Today, approximately one million species are at risk of extinction globally, climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying, and historically marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by the outcomes of these trends. Maps potentially have important implications for where and how we take action and present an opportunity for ensuring that limited conservation resources are dedicated to places that optimize biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation/adaptation, and advanced human well-being, particularly for historically marginalized communities. A working group with broad expertise in spatial data (ecological and social), we developed this guide to help map developers/users working at all scales to select and develop maps that support better decision-making at the intersection of biodiversity and equity. We present 1) a set of shared principles that underlie many of the mapping efforts to date focused on identifying priority areas for action, 2) guiding questions to help the user put the principles into practice with a conservation planning project team and 3) a case study example.
As the VP of the Center for Conservation Innovation at Defenders, Lindsay leads the Center for Conservation Innovation’s science, technology, and policy teams as we work together to pioneer innovative, pragmatic conservation solutions.