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To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01561.x Byline: AMREI VON HASE (*s.), MATHIEU ROUGET ([dagger]**), RICHARD M. COWLING ([double dagger]) Keywords: conservation gains; conservation planning; contractual conservation agreements; informal conservation agreements; private-land conservation; stewardship Abstract: Abstract: Evaluation is important for judiciously allocating limited conservation resources and for improving conservation success through learning and strategy adjustment. We evaluated the application of systematic conservation planning goals and conservation gains from incentive-based stewardship interventions on private land in the Cape Lowlands and Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. We collected spatial and nonspatial data (2003-2007) to determine the number of hectares of vegetation protected through voluntary contractual and legally nonbinding (informal) agreements with landowners; resources spent on these interventions; contribution of the agreements to 5- and 20-year conservation goals for representation and persistence in the Cape Lowlands of species and ecosystems; and time and staff required to meet these goals. Conservation gains on private lands across the Cape Floristic Region were relatively high. In 5 years, 22,078 ha (27,800 ha of land) and 46,526 ha (90,000 ha of land) of native vegetation were protected through contracts and informal agreements, respectively. Informal agreements often were opportunity driven and cheaper and faster to execute than contracts. All contractual agreements in the Cape Lowlands were within areas of high conservation priority (identified through systematic conservation planning), which demonstrated the conservation plan's practical application and a high level of overlap between resource investment (approximately R1.14 million/year in the lowlands) and priority conservation areas. Nevertheless, conservation agreements met only 11% of 5-year and 9% of 20-year conservation goals for Cape Lowlands and have made only a moderate contribution to regional persistence of flora to date. Meeting the plan's conservation goals will take three to five times longer and many more staff members to maintain agreements than initially envisaged. Abstract (Spanish): Evaluacion de la Planificacion e Implementacion de Acuerdos de Conservacion con Terratenientes Privados en Cape Lowlands, Sudafrica Resumen: La evaluacion es importante para la asignacion juiciosa de recursos limitados para la conservacion y para incrementar el exito de la conservacion mediante el aprendizaje y ajuste de estrategias. Evaluamos la aplicacion de la planificacion sistematica de metas de conservacion y los beneficios de la conservacion de la implementacion de un programa de administracion basado en incentivos en tierras privadas en Cape Lowlands y en la Region Floristica Cape, Sudafrica. Recolectamos datos espaciales y no espaciales (2003-2007) para determinar el numero de hectareas de vegetacion protegida mediante acuerdos contractuales y no obligatorios legalmente (informales) con propietarios; los recursos gastados en estas intervenciones; la contribucion de los acuerdos a metas de conservacion de la representacion y persistencia de especies y ecosistemas a 5 y 20 anos en Cape Lowlands; y el tiempo y personal requerido para cumplir estas metas. Los beneficios de conservacion en tierras privadas en la Region Floristica Cape fueron relativamente altos. En cinco anos, se protegieron 22078 ha (27800 ha de terreno) y 46526 ha (90000 ha de terreno) de vegetacion nativa mediante contratos y acuerdos informales, respectivamente. Los acuerdos informales a menudos fueron conducidos por la oportunidad y se ejecutaron con menor costo y mas rapido que los contratos. Todos los acuerdos contractuales en Cape Lowlands estuvieron dentro de areas de alta prioridad para la conservacion (identificada mediante planificacion sistematica de la conservacion), lo cual demostro la aplicacion practica del plan y el alto grado de traslape entre la inversion de recursos (aproximadamente R1.14 millones/ano en las tierras bajas) y las areas de prioridad para la conservacion. Sin embargo, los acuerdos de conservacion solo cumplieron 11% de las metas de conservacion a 5 anos y 9% de las metas a 20 anos en Cape Lowlands y a la fecha solo han hecho una contribucion moderada a la persistencia regional de la flora. El cumplimiento de las metas de conservacion del plan tomara entre 3 y 5 veces mas tiempo y mas personal que lo previsto inicialmente. Author Affiliation: (*)Leslie Hill Institute for Plant Conservation, Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, emailamreivonhase@gmail.com ([dagger])South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria 0001, South Africa ([double dagger])Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa Article History: Paper submitted August 10, 2009; revised manuscript accepted March 19, 2010. Article note: (s.) Current address: Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme, Forest Trends, 1050 Potomac Street, NW 20007, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., email avonhase@forest-trends.org (**) Current address: Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Lynwood Road, Pretoria 0002, South Africa

