch
Assignment 8 due: Eliciting and mapping preferences for conservation priorities
Week 10
(Memorial Day – make up lecture day/time TBD) Monday, May 30 (lecture)
Indicators in conservation
Case studies: Puget Sound Partnership; Aichi targets
Readings:
Required: Halpern et al. 2012, Noss 1990
Optional: Andelman & Fagan 2000, Simberloff 1998, Rodrigues & Brooks 2007
Wednesday, June 1 (lab)
Ocean Health Index
Assignment 9 due: Rezoning to reduce cumulative impacts
Monday, June 6
Assignment 10 due: Indicating conservation outcomes