Optimal Conservation Prioritization for Waterfowl and Other Birds in Eastern Canada

Abstract

Conserving and restoring high-quality habitat is widely recognized as one of the most effective means of supporting migratory and wetland bird populations. To advance this objective at a regional scale, the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) coordinates conservation planning for 22 focal bird species across the eastern provinces of Canada. Optimization approaches to support conservation planning are increasingly common, and can be especially valuable in large areas where resources are limited. We present an optimized geospatial prioritization scheme designed to identify regions of primary importance to species coverage objectives within the EHJV. We apply linear programming methods to species abundance data products to maximize population coverage using an adaptable variable-target approach, whose outputs generalize readily to delivery projects of any budget or coverage goal. Our base results highlight areas of high conservation value for priority waterfowl and non-waterfowl species, and we present additional examples of how region-wide solutions can be subdivided based on jurisdictional boundaries, land ownership, or existing protected status. We also address methodological decision points, with attention to how available species abundance data sources were evaluated and what considerations were involved in formulating the optimization computations. We emphasize possibilities for future work to incorporate additional conservation values, such as carbon storage and flood mitigation, and costs, such as land value, and feasibility.