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01494.x Byline: ANDREW T. KNIGHT (*[double dagger]), RICHARD M. COWLING (*), MARK DIFFORD (*), BRUCE M. CAMPBELL ([dagger]) Keywords: area selection; conservation opportunity; conservation planning; social research; systematic conservation assessment Abstract: Abstract Spatial prioritization techniques are applied in conservation-planning initiatives to allocate conservation resources. Although typically they are based on ecological data (e.g., species, habitats, ecological processes), increasingly they also include nonecological data, mostly on the vulnerability of valued features and economic costs of implementation. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of conservation actions implemented through conservation-planning initiatives is a function of the human and social dimensions of social-ecological systems, such as stakeholders' willingness and capacity to participate. We assessed human and social factors hypothesized to define opportunities for implementing effective conservation action by individual land managers (those responsible for making day-to-day decisions on land use) and mapped these to schedule implementation of a private land conservation program. We surveyed 48 land managers who owned 301 land parcels in the Makana Municipality of the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. Psychometric statistical and cluster analyses were applied to the interview data so as to map human and social factors of conservation opportunity across a landscape of regional conservation importance. Four groups of landowners were identified, in rank order, for a phased implementation process. Furthermore, using psychometric statistical techniques, we reduced the number of interview questions from 165 to 45, which is a preliminary step toward developing surrogates for human and social factors that can be developed rapidly and complemented with measures of conservation value, vulnerability, and economic cost to more-effectively schedule conservation actions. This work provides conservation and land management professionals direction on where and how implementation of local-scale conservation should be undertaken to ensure it is feasible. Abstract (Spanish): Mapeo de Dimensiones Humanas y Sociales de la Oportunidad de Conservacion para la Programacion de Acciones de Conservacion en Tierras Privadas Resumen: Las tecnicas de priorizacion espacial son aplicadas a las iniciativas de planificacion de la conservacion para asignar recursos a la conservacion. Aunque se basan tipicamente en datos ecologicos (e. g., especies, habitats, procesos ecologicos), incluyen datos no ecologicos cada vez mas, principalmente sobre la vulnerabilidad de atributos valiosos y los costos economicos de su implementacion. Sin embargo, la efectividad de las acciones de conservacion implementadas por medio de iniciativas de planificacion de la conservacion es una funcion de las dimensiones humanas y sociales de los sistemas sociales-ecologicos, como disponibilidad y capacidad de los sectores interesados para participar. Evaluamos los factores humanos y sociales hipotetizados para definir las oportunidades para la implementacion de acciones de conservacion efectivas por manejadores de tierras individuales (aquellos responsables de las decisiones cotidianas sobre uso de suelo) y las mapeamos para programar la implementacion de un programa de conservacion en tierras privadas. Muestreamos a 48 manejadores de tierras propietarios de 301 parcelas en la Municipalidad de Makana en la provincia Oriental del Cabo en Sudafrica. Aplicamos analisis cluster y estadistica psicometrica a los datos de las entrevistas para mapear los factores humanos y sociales de la oportunidad de conservacion en un paisaje de importancia de conservacion regional. Identificamos cuatro grupos de propietarios, en orden de importancia, para un proceso de implementacion por fases. Mas aun, mediante tecnicas estadisticas psicometricas, redujimos el numero de preguntas de 165 a 45, que es un paso preliminar hacia el desarrollo de sustitutos para los factores humanos y sociales que pueden ser desarrollados rapidamente y complementados con medidas de valor de conservacion. Este trabajo proporciona a los profesionales de la conservacion y del manejo de tierras directrices sobre donde y como se debe implementar la conservacion a escala local para asegurar que sea factible. Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa ([dagger])CGIAR Challenge Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Department of Agriculture and Ecology, Faculty of Life Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 21, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Article History: Paper submitted January 12, 2009; revised manuscript accepted December 11, 2009. Article note: ([double dagger]) Current address: Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, email tawnyfrogmouth@gmail.com

