(cont.)
Identifying areas of biodiversity significance
To systematically define a conservation vision, an ecoregional assessment must: (1) define the set of biodiversity elements - typically ecosystems and species - that are characteristic of the biodiversity of the study area; (2) for those biodiversity elements, set explicit conservation goals for the number of populations, species range, ecosystem extent, distribution across major environmental gradients and geographic configuration - necessary to persist over time; (3) rank occurrences of ecosystem and species by viability and ecological integrity, in order to optimize for ecological condition; (4) conduct analysis to identify areas of biodiversity significance that collectively meet goals and optimize for efficiency and condition; and (5) collect expert input to revise and append that set of priority areas based on expert knowledge. The result is referred to a "portfolio" of areas of biodiversity significance, which collectively represent a comprehensive vision for conservation success. This is similar in concept to a financial investment portfolio designed based on best available information and regularly updated as more information becomes available.


Tibetan wetland grassland, Qinghai.
Photo by James Hardcastle
Ideally, all biodiversity elements and ecological processes should be included in conservation planning, but data are limited and it is not possible to manage information on all species and environmental patterns in a planning process. The coarse- and fine-filter approach is used to comprehensively represent the biodiversity in regional planning. It includes all ecosystem types (coarse filter) and a sub-set (fine filter) of natural communities and species which will not be well represented by ecosystems, such as those that are rare, endangered, restricted, or migratory7,2. The coarse-filter premise is that conserving representative ecosystems protects many common species and communities, species that are unknown or poorly sampled, and the environments in which they evolve8. Implementing this approach allows us to advance conservation beyond species to protect habitats and ecosystems9. A sole focus on species is not adequate to conserve them; there is inadequate understanding of the environmental matrix in which they live, and the broad-scale processes needed to maintain them are not represented by species sampling data. Additionally, where information exists, coarse-filter ecosystem models can incorporate climate-change projections.

Freshwater Ecoregional Assessment: Upper Yangtze River Basin
The analysis framework for the UYRB freshwater assessment is a stream network and watershed hierarchy derived from WWF HydroSHEDs hydrology10. With this analysis framework, we have developed an ecosystem classification based on basin size, seasonal climate patterns11, basin morphology, geology, and hydrology, following methods developed by Higgins et al 9. We have identified a set of basins as preliminary conservation priority areas based on (a) expert-designated focal areas known to support endemic fish assemblages that are in good condition, supplemented by (b) automated site selection using MARXAN software12 to meet representation goals for ecosystems and optimize for connectivity and ecological condition. During 2008, we will extend this assessment to include the entire Yangtze River and incorporate data representing distribution of globally Threatened (=Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) fishes13 and native aquatic plants.

Terrestrial Ecoregional Assessment: Upper Yangtze Forests and Steppe
The terrestrial study area covers the 12 WWF terrestrial ecoregions that span the UYRB, an area of almost 2 million km2 reaching from the Himalayan Alpine Steppe to the Yunnan Subtropical Forests. The terrestrial biodiversity elements include (a) terrestrial ecosystems modelled with available GIS data and (b) globally Threatened native species13. We are developing a portfolio of priority conservation areas that includes the existing national Protected Areas system and will meet representation goals for ecosystems (set at 30% of estimated historical ranges) and species (set by taxonomic group, based on ranges and spatial habitat patterns). This portfolio design is based on a combination of data-driven site selection with MARXAN software12 and expert input.

A current, national mapped ecosystem classification does not exist in China. As a long term solution, the Institute of Botany is collaborating with NatureServe14 to develop a national classification and map based on a protocol developed by the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)15. As a short term solution, for the purpose of this assessment, we developed a GIS model to represent characteristic vegetation types and environmental settings for the UYRB terrestrial study area based on climate zones (Koppen-Trewartha ecological zones)11, phytogeography (WWF terrestrial ecoregions)4, vegetation structure (land cover), landforms and surficial geology. We have also incorporated climate change scenarios into the coarse-filter ecosystem model to evaluate potential impacts on ecosystems and portfolio design, and to design portfolios that accommodate both current and forecasted climatic settings.

To represent threatened species, we compiled a database of species observations, through a series of contracts with leading researchers, that includes 366 IUCN-listed Threatened mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and plant species.

Ecosystem services

Tibetan Wild Ass in Qinghai
To support the SEPA-led study of ecosystem functions and flood mitigation in the Upper Yangtze6, SEPA and the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment have developed GIS models to map and measure flood mitigation, erosion control and carbon storage across the UYRB. The UYRB biodiversity assessment will contribute to the biodiversity component of this study. We will also analyse the relationship between areas of importance for conservation of ecosystem functions and biodiversity, in order to better understand the tradeoffs and strategic basis for including ecosystem functions to influence management decisions that conserve both biodiversity and human communities.

