Mémoire
| Résumé : | Despite nations failing to achieve the 10% target for marine protection by the end of 2020 as stated in the Aichi Targets, discussions aimed at setting a new target of 30% protection by 2030 are in their final stages. Given the likely increase in area of the global network, where should these marine protected areas be placed? Most spatial planning studies use coarse species distribution data and implicitly assume that all key species habitats, including those for feeding, spawning, and migration pathways, are of equal importance. Here we developed a novel approach that integrates key species habitats into systematic conservation planning. Conservation plans were compared between those using only broad distribution data (from IUCN RedList) and those using these data as well as data on key habitats from the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) database. MiCO is a recent open-access database that integrates information from peer-reviewed publications, standardised models of marine species area-use, and migratory connectivity. We found that combining MiCO with species distribution data is better than using the broad distribution maps alone, which is the current practice. Selected areas were more spread, thus ensuring the protection of some natural variation within the species (e.g., genetic or within habitat types) and spreading the risk against damaging events that may affect individual sites. Moreover, with MiCO, the protection of key habitats is ensured at a small extra cost. The approach we have developed to conserve broad distributions and key habitats should ensure better population connectivity, and improved conservation outcomes. |
