Workshop: The Zonation v3.1 conservation prioritization framework and software –
hands on
Zonation is a framework and software for large-scale high-resolution spatial conservation
prioritization; it is a decision support tool for spatial conservation planning. It can identify
priority areas based on a large number of biodiversity features, accounting for considerations
such as complementarity and connectivity. Zonation provides a platform for integrating
conservation science into real-world spatial planning. See appendix for recent Zonation
applications.
Objective of the workshop
1)
2)
To teach participants the basic operational principles of the Zonation conservation
prioritization framework and software.
To give the possibility to participants to do hands-on analyses using the software.
Zonation methods have been published in >20 scientific papers and the v3.1 manual is ~300
pages long. Attending this workshop shortens the learning curve.
This course will be similar to the one being taught at the Society for Conservation Biology
European section meeting, Glasgow 2012, and another one previously taught at the
International Conference ofConservation Biologyin Auckland last year.
Workshop Structure
Participant numbers: 20-30 participants is ideal, but depends on facilities of course
Duration: one full day
Preferred date and time: TBA
Technical requirements: computer class, although participants would be encouraged to use
own laptops as well. Zonation needs local installation on every computer it is used from - I
expect students should be able to do the download themselves and I will bring memory sticks
just in case.
Room set-up (rooms will be set-up theatre style unless otherwise specified): computer class
with operational AV facilities is fine. However, I could do it in any lecture hall, with people
aggregating around laptops - probably fair to assume at least every second participant will
bring a laptop in any case.
Format (including details of workshop leader):
(1) Lecture: Conceptual basis (~ 1h30min). Includes conservation resource allocation,
operational principles of Zonation, summary of Zonation features
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(2) Hands on (~1h). Running simple analysis from the Zonation tutorial.
(3) Zonation analysis setups based on questions & answers (the remaining time, including at
least one break).
Format of this section will be
1.
Intro to topic by instructors
2.
Questions, 5-10 min for all to think of answers on their own
3.
My “official” answers
4.
Questions and suggestions from participants. Did you come up with options that were
not mentioned – would those work as well? Any other questions?
Includes (somewhat depending on time): (i) main operational principles, file setups for (ii)
producing a ranking of conservation priority, (iii) identifying the best and worst locations of
the landscape, (iv) identifying expansions of conservation areas, (v) species-level vs
community-level analyses using Zonation, (vi) connectivity and uncertainty analysis, (viii)
different priorities at different administrative regions etc.
(4) Real-world applications of Zonation to spatial conservation prioritization. South African
case study.
Expected outcomes:I expect that increased understanding about the Zonation software will
contribute to the integration of quantitative conservation planning tools to conservation
policy and practice. On my side, I appreciate interaction with potential users of the software.
Tutor
Dr Enrico Di Minin
Post-doctoral Researcher
Biodiversity Conservation Informatics Group
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Metapopulation Biology
Department of Biosciences
University of Helsinki
Email: enrico.di.minin@helsinki.fi
Appendix: Some Zonation references
Zonation methods have been described in several publications (see ISI). For recent
illustrative applications, see e.g.
Moilanen, A., Franco, A.M.A., Early, R., Fox, R., Wintle, B., and C.D. Thomas. 2005.
Prioritising multiple use landscapes for conservation: methods for large multi
speciesplanning problems. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci., 272: 1885-1891.
Kremen, C., A. Cameron, A. Moilanen, S. Phillips, C. D. Thomas, et al. 2008. Aligning
conservation priorities across taxa in Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot, with highresolution planning tools.Science 320: 222-226.
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Carroll, C., Moilanen, A., and J. Dunk. 2010. Designing multi-species reserve networks for
resilience to climate change: priority areas for spotted owl and localized endemics in
the pacific North-West USA. Global Change Biology, 16: 891-904.
Di Minin, E., andMoilanen, A. 2012.Empirical evidence for reduced protection levels across
biodiversity features from target-based conservation planning. Biological Conservation,
doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.04.015 (in press)
Leathwick, J.R., Moilanen, A., Ferrier, S. and Julian, K. 2010.Community-level conservation
prioritization and its application to riverine ecosystems.Biological Conservation 143:
984-991.
Lehtomäki, J., Tomppo, E., Kuokkanen, P. Hanski, I., and A. Moilanen. 2009. Applying
spatial conservation prioritization software and high-resolution GIS data to a nationalscale study in forest conservation. Forest Ecology and Management 258: 2439-2449.
Thomson, J.R., Moilanen, A., McNally, R., and P. Vesk. 2009. Where and when to
revegetate: a quantitative method for scheduling landscape reconstruction.
EcologicalApplications 19: 817-828.
Moilanen, A., B.J. Anderson, F. Eigenbrod, A. Heinemeyer, D. B. Roy, S. Gillings, P. R.
Armsworth, K. J. Gaston, and C.D. Thomas. 2011a. Balancing alternative land usesin
conservation prioritization. Ecological Applications, 21: 1419-1426.
Moilanen, A., and Arponen A. 2011. Administrative regions in conservation: balancing local
priorities with regional to global preferences in spatial planning.
BiologicalConservation, 144: 1719-1725.
Moilanen, A., J.R. Leathwick, and J. M. Quinn. 2011b. Spatial prioritization of conservation
management.
Conservation
Letters,
early view
DOI:
10.1111/j.1755263X.2011.00190.x.
For information about Zonation see
- www.helsinki.fi/bioscience/consplan
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