The Upper Yangtze Assessment is now in expert review, through workshops and interviews, in order to append and revise terrestrial and freshwater conservation area portfolios based on additional information and expert knowledge. A public report describing the results and methods will be published in June 2008.

The next phase of the national Blueprint Project will focus on sharing methods and data management systems with government partners at the national and provincial levels, in order to build capacity to design and implement ecoregional conservation visions across China. This will cover ecoregions in western China, the grasslands of Inner Mongolia and areas identified by the next China National Biodiversity Action Plan, which is currently under revision.

Through this regional assessment, the Blueprint Project is defining a vision for the long-term conservation of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity in the UYRB. This information can directly inform decisions that work towards achieving the two targets of the first CBD 2010 commitment - defining ecological regions and important areas by representing the range of native species and ecosystems - and supporting measures of progress towards that 2010 goal. Perhaps most importantly, this information will support the sustainable management of terrestrial and freshwater resources and have socioeconomic benefits in the future.

Questions and input are welcome and appreciated. Individuals and organizations that wish to contribute to expert review, data development and future ecoregional assessments are asked to contact TNC by email (Zhao Peng, pzhao@naturechina.org).



References


  1. Higgins J and Esselman R, eds. 2006. Ecoregional Assessment Toolbox. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA. (http:// conservationgateway.org/era)

  2. Groves CR, 2003. What to conserve? Selecting conservation targets. Pp. 81-113 in: Drafting a Conservation Blueprint: A Practitioner's Guide to Planning for Biodiversity. Island Press, 457 pp.

  3. Chinese Vegetation Map Compilation Committee, 1979. Vegetation Map of China. Map 1:10,000,000. Science Press, Beijing, China.

  4. Changchun Institute of Geography and Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1990. The Conservation Atlas of China. Science Press, Beijing, China.

  5. Olson DM, Dinerstein E, Wikramanayake ED, Burgess ND, Powell GVN, Underwood EC, D'amico JA, Itoua I, Strand HE, Morrison JC, Loucks CJ, Allnutt TF, Ricketts TH, Kura Y, Lamoreux JF, Wettengel WW, Hedao P and Kassem KR, 2001. Terrestrial ecoregions of the world: A new map of life on Earth. BioScience 51: 933-938.

  6. GEF (Global Environment Facility), 2006. Nature Conservation and Flood Control in the Yangtze River Basin.( http://www. gefyangtze.cn/en/about.asp )

  7. Groves CR, Jensen DB, Valutis LL, Redford KH, Shaffer ML, Scott JM, Baumgartner JV, Higgins JV, Beck MW and Anderson, MG, 2002. Planning for biodiversity conservation: Putting conservation science into practice. BioScience 52: 499-512.

  8. Hunter ML Jr., 1991. Coping with ignorance: The coarse filter strategy for maintaining biodiversity. Pp. 266-281 in Kohm KA (ed.), Balancing on the Brink of Extinction: The Endangered Species Act and Lessons for the Future.: Island Press, Washington (DC).

  9. Higgins J, Bryer M, Khoury M and Fitzhugh T, 2005. A fresh water classification approach for biodiversity conservation planning. Conservation Biology 19: 432-445.

  10. Lehner C, Verdin K and Jarvis A. 2006. HydroSHEDS Technical Documentation. World Wildlife Fund US, Washington, DC. Available at http://hydrosheds.cr.usgs.gov

  11. Baker B, Hargrove W, Hoffman F and Heiner M, 2006. Use of multivariate clustering and climate classification techniques to characterize future climate scenarios in P.R. China. 2006 USIALE Symposium: New Approaches to Ecological Regionalization, 28-31 March San Diego, CA (invited paper).

  12. Ball I and Possingham H, 2000. Marxan (v1.8.2), A Manual Prepared for The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. http://www.ecology.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=27710

  13. IUCN Red List www.redlist.org

  14. NatureServe, 2003. A Working Classification of Terrestrial Ecological Systems in the Coterminous United States. International Terrestrial Ecological Systems Classification NatureServe, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. + appendices. http://www.natureserve.org/publications/usEcologicalsystems.jsp

  15. Sayre R, Muchoney D and Yanosky A, 2007. Mapping global ecosystems - the GEOSS approach. In Group on Earth Observations (eds.), 2007, The Full Picture, Tudor Rose, London, 278 pp.



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