INTERAMERICAN BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION NETWORK IABIN SIXTH COUNCIL MEETING

INTER-AMERICAN BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION NETWORK (IABIN) SIXTH COUNCIL MEETING Bayahibe, Dominican Republic 14 -17 July 2009 Steve Schill Senior Scientist Caribbean Program The Nature Conservancy © Mark Godfrey Component 3: Value-added Tools: Internet-Based GIS Ecosystem Assessment and Reporting Tool for Conservation Decision-Making

TNC Projects with IABIN DGF Project: Protected Area Tools for Arc. GIS Training and Capacity Building Watershed Threat Assessments Value-Added Tools: Internet-Based GIS Ecosystem Assessment and Reporting Tool Ecosystem TN: Integration of Ecoregional Products Terrestrial/Freshwater Standard Classifications Protected Areas TN: Consortium Member Management Effectiveness

PAT Three Modules: 1. Environmental Risk Surface (ERS) 2. Relative Biodiversity Index (RBI) 3. Marxan Tools http: //www. gispatools. org Schill and Raber, 2008

Environmental Risk Surface (ERS)

Relative Biodiversity Index (RBI) Requires: 1) Targets 2) Planning Units 3) Analysis Extent

Relative Biodiversity Index (RBI)

Marxan Support Tools Requires 4 data layers: • Targets (points, lines, polygons) • Planning Units • ERS Model (cost surface) • Protected Areas

PAT Tools: Systematic Conservation Design

Evaluating Effective Conservation Mitigate Threats Implement Mngmt Plan Improve Viability Implement Mngmt Plan Viability Status Threats Status Mitigate Threats Mngmt Status Improve Biodiversity Improve Viability Mitigate Threats = Effective Conservation

IABIN Component 3: Tool Objectives • Integrate IABIN’s Ecosystem and Protected Area Thematic Networks • Provide a simplistic “manager’s dashboard” approach for querying and visualization of effective conservation • Permit conservation decision-makers to cross-query ecosystems with protected area information • Spatial and tabular reporting of ecosystems and protected areas

Visualization and Reporting Tool • What is the level of effective conservation for each ecosystem and within each protected area? • Where are the gaps in effective management for each of these ecosystems? • Given limited resources, where are the most suitable areas to implement conservation strategies?

Visualization and Reporting Tool • What ecosystems exist in each protected area and what kind of management are they lacking? • What are the ecosystem percentages in each of the eight categories? • For each ecosystem not meeting the goal, where do we need to improve viability? reduce threats? improve management?

Developing Future Threat Models SLR RESILIENCE

Viability and Threat Models VIABILITY THREAT

Evaluating Management Effectiveness Intent Reserve is established to provide high-quality spawning, rearing and adult habitat for fishes. No fishing or diving allowed. Biodiversity Focus Duration The fishing and diving ban is stated for 5 years. Short Term Effective Management Potential Planning Framework: There is a management prescription in place to address instances of fishing and diving. Most to Full Potential Governance: The local island community holds regular meetings to evaluate reserve mgnt and resolve issues that arise. Resources: There is sufficient funding and staffing for a patrol boat.

Cross-walking Questions to Fit EMP Sub-indicators

Conservation Management Status

Target Assessment: Mangroves VIABILITY THREAT MNGNT

Effective Conservation of Mangroves

Developing a Data Model

Ecosystem Assessment and Reporting Tool

Output Reporting Tables

Planned Utilities for the Tool • Be able to use other reporting units besides protected areas: countries, sub-national political units, watersheds, ecoregions • Display of other TN databases via WMS/WFS links • Being able to generate report by user-defined geographical unit • Calculation of how much of an ecosystem is protected based on certain management criteria.