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01497.x Byline: BELINDA REYERS (*), DIRK J. ROUX ([dagger]), RICHARD M. COWLING ([double dagger]), AIMEE E. GINSBURG (s.), JEANNE L. NEL (*), PATRICK O' FARRELL (*) Keywords: conservation planning; conservation implementation; science-action gap Abstract: Abstract: Despite substantial growth in the field of conservation planning, the speed and success with which conservation plans are converted into conservation action remains limited. This gap between science and action extends beyond conservation planning into many other applied sciences and has been linked to complexity of current societal problems, compartmentalization of knowledge and management sectors, and limited collaboration between scientists and decision makers. Transdisciplinary approaches have been proposed as a possible way to address these challenges and to bridge the gap between science and action. These approaches move beyond the bridging of disciplines to an approach in which science becomes a social process resolving problems through the participation and mutual learning of stakeholders. We explored the principles of transdisciplinarity, in light of our experiences as conservation-planning researchers working in South Africa, to better understand what is required to make conservation planning transdisciplinary and therefore more effective. Using the transdisciplinary hierarchy of knowledge (empirical, pragmatic, normative, and purposive), we found that conservation planning has succeeded in integrating many empirical disciplines into the pragmatic stakeholder-engaged process of strategy development and implementation. Nevertheless, challenges remain in engagement of the social sciences and in understanding the social context of implementation. Farther up this knowledge hierarchy, at the normative and purposive levels, we found that a lack of integrated land-use planning and policies (normative) and the dominant effect of national values (purposive) that prioritize growth and development limit the effectiveness and relevance of conservation plans. The transdisciplinary hierarchy of knowledge highlighted that we need to move beyond bridging the empirical and pragmatic disciplines into the complex normative world of laws, policies, and planning and become engaged in the purposive processes of decision making, behavior change, and value transfer. Although there are indications of progress in this direction, working at the normative and purposive levels requires time, leadership, resources, skills that are absent in conservation training and practice, and new forms of recognition in systems of scientific reward and funding. Abstract (Spanish): La Planificacion de la Conservacion como un Proceso Transdisciplinar Resumen: No obstante el crecimiento sustancial del campo de la planificacion de la conservacion, la rapidez y exito con el que los planes son convertidos en acciones de conservacion permanece limitado. Esta brecha entre la ciencia y la accion se extiende de la planificacion de la conservacion hacia otras ciencias aplicadas y ha sido relacionada con la complejidad de los problemas sociales actuales, la compartimentacion del conocimiento y los sectores de manejo y la limitada colaboracion entre cientificos y tomadores de decisiones. Los enfoques transdisciplinares han sido propuestos como un posible metodo para atender estos retos y cerrar la brecha entre la ciencia y la accion. Estos enfoques rebasan la union de disciplinas hacia un enfoque donde la ciencia se vuelve un proceso social que resuelve problemas mediante la participacion y el aprendizaje mutuo de los sectores interesados. Exploramos los principios de la transdisciplinaridad, a la luz de nuestras experiencias como investigadores de la planificacion de la conservacion en Africa del Sur, para un mejor entendimiento de lo que se requiere para que la planificacion de la conservacion sea transdisciplinar y por lo tanto mas efectiva. Utilizando la jerarquia transdisciplinar del conocimiento (empirico, pragmatico, normativo, intencional), encontramos que la planificacion de la conservacion ha tenido exito en la integracion de muchas disciplinas empiricas a un proceso pragmatico, conducido por los sectores interesados, de desarrollo e implementacion de estrategias. Sin embargo, permanecen retos en el vinculo con las ciencias sociales y en la comprension del contexto social de la implementacion. Hacia arriba en esta jerarquia del conocimiento, en los niveles normativo e intencional), encontramos que la falta de integracion de la planificacion y las politicas de uso de suelo (normativo) y el efecto dominante de los valores nacionales (intencional) que priorizan el crecimiento y desarrollo limitan la efectividad y relevancia de los planes de conservacion. La jerarquia transdisciplinar del conocimiento puso de relieve que necesitamos movernos mas alla de combinar las disciplinas empiricas y pragmaticas hacia el mas complejo mundo normativo de leyes, politicas y planificacion y participar en los procesos intencionales de la toma de decisiones, cambio de conducta y transferencia de valores. Aunque hay indicios de progreso en ese sentido, el trabajo en los niveles normativo e intencional requiere de tiempo, liderazgo, recursos y habilidades que estan ausentes en la capacitacion y practica de la conservacion, asi como de reconocimiento en los sistemas de reconocimiento cientifico y de financiamiento. Author Affiliation: (*)Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa, emailbreyers@csir.co.za ([dagger])Water Research Node, Monash South Africa, Private Bag X60, Roodepoort 1725, South Africa ([double dagger])Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa (s.)Prime Africa Research Consultants, P.O. Box 433, Garsfontein, Pretoria 0042, South Africa Article History: Paper submitted June 29, 2009; revised manuscript accepted November 27, 2009.