Data Synthesis
Data synthesis through MARXAN or alternative low-tech methods result in a map with candidate areas for protection. Photo © S. Wear/TNC
Bringing all available data and information together is a critical step to help inform protected area site selection. Data synthesis also helps to develop an understanding of spatial relationships among biological factors (e.g., species), ecological processes (e.g., nutrient transport), and human activities.
Depending on resources available, either a low-tech or high-tech approach can be taken. Even the ‘high-tech’ approach requires minimal technical capabilities. Two possible approaches are outlined below. It should be noted that these approaches highlight the beginning of the process. It is important to follow these exercises with a series of meetings with local experts and stakeholders to complete the final maps.
MARXAN: A Reserve System Selection Tool (high-tech)
MARXAN is computer software available at no charge providing decision support for those designing marine reserves or networks of reserves, and has become the most utilized conservation planning tool in the world. The program assists conservation practitioners to identify a suite of conservation sites that include representative biological targets in the most efficient manner. One very useful characteristic of MARXAN is that it provides numerous solutions, or scenarios, for protected area design, all of which meet the stated goals. This provides an opportunity for the most feasible scenario in a particular social context to be selected. It provides those that are affected by the management or protection of an area with a choice in the matter. This is very useful, as it both solves complex problems, in terms of meeting conservation goals, while also addressing socio-political issues that arise in selection of protected areas.
It should be noted that MARXAN does not make decisions for you. It is a tool to help local experts and planners choose the most efficient solution. MARXAN is only as good as the data fed into it. That said, MARXAN can be used in almost any situation, regardless of abundance of data. Users enter a variety of information, and instruct MARXAN to provide solutions that meet certain parameters. The training to run MARXAN is regularly available, and requires a basic knowledge of GIS and related computer skills. MARXAN has been used in a variety of geographies around the world to design protected areas, including: Channel Islands, Florida Keys, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Gulf of Mexico, British Columbia, Galapagos Islands, and Willamette Valley-Puget Trough-Georgia Basin. MARXAN continues to improve its capabilities and given the need to address marine zoning, a companion tool has recently been made available: MarZone. MarZone supports spatial planning with multiple zones and a variety of other factors and objectives. MarZone helps to develop a more refined configuration of sites that better achieve management goals.
For more information on both of these tools, please explore the Spatial Ecology Lab website of the University of Queensland.
Manual Data Synthesis (low-tech)
The following types of manual data synthesis can provide decision-making support for reserve site selection.
- Maps graded into high, medium, and low levels of activities; threats to reef communities; or conflicts between biodiversity conservation and developments can all be combined with the composite map from preceding data analysis. This synthesis imposes a measure of protection priority on the candidate sites. For example, the level of use, dependence, or threat by people on a reef community with high resistance or resilience to bleaching could be used to indicate priority among candidate sites to safeguard coral biodiversity.
- The vulnerability to bleaching and/or probable connectivity, as revealed by analysis of current speed and direction, may be used to determine the choice between two candidate reef sites with different probable responses to a mass bleaching event.
- Overlays of ocean currents, sources of nutrient and organic material (such as estuaries and seagrass beds), and resource distributions can be combined to show specific support systems for species or ecosystems—all of which are candidates for protection.
- By combining overlays of human activities, especially proposed developments, a picture can be synthesized of potential conflicts between reef conservation and development objectives and activities, and of priority areas for action.
- It can be very revealing to compare the candidate sites resulting from data synthesis with the range of established or proposed MPAs. As well as indicating the needs for additional MPAs, this comparison may show that some sites hold lower priority because of their susceptibility to bleaching.
The identification procedure outlined in the data analysis and synthesis steps above will provide a long list of candidate sites for protection. Selection of the specific sites for protection will require application of a carefully compiled sample of relevant criteria.
It should be noted that points highlighted in this section represent ways of thinking about and looking at available data—this very same thought process would help to inform a MARXAN analysis.
Resources
MARXAN Good Practices Handbook
MARXAN Case Studies from Marine Planning