Basin‐wide freshwater conservation planning:The BIG PICTURE and how we can get thereThe BIG PICTURE and how we can get there 

Robin AbellConservation Science ProgramWWF‐United States

© Michèle Dépraz / WWF‐Canon

General principlesTwo examplesMekongMekongapplication

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

1. Plan for implementation Adapted from: Nel et al. 2009. 

2. Identify/map species & habitats

p fProgress and challenges in freshwater conservation 

planning Aquatic3. Identify/map threats4 Set quantitative goals

planning. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 

19:474 4854. Set quantitative goals & plan for persistence

5 Design a conservation

19:474‐485.

5. Design a conservation area network

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

1. Plan for implementation

2. Identify/map species & habitats 

3. Identify/map threats4 Set quantitative goals4. Set quantitative goals 

& plan for persistence5 Design a conservation5. Design a conservation 

area network

© Scott Dickerson / WWF‐US

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

1. Plan for implementation

2. Identify/map species & habitats 

3. Identify/map threats4 Set quantitative goals4. Set quantitative goals 

& plan for persistence5 Design a conservation5. Design a conservation 

area network

© Zeb Hogan / WWF‐Canon

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

1. Plan for implementation

2. Identify/map species & habitats 

3. Identify/map threats4 Set quantitative goals4. Set quantitative goals 

& plan for persistence5 Design a conservation5. Design a conservation 

area network

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

1. Plan for implementation

2. Identify/map species & habitats 

3. Identify/map threats4 Set quantitative goals4. Set quantitative goals 

& plan for persistence5 Design a conservation5. Design a conservation 

area network

© Adam Oswell / WWF‐Greater Mekong

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

1. Plan for implementation

2. Identify/map species & habitats 

3. Identify/map threats4 Set quantitative goals4. Set quantitative goals 

& plan for persistence5 Design a conservation5. Design a conservation 

area network

© David Lawson / WWF‐UK

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

1. Plan for implementation

2. Identify/map species & habitats 

3. Identify/map threats4 Set quantitative goals4. Set quantitative goals 

& plan for persistence5 Design a conservation5. Design a conservation 

area network

What’s WRONG withWhat s WRONG with traditional PAs?

Rarely encompass whole CATCHMENTS

Unable to manage FLOWFLOW

Fail to maintainFail to maintain CONNECTIVITY

© WWF‐Canon / Edward PARKER 

Example #1: The Congo

© Sandra Mbanefo Obiago / WWF‐Canon

30,344 subcatchments in basin

5255 subcatchments5255 subcatchments731 km2 average size

Congo Basin aquatic ecosystem types

absmolluscsodonataodonatafishplants

mammalsmammalsamphibians

300 t

Threat aggregationRoads + Deforestation +

Human FootprintHuman Footprint

atic systems

Speciesdistributions

Aggregatedthreatssystems distributions threats

TARGET>2000 km2

atic systems

Speciesdistributions

Aggregatedthreatssystems distributions threats

i i i l k+ connectivity + national parks

Marxan‐generated  best solutionProposed freshwater priority areas

mple #2: The Amazonmple #2: The Amazon

ydrological Information System for Amazon River Assessments (HIS‐ARA)

cological systems + uatic habitat types +uatic habitat types + protected areas + thropogenic threats +thropogenic threats + otential ecosystem 

i timpacts

t di l d ti tipromote dialogue and negotiation among nservationists, traditional people, business, p pgovernment, & the scientific community

ekong Application

asin‐wide planning isasin wide planning is within reach

pecies data are goodpecies data are good but not critical

Connectivity is keyConnectivity is key

The map is not the endpoint…endpoint…

but a dialogue INPUT