Minimizing species extinctions through strategic planning for conservation fencing

Area of Science:

• Conservation biology
• Wildlife management
• Invasive species ecology

Background:

• Predator-exclusion fences are a common conservation tool for threatened species.
• Current fence network expansion is often unsystematic, driven by funding or local threats.
• Uneven species representation exists within existing fence networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a gap analysis of Australia's predator-exclusion fence network.
• To develop a systematic method for prioritizing fence network expansion.
• To minimize expected species' extinctions through strategic fence placement.

Main Methods:

• Gap analysis of Australian mammal translocations against extinction risk.
• Development of a prioritization method incorporating population viability analysis.
• Application of the method to New South Wales for fence network expansion.

Main Results:

• Existing fence network protection was uneven, with 67% of predator-sensitive species unrepresented.
• The systematic prioritization method significantly improved species representation.
• The proposed method reduced expected species extinctions up to 17 times more effectively than ad hoc methods.

Conclusions:

• A systematic approach to expanding conservation fence networks is crucial for effective species protection.
• Prioritization methods can substantially increase the efficiency of conservation actions.
• Coordinated governance is essential for optimizing management actions with similar conservation objectives.