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01344.x Byline: LORENA PASQUINI (*[dagger]s.), RICHARD M. COWLING ([dagger]), CHASCA TWYMAN ([double dagger]), JOHN WAINWRIGHT ([double dagger]) Keywords: biodiversity conservation; conservation policy; incentives; private conservation areas; private lands Abstract: Abstract: The amount of privately conserved land is increasing worldwide. The potential of these areas to contribute to the global conservation of biodiversity is significant, given that statutory protected areas alone will not suffice. Nevertheless, there is still inadequate support for private conservation areas, and further research on appropriate, flexible, and generally applicable incentive measures is necessary. We conducted 25 semistructured interviews with the owners of private conservation areas in the Little Karoo, South Africa, to examine landowner opinions of existing conservation policies and their relationships with the local conservation authority. We also assessed landowner preferences regarding conservation incentive measures. Landowners doubted the conservation authority's capacity to implement its stewardship program and were also discouraged by the bureaucracy of the program. The conservation authority was often viewed negatively, except where landowners had experienced personal contact from conservation staff or where strong social capital had formed among landowners. Landowners did not desire financial rewards for their conservation efforts, but sought recognition of their stewardship role and greater involvement from the conservation authority through personal contact. We conclude that conservation policies for private lands could benefit from the provision of extension services to landowners, promotion of formation of groups of landowners and other stakeholders, and public acknowledgment of the contributions private conservation areas make. Abstract (Spanish): Diseno de Politicas e Instrumentos Adecuados como Soporte para las Areas de Conservacion Privadas: Lecciones Aprendidas de los Klein Karoo, Africa del Sur Resumen: La cantidad de tierras privadas conservadas esta incrementando en todo el mundo. El potencial que tienen estas areas para contribuir a la conservacion global de la biodiversidad es significativo, dado que las areas protegidas establecidas por decreto no seran suficientes por si solas. Sin embargo, aun no hay soporte adecuado para las areas de conservacion privadas, y se requiere mas investigacion sobre incentivos adecuados, flexibles y aplicables a la generalidad. Aplicamos 25 encuestas semiestructuradas a propietarios de areas de conservacion privadas en el Pequeno Karoo, Africa del Sur, para examinar las opiniones de los propietarios sobre las politicas de conservacion actuales y sus relaciones con la autoridad de conservacion local. Tambien evaluamos las preferencias de los propietarios en relacion con los incentivos de conservacion. Los propietarios dudaron de la capacidad de la autoridad de conservacion para implementar el programa bajo su responsabilidad y tambien estaban desalentados por la burocracia del programa. La autoridad de conservacion a menudo era vista negativamente, excepto cuando los propietarios habian tenido contacto con personal de conservacion o donde se habia formado un fuerte capital social entre los propietarios. Los propietarios no deseaban recompensas financieras por sus esfuerzos de conservacion, sino que buscaban reconocimiento de su papel y un mayor involucramiento de la autoridad de conservacion mediante el contacto personal. Concluimos que las politicas de conservacion de tierras privadas se podrian beneficiar mediante la provision de servicios de extension hacia los propietarios, la promocion de grupos de propietarios y otros actores y el reconocimiento publico a las contribuciones que hacen las areas de conservacion privadas. Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Winter Street, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom ([dagger])Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa ([double dagger])Department of Geography, Sheffield Centre for International Drylands Research, University of Sheffield, Winter Street, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom Article History: Paper submitted January 21, 2009; revised manuscript accepted June 22, 2009. Article note: (s.) Current address: Working on Fire Advocacy, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa, email lorena.pasquini@gmail.com

