Multiple-use spatial planning for sustainable development and conservation

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Planning
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Increasing global demand for resources intensifies competition for space.
• Pressure on natural systems necessitates balancing resource use with biodiversity conservation.
• Multiple-use spatial planning offers a framework for managing competing demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the current state of multiple-use spatial planning.
• To identify challenges hindering the adoption of multiple-use spatial planning.
• To enhance accessibility and adoption of multiple-use planning for researchers and practitioners.

Main Methods:

• Review of current multiple-use spatial planning approaches.
• Identification of barriers to implementation in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments.
• Analysis of challenges including timing, economic impacts, capacity building, and development alignment.

Main Results:

• Limited guidance exists for selecting optimization approaches in spatial planning.
• Key challenges include intervention timing, economic considerations, capacity, and alignment with development.
• Current approaches may not be fully integrated across different ecosystems.

Conclusions:

• Multiple-use spatial planning is crucial for sustainable resource management and biodiversity.
• Addressing identified challenges can facilitate wider adoption of effective planning strategies.
• Increased accessibility and uptake of these planning methods are vital for achieving international ecological, economic, and social objectives.