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Integrated coastal reserve planning: making the land–sea connection
Author(s) -
Stoms David M.,
Davis Frank W.,
Andelman Sandy J.,
Carr Mark H.,
Gaines Steven D.,
Halpern Benjamin S.,
Hoenicke Rainer,
Leibowitz Scott G.,
Leydecker Al,
Madin Elizabeth MP,
Tallis Heather,
Warner Robert R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/1540-9295(2005)003[0429:icrpmt]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - biodiversity , environmental resource management , marine reserve , habitat , harm , watershed , land use , nature reserve , marine conservation , geography , ecology , environmental science , computer science , archaeology , machine learning , political science , law , biology
Land use, watershed processes, and coastal biodiversity are often intricately linked, yet land–sea interactions are usually ignored when selecting terrestrial and marine reserves with existing models. Such oversight increases the risk that reserves will fail to achieve their conservation objectives. The conceptual model underlying existing reserve selection models presumes each site is a closed ecological system, unaffected by inputs from elsewhere. As a short‐term objective, we recommend extending land‐conservation analyses to account for effects on marine biodiversity by considering linkages between ecosystems. This level of integration seems feasible and directly relevant to agencies and conservancies engaged in protecting coastal lands. We propose an approach that evaluates terrestrial sites based on whether they benefit or harm marine species or habitats. We then consider a hypothetical example involving estuarine nurseries. Whether this approach will produce more effective terrestrial reserves remains to be seen.