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2008.16391.x Byline: Christo Botes, Steven D. Johnson, Richard M. Cowling Abstract: Coexistence among species that lack genetic barriers to hybridization usually depends on pre-mating isolating barriers. It has been difficult to explain coexistence among African Aloe species because they readily hybridize, often flower simultaneously and are mostly bird-pollinated. Here we show that co-flowering aloes in a succulent thicket community in South Africa partition the fauna of flower-visiting birds. Aloe species with small amounts of concentrated nectar in long corolla tubes were pollinated primarily by long-billed sunbirds. These species co-flowered with species with large amounts of dilute nectar in short corolla tubes which were pollinated primarily by short-billed, generalist nectarivores. Aloe species which share pollinators tend to have divergent flowering times and differences in pollen placement on birds. Without these isolating barriers, genetic dissolution of sympatric Aloe species would be likely. Article History: Manuscript Accepted 29 February 2008 Article note: C. Botes (christo.botes@gmail.com) and R. M. Cowling, Dept of Botany, PO Box 77000, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univ., 6031, South Africa. - S. D. Johnson and present address for CB: School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, Univ. of KwaZulu-Natal, Msunduzi, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00914.x Byline: ANDREW T. KNIGHT (*[dagger][dagger]), RICHARD M. COWLING (*), MATHIEU ROUGET ([dagger]), ANDREW BALMFORD ([double dagger]), AMANDA T. LOMBARD (*s.), BRUCE M. CAMPBELL (**) Keywords: area selection; conservation planning; knowing-doing gap; social learning; systematic conservation assessment Abstract: Abstract: Conservation assessment is a rapidly evolving discipline whose stated goal is the design of networks of protected areas that represent and ensure the persistence of nature (i.e., species, habitats, and environmental processes) by separating priority areas from the activities that degrade or destroy them. Nevertheless, despite a burgeoning scientific literature that ever refines these techniques for allocating conservation resources, it is widely believed that conservation assessments are rarely translated into actions that actually conserve nature. We reviewed the conservation assessment literature in peer-reviewed journals and conducted survey questionnaires of the authors of these studies. Two-thirds of conservation assessments published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature do not deliver conservation action, primarily because most researchers never plan for implementation. This research-implementation gap between conservation science and real-world action is a genuine phenomenon and is a specific example of the 'knowing-doing gap' that is widely recognized in management science. Given the woefully inadequate resources allocated for conservation, our findings raise questions over the utility of conservation assessment science, as currently practiced, to provide useful, pragmatic solutions to conservation planning problems. A reevaluation of the conceptual and operational basis of conservation planning research is urgently required. We recommend the following actions for beginning a process for bridging the research-implementation gap in conservation planning: (1) acknowledge the research-implementation gap is real, (2) source research questions from practitioners, (3) situate research within a broader conservation planning model, (4) expand the social dimension of conservation assessments, (5) support conservation plans with transdisciplinary social learning institutions, (6) reward academics for societal engagement and implementation, and (7) train students in skills for 'doing' conservation. Abstract (Spanish): Sabiendo pero No Haciendo: Seleccion de Areas Prioritarias para la Conservacion y la Brecha Investigacion-Implementacion Resumen: La evaluacion de la conservacion es una disciplina que evoluciona rapidamente y cuya meta es el diseno de redes de areas protegidas que representen y aseguren la persistencia de la naturaleza (i.e., habitats de especies y procesos ambientales) mediante la separacion de areas prioritarias de las actividades que las degradan o destruyen. Sin embargo, no obstante una creciente literatura cientifica que refina estas tecnicas para la asignacion de recursos para la conservacion, es amplia la creencia de que las evaluaciones de la conservacion raramente se traducen en acciones que realmente conservan la naturaleza. Revisamos la literatura sobre evaluacion de la conservacion en revistas con revision por pares y aplicamos cuestionarios a los autores de estos estudios. Dos tercios de las evaluaciones de conservacion publicadas en la literatura cientifica revisada por pares no consideran acciones de conservacion, primariamente porque la mayoria de los investigadores nunca planean la implementacion. Esta brecha investigacion-implementacion entre la ciencia de la conservacion y la accion en el mundo real es un fenomeno genuino y es un ejemplo especifico de la 'brecha conocer-actuar' que