Online Resource 1: Factors and proxies used to determine Eco-, Socio- and ClimateWise priority setting; rationales for incorporation of this aspect, reference time period, original resolution of data and original source.

Priority Subindex / Factor / Rationale / Proxy for Priority Setting / Correlation with priority / Reference Time Period / Original Resolution / Source
Ecowise (Biomass and Heterogneity) / Biomass (directly related to exergy) is an indicator for the intensity of real or potential interactions of ecosystems with the climate system. / Carbon rich areas are (potential) carbon sinks and sources. This is true for above and below-ground carbon. / Carbon Storage of Soil and Vegetation (kg Carbon/qm) / positive / 1991-2000 / 0.5° / (Gumpenberger et al. 2010)
Biomass (see factor above) and potential ecosystem heterogeneity / Higher vegetation density indicates higher above-ground biomass and potential horizontal heterogeneity. / Vegetation Density (% of ground cover) / positive / 2003 / 500m / (Hansen et al. 2003)
Potential ecosystem heterogeneity / Large trees and forests are ecosystems with potentially rich vertical structures / Tree Height (m) / positive / 2003-2007 / 500m / (Lefsky 2010)
Ecowise (Biodiversity and Complexity) / Species Richness / Species richness indicates higher redundancy of ecosystems and therefore correlates positively with resilience and resistance. / Species Richness of Vascular Plants (range equivalents per 10,000 km²) / positive / 2005 / ecoregion / (Kier et al. 2005)
Functional Diversity / Higher functional diversity indicates adaptive capacity. / Functional Species Richness (number of growth strategies) / positive / 2011 / 1° / (Reu et al. 2011)
Endemism (Intrinsic Value of Biodiversity) / High endemism areas are especially unique, have a high intrinsic existence value of the regional flora and fauna and potentially provide relatively high returns for conservation efforts. / Endemism Richness (range equivalents per 10,000 km² weighted for 50% plant and tetrapod endemism richness) each) / positive / 2009 / endemism region / (Kier et al. 2009)
Habitat Diversity / Areas with large altitudinal differences show highest habitat diversity. Furthermore they provide opportunities for altitudinal range shifts under climate change. / Topographical Heterogeneity (number of altitudinal height classes with one class covering 500m) / positive / 2008 / 30´´ / (Esri 2008)
SocioWise / Human pressure on ecosystems / Associated problems fuel ongoing socio-ecological problems (e.g. food supply) and detract attention away from nature conservation. / Population Growth (average growth per year in %) / negative / 2010 to 2015, updated Dec. 2011 / country / (UN - United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division 2011)
Increase of economic wealth / Increasing economic wealth correlates with growth of per-capita consumption, ecological footprint, industrialization, infrastructure development and land use, and subsequent future increase of ecosystem fragmentation and disturbance. Furthermore problems from unsustainable development such as urbanization, environmental pollution or human health problems, distract from conservation problems. / GDP Growth Rate (average growth per year in %) / negative / 2000 to 2007 / country / (IMF - International Monetary Fund 2009)
Intensity of socioeconomic pressure on natural resources / Areas with high recent deforestation rates should suffer particularly high levels of impact from direct exploitation / Forest Cover Loss
(% of area) / negative / 2000 to 2005 / 18.5km / (Hansen et al. 2010)
Political and Social Conditions / Economic, social and political aspects influence the risk of losing conservation investment without significant effects / Failed States Index (points of 120 max.) / negative / 2011 / country / (The Fund for Peace 2011)
Political willingness and capacity to promote nature conservation / Countries with a high proportion of protected area are more likely to undertake further conservation action / Protected Area Coverage (% of area) / positive / 2010 / polygon data / (IUCN and UNEP 2009 (update 2010))
Costs for conservation projects / As financial resources for conservation are limited lower costs are preferable. / Conservation Opportunity Costs ($/ha) / negative / 2007 / 5´ / (Naidoo and Iwamura 2007)
ClimateWise / Ecosystem integrity and functionality (fragmentation) / Human disturbance correlates negatively with resilience and functionality. / Human Footprint Index (points of 100 max.) / negative / 2005
(data from 1960s to 2001 / 1km / (Last of the Wild 2005)
Ecosystem exposure to interacting threats of landuse and climate change / Water scarcity is likely to increase under future climate change especially in those regions where water is already scarce decreasing ecosystems ability to cope with future climate change. / Water Stress Index (ratio between water demand and supply) / negative / 2000 (data from 1995 to 1998) / 30´ / (Vörösmarty et al. 2000)
Intensity of climate change and impact on ecosystems / Climate change extend and impact are not equally distributed on the globe. Most vulnerable ecosystems are less likely to maintain their functionality under climate change. / Biome Vulnerabilit (overlap of observed and projected vegetation shifts) / negative / Observed 1901 to 2002; projected 1990 to 2100 / 0.5° / (Gonzalez et al. 2010)