2004 UC Proceedings Abstract

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The Role of GIS in Systematic Conservation Planning for Rivers
Track: Ecology and Conservation
Author(s): Gillian Maree, Juanita Moolman, Gavin Fleming

Systematic conservation planning is an applied branch of terrestrial conservation biology that seeks to identify spatially explicit options for biodiversity conservation. The River Conservation Planning Project aims to develop a conservation tool for achieving freshwater conservation targets in South Africa, while still fully compatible with more advanced terrestrial conservation planning approaches. This paper demonstrates the role of GIS for designing a river conservation system. Results of a provincial case study are presented to demonstrate how measures of conservation priority, key ecological processes as well as pragmatic considerations are integrated. This occurs within the framework of signatures of river biodiversity pattern and conservation targets, in order to generate spatial options for conservation within an ArcView environment. The outcome of the systematic planning processes is the identification of a mosaic of rivers that would best satisfy the predetermined conservation targets, which could be applied at various spatial scales.

Gillian Maree
CSIR
Environmentek
PO Box 395
Pretoria 0001
ZA
Phone: +27 (0)12 841 4134
Fax: +27(0)128412506
E-mail: gmaree@csir.co.za

Juanita Moolman
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Resource Quality Services
Private Bag X313
Pretoria , Gauteng 0001
ZA
Phone: +27(0)128080374
E-mail: MoolmanJ@dwaf.gov.za

Gavin Fleming
CSIR
Environmentek
PO Box 395
Pretoria , Gauteng 0001
ZA
Phone: +27(0)128412489
E-mail: gfleming@csir.co.za