es ampliamente reconocida en la ciencia del manejo. Debido a los recursos tristemente inadecuados que se asignan a la conservacion, nuestros resultados originan preguntas sobre la utilidad de la evaluacion de la conservacion, como es practicada actualmente, para proporcionar soluciones pragmaticas a los problemas de planificacion de la conservacion. Se requiere urgentemente una reevaluacion de las bases conceptuales y operativas de la investigacion para la planificacion de la conservacion. Recomendamos las siguientes acciones para iniciar un proceso para reducir la brecha investigacion-implementacion en la planificacion de la conservacion (1) reconocer que la brecha investigacion-implementacion es real, (2) obtener preguntas de investigacion con profesionales, (3) situar la investigacion en un modelo de planificacion de la conservacion mas amplio, (4) expandir la dimension social de las evaluaciones de la conservacion, (5) apoyar los planes de conservacion con instituciones de aprendizaje social transdisciplinarias, (6) recompensar a academicos por compromisos con la sociedad y su implementacion y (7) entrenar a estudiantes en habilidades para 'hacer' conservacion. Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa ([dagger])Biodiversity Directorate, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag x101, Pretoria 0001, South Africa ([double dagger])Conservation Biology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom (s.)Marine Biology Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa (**)Research School of Environmental Studies, Charles Darwin University, Darwin 0909, Northern Territory, Australia, and Centre for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia Article History: Paper submitted May 22, 2007; revised manuscript accepted October 15, 2007. Article note: ([dagger][dagger]) email tawnyfrogmouth@gmail.com

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00434.x Byline: ANDREW BALMFORD (*), RICHARD M. COWLING ([dagger]) Author Affiliation: (*)Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom, emailapb12@hermes.cam.ac.uk ([dagger])Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa Article History: Paper submitted December 1, 2005; revised manuscript accepted February 20, 2006.

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00305.x Byline: ANDREW T. KNIGHT (*[double dagger]), RICHARD M. COWLING (*), BRUCE M. CAMPBELL ([dagger]) Keywords: area selection; biodiversity planning; conservation planning; implementation crisis; social learning institutions; systematic assessment Abstract: Abstract: The preoccupation of many conservation planners with the refinement of systematic assessment techniques has manifested an 'implementation crisis' in conservation planning. This preoccupation has provided systematic assessments with well-tested tools (e.g., area selection algorithms) and principles (e.g., representation, complementarity), but our understanding of these techniques currently far exceeds our ability to apply them effectively to pragmatic conservation problems. The science is informative about where one needs to do conservation, but silent on how to achieve it. Operational models, defined as simplified conceptualizations of processes for implementing conservation action at priority conservation areas, are essential for guiding conservation planning initiatives because they assist understanding of how these processes function. Operational models developed to date have largely been linear, simplistic, and focused on the systematic assessment of biological entities. Experience in the real world indicates that operational models for conducting conservation planning initiatives should explicitly complement a systematic conservation assessment with activities that empower individuals and institutions (enabling) and explicitly aim to secure conservation action (implementation). Specifically, implementing effective conservation action requires that systematic assessments be integrated functionally with a process for developing an implementation strategy and processes for stakeholder collaboration while maintaining a broad focus on the implementation of conservation action. A suite of hallmarks define effective operational models (e.g., stakeholder collaboration, links with land-use planning, social learning, and action research). Greater development and testing of the practical application of operational models should lead to higher levels of effective implementation and alleviate the implementation crisis. Social learning institutions are essential for ensuring ongoing improvement in the development and application of operational models that deliver effective conservation action. Abstract (Spanish): Un Modelo Operacional para la Implementacion de Acciones de Conservacion Resumen: Con el refinamiento de las tecnicas de evaluacion, la preocupacion de muchos planificadores de conservacion ha manifestado una 'crisis de implementacion' en la planificacion de conservacion. Esta preocupacion ha proporcionado evaluaciones sistematicas con herramientas (e. g., algoritmos para la seleccion de area) y principios (e. g., representacion, complementariedad) bien