A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning

Abstract Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of land‐use planning is a major tool to minimize the environmental impact of urbanization. SEA implementation is, however, often based on incomplete biodiversity diagnostics and almost entirely focused on lists of priority species with high conservat...

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Main Authors: Thibaut Ferraille, Christian Kerbiriou, Charlotte Bigard, Fabien Claireau, Eric Durand, John D. Thompson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Conservation Science and Practice
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70020
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author Thibaut Ferraille
Christian Kerbiriou
Charlotte Bigard
Fabien Claireau
Eric Durand
John D. Thompson
author_facet Thibaut Ferraille
Christian Kerbiriou
Charlotte Bigard
Fabien Claireau
Eric Durand
John D. Thompson
author_sort Thibaut Ferraille
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of land‐use planning is a major tool to minimize the environmental impact of urbanization. SEA implementation is, however, often based on incomplete biodiversity diagnostics and almost entirely focused on lists of priority species with high conservation value. At the same time, recent studies in Systematic Conservation Planning illustrate how to integrate the multidimensionality of biodiversity on a large scale, such as ecosystem function and species' evolutionary uniqueness, which could broaden the spectrum of stakes for SEA on a regional scale. The objective of this study is to assess the complementarity and feasibility of adopting a multi‐facet approach to define spatial biodiversity priorities and inform regional SEA stakeholders. To do so, we used a spatial prioritization tool based on Species Distribution Models (SDM) to assess four facets of biodiversity (“priority species list”, “threatened species”, “functional distinctiveness” and “phylogenetic distinctiveness”). In a study of three taxonomic groups (Aves, Flora, and Papilionidae) in three regional administrative entities in France, our results confirm the pertinence of different facets of biodiversity to identify new and complementary priority areas for conservation. However, the limited amount of data adequate for SDM may bias the choice of conservation priorities. We conclude on the clear need to promote a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation if we are to correctly reduce the impacts of development projects on a land‐use planning scale.
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spelling doaj-art-8e1bdaa9788f4c72bded5115dd2e994d2025-08-20T02:57:04ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542025-05-0175n/an/a10.1111/csp2.70020A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planningThibaut Ferraille0Christian Kerbiriou1Charlotte Bigard2Fabien Claireau3Eric Durand4John D. Thompson5CEFE Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier FranceCentre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris FranceAgence Bretonne de la Biodiversité Brest FranceCentre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris FranceNaturalia Environnement Avignon FranceCEFE Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier FranceAbstract Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of land‐use planning is a major tool to minimize the environmental impact of urbanization. SEA implementation is, however, often based on incomplete biodiversity diagnostics and almost entirely focused on lists of priority species with high conservation value. At the same time, recent studies in Systematic Conservation Planning illustrate how to integrate the multidimensionality of biodiversity on a large scale, such as ecosystem function and species' evolutionary uniqueness, which could broaden the spectrum of stakes for SEA on a regional scale. The objective of this study is to assess the complementarity and feasibility of adopting a multi‐facet approach to define spatial biodiversity priorities and inform regional SEA stakeholders. To do so, we used a spatial prioritization tool based on Species Distribution Models (SDM) to assess four facets of biodiversity (“priority species list”, “threatened species”, “functional distinctiveness” and “phylogenetic distinctiveness”). In a study of three taxonomic groups (Aves, Flora, and Papilionidae) in three regional administrative entities in France, our results confirm the pertinence of different facets of biodiversity to identify new and complementary priority areas for conservation. However, the limited amount of data adequate for SDM may bias the choice of conservation priorities. We conclude on the clear need to promote a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation if we are to correctly reduce the impacts of development projects on a land‐use planning scale.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70020functional distinctivenessphylogenetic distinctivenessspatial prioritizationSpecies Distribution Models (SDM)Systematic Environmental Assessment (SEA)zonation
spellingShingle Thibaut Ferraille
Christian Kerbiriou
Charlotte Bigard
Fabien Claireau
Eric Durand
John D. Thompson
A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning
Conservation Science and Practice
functional distinctiveness
phylogenetic distinctiveness
spatial prioritization
Species Distribution Models (SDM)
Systematic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
zonation
title A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning
title_full A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning
title_fullStr A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning
title_full_unstemmed A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning
title_short A data‐driven approach to multi‐facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning
title_sort data driven approach to multi facet prioritization of biodiversity in regional conservation planning
topic functional distinctiveness
phylogenetic distinctiveness
spatial prioritization
Species Distribution Models (SDM)
Systematic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
zonation
url https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70020
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