Drafting a Conservation Blueprint lays out for the first time in book form a step-by-step planning process for conserving the biological diversity of entire regions. In an engaging and accessible style, the author explains how to develop a regional conservation plan and offers experience-based guidance that brings together relevant information from the fields of ecology, conservation biology, planning, and policy. Individual chapters outline and discuss the main steps of the planning process, including:
• an overview of the planning framework • selecting conservation targets and setting goals • assessing existing conservation areas and filling information gaps • assessing population viability and ecological integrity • selecting and designing a portfolio of conservation areas • assessing threats and setting priorities
A concluding section offers advice on turning conservation plans into action, along with specific examples from around the world.
The book brings together a wide range of information about conservation planning that is grounded in both a strong scientific foundation and in the realities of implementation.
Review Quotes
"Practical books are often unreadable and theoretical tomes are often impractical. This is that rare book that combines the virtues of both. No planner who deals with nature can afford to be without it." Planning
"Drafting a Conservation Blueprint is highly recommended for any conservation practitioner involved in landscape-scale or regional conservation planning, as well as agency staff, students, and those looking for efficient ways to focus scant conservation dollars in a region." Wild Earth
"Drafting a Conservation Blueprint is practical enough to be called a handbook, scholarly enough to be called a textbook, and thorough enough to be called a treatise." Ecology
Contents
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments
PART I. Groundwork Chapter 1. The Challenge of Conserving Biological Diversity Chapter 2. Foundations: Ecoregions, Guiding Principles, and a Planning Process Chapter 3. Building Blocks for Regional Conservation Planning
PART II. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Planning Chapter 4. What to Conserve? Selecting Conservation Targets Chapter 5. Evaluating Existing Conservation Areas and Filling Information Gaps Chapter 6. How Much Is Enough? Setting Goals for Conservation Targets Chapter 7. Will Conservation Targets Persist? Assessing Population Viability and Ecological Integrity Chapter 8. Drafting Nature's Blueprint: Selecting and Designing a Network of Conservation Areas Chapter 9. Safeguarding Nature's Investments: Setting Priorities for Action Among Conservation Areas
PART III. Conservation Planning for the Biosphere Chapter 10. Maintaining the Ebbs and Flows of the Landscape: Conservation Planning for Freshwater Ecosystems Chapter 11. The Sea Around: Conservation Planning in Marine Regions Chapter 12. Adapting Ecoregional Plans to Anticipate the Impact of Climate Change
PART IV. From Planning to Practice Chapter 13. Putting the Pieces Together: Implementing Conservation Plans for Biodiversity at Multiple Scales Chapter 14. Conservation Planning at the Crossroads