probados, pero nuestro entendimiento de estas tecnicas actualmente excede en mucho a nuestra habilidad para aplicarlas efectivamente en problemas pragmaticos de conservacion. La ciencia es informativa respecto a donde se requiere conservar, pero no dice como hacerlo. Los modelos operacionales, definidos como conceptualizaciones simplificadas de los procesos para la implementacion de acciones de conservacion en areas prioritarias para la conservacion, son esenciales para guiar iniciativas de planificacion de conservacion porque ayudan al entendimiento de como funcionan estos procesos. Los modelos operacionales desarrollados a la fecha han sido lineales, simplistas y enfocan la evaluacion sistematica de entidades biologicas. La experiencia en el mundo real indica que los modelos operacionales para conducir a las iniciativas de planificacion de conservacion deberian complementar explicitamente a una evaluacion de conservacion con actividades que faculten a individuos e instituciones (habilitacion) y enfocarse explicitamente en asegurar acciones de conservacion (implementacion). Especificamente, la implementacion de acciones efectivas de conservacion requiere que las evaluaciones sistematicas se integren funcionalmente con un proceso para el desarrollo de una estrategia de implementacion y con procesos para la colaboracion de interesados y al mismo tiempo mantengan un enfoque general en la implementacion de acciones de conservacion. Un conjunto de sellos define a los modelos operacionales efectivos (e. g., colaboracion de interesados, vinculos con la planificacion de uso de suelo, aprendizaje social e investigacion). El mayor desarrollo y pruebas de la aplicacion practica de los modelos operacionales deberan llevar a niveles mas altos de implementacion efectiva y aliviar la crisis de implementacion. Las instituciones de aprendizaje social son esenciales para asegurar la mejora continua en el desarrollo y aplicacion de modelos operacionales que entregan acciones efectivas de conservacion. Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Botany and Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa ([dagger])Research School of Environmental Studies, Charles Darwin University, Darwin 0909, Northern Territory, Australia, and Centre for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia Article History: Paper submitted January 19, 2005; revised manuscript accepted June 6, 2005. Article note: ([double dagger]) Current address: Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa, email tawnyfrogmouth@gmail.com

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00297.x Byline: MATHIEU ROUGET (*), RICHARD M. COWLING ([dagger]), AMANDA T. LOMBARD ([dagger]), ANDREW T. KNIGHT ([dagger]), GRAHAM I.H. KERLEY ([double dagger]) Keywords: biological processes; conservation implementation; conservation planning; landscape connectivity; landscape linkages Abstract: Abstract: A major challenge for conservation assessments is to identify priority areas that incorporate biological patterns and processes. Because large-scale processes are mostly oriented along environmental gradients, we propose to accommodate them by designing regional-scale corridors to capture these gradients. Based on systematic conservation planning principles such as representation and persistence, we identified large tracts of untransformed land (i.e., conservation corridors) for conservation that would achieve biodiversity targets for pattern and process in the Subtropical Thicket Biome of South Africa. We combined least-cost path analysis with a target-driven algorithm to identify the best option for capturing key environmental gradients while considering biodiversity targets and conservation opportunities and constraints. We identified seven conservation corridors on the basis of subtropical thicket representation, habitat transformation and degradation, wildlife suitability, irreplaceability of vegetation types, protected area networks, and future land-use pressures. These conservation corridors covered 21.1% of the planning region (ranging from 600 to 5200 km.sup.2) and successfully achieved targets for biological processes and to a lesser extent for vegetation types. The corridors we identified are intended to promote the persistence of ecological processes (gradients and fixed processes) and fulfill half of the biodiversity pattern target. We compared the conservation corridors with a simplified corridor design consisting of a fixed-width buffer along major rivers. Conservation corridors outperformed river buffers in seven out of eight criteria. Our corridor design can provide a tool for quantifying trade-offs between various criteria (biodiversity pattern and process, implementation constraints and opportunities). A land-use management model was developed to facilitate implementation of conservation actions within these corridors. Abstract (Spanish): Diseno de Corredores de Conservacion de Gran Escala para Patrones y Procesos Resumen: La identificacion de areas prioritarias que incorporen patrones y procesos biologicos es uno de los mayores retos de las evaluaciones de acciones de conservacion. Debido a que la mayoria de los