Sponsor
This research was partially supported by the ERDC-CERL Project no. W81EWF-7204-6330, CREES Project no. ILLU 05-0361, and National Natural Science Foundation of China (71202096).
Published In
European Journal of Operational Research
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Subjects
Landscape connectivity -- research
Abstract
Compactness and landscape connectivity are essential properties for effective functioning of conservation reserves. In this article we introduce a linear integer programming model to determine optimal configuration of a conservation reserve with such properties. Connectivity can be defined either as structural (physical) connectivity or functional connectivity; the model developed here addresses both properties. We apply the model to identify the optimal conservation management areas for protection of Gopher Tortoise (GT) in a military installation, Ft. Benning, Georgia, which serves as a safe refuge for this ‘at risk’ species. The recent expansion in the military mission of the installation increases the pressure on scarce GT habitat areas, which requires moving some of the existent populations in those areas to suitably chosen new conservation management areas within the boundaries of the installation. Using the model, we find the most suitable and spatially coherent management areas outside the heavily used training areas.
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1016/j.ejor.2015.12.005
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/29044
Citation Details
Önal, H., Wang, Y., Dissanayake, S. T., & Westervelt, J. D. (2016). Optimal design of compact and functionally contiguous conservation management areas. European Journal of Operational Research, 251(3), 957-968.
Description
This work was authored as part of the Contributor's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.