procesos a gran escala estan orientado a lo largos de gradientes ambientales, proponemos acomodarlos mediante el diseno de el diseno de corredores de escala regional para capturar esos gradientes. Con base en principios de planificacion de conservacion sistematicos, tales como la representacion y la persistencia, identificamos grandes extensiones de terrenos no transformados (i.e., corredores de conservacion) para conservar patrones y procesos en el Bioma de Matorral Subtropical de Africa del Sur. Combinamos el analisis de la trayectoria de menor costo con un algoritmo dirigido a un objetivo para identificar la mejor opcion para capturar gradientes ambientales clave al mismo tiempo que se toman en cuenta objetivos de biodiversidad y oportunidades y restricciones de conservacion. Identificamos siete corredores de conservacion a partir de la representacion del matorral subtropical, la transformacion y degradacion del habitat, aptitud de la vida silvestre, no reemplazo de tipos de vegetacion, redes de areas protegidas y presiones de uso de suelo futuras. Estos corredores de conservacion abarcaron 21.1% de la region de planificacion (entre 600 y 5200 km.sup.2) y alcanzaron objetivos para procesos biologicos con exito y, en menor grado, para tipos de vegetacion. Los corredores que identificamos tienen la intencion de promover la persistencia de los procesos ecologicos (gradientes y proceso fijos) y cumplir con la mitad del patron de biodiversidad. Comparamos los corredores de conservacion con un diseno simple de corredor consistente en una franja de ancho fijo a lo largo de los rios principales. Los corredores de conservacion fueron mejores que los corredores riberenos en siete de ocho criterios. Nuestro diseno de corredores puede aportar una herramienta para la cuantificacion de compensaciones entre diversos criterios (patron y proceso de biodiversidad, constricciones y oportunidades de implementacion). Desarrollamos un modelo de gestion de uso de suelo para facilitar la implementacion de medidas de conservacion dentro de estos corredores. Author Affiliation: (*)Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Claremont 7735, South Africa and Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, emailrouget@sanbi.org ([dagger])Department of Botany and Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa ([double dagger])Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit and Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa Article History: Paper submitted September 16, 2004; revised manuscript accepted May 11, 2005.

The impact of alien or non-native plants can be ascertained through a spatially explicit distribution model. By focusing on landscape-scale distribution, conservationists can apply logistic regression to predict alien pervasiveness and calculate the resulting threat to native plant species. This model can assess and prioritize categories such as species richness or population size.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01342.x Byline: RICHARD M. COWLING (*), ANDREW T. KNIGHT ([dagger]), SEAN D. J. PRIVETT (s.), GYAN SHARMA ([dagger][double dagger]) Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa, emailrmc@kingsley.co.za ([dagger])Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa ([double dagger])Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa (s.)Grootbos Nature Reserve, P.O. Box 148, Gansbaai 7220, South Africa Article History: Paper submitted June 10, 2009; revised manuscript accepted June 16, 2009.

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01033.x Byline: ANDREW T. KNIGHT (*), RICHARD M. COWLING ([dagger]) Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa, emailtawnyfrogmouth@gmail.com ([dagger])Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa Article History: Paper submitted May 12, 2008; revised manuscript accepted May 19, 2008.

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00690.x Byline: ANDREW T. KNIGHT (*), RICHARD M. COWLING ([dagger]) Author Affiliation: (*)DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, emailtawnyfrogmouth@gmail.com ([dagger])Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa Article History: Paper submitted December 12, 2006; revised manuscript accepted February 12, 2007.

Key components of a successful conservation planning process, drawn from eight plans implemented in South Africa, include stakeholder collaboration, conservation assessment team skills, planning process design, and mainstreaming and interpretation of data for stakeholders. The important role of social learning institutions is also discussed.

Seven conservation corridors in South Africa are identified via habitat degradation and transformation, subtropical thicket representation, irreplaceability of types of vegetation, wildlife suitability, future land-use pressures, and protected area networks. A model is derived from this process that can be implemented for other conservation efforts.

Components of a successful operational model are presented for application in conservation management processes. These components include stakeholder collaboration, action research, social learning, and land-use planning.