Tools
Salmon Ecosystems Conservation Planning Toolkit
Conservation planning is the process of identifying the where, what, and how of conserving elements of biodiversity. Methods in conservation planning have advanced rapidly over the last decade. These advancements are geared towards making the process of conservation planning more science-based, transparent, and repeatable.
Planning for conservation involves considerable complexity, uncertainty, and stakeholder buy-in. To deal with this, a number of different processes, principles, and tools in conservation planning have been developed. There is no single tool that will fit all conservation planning needs. Salmon life-histories are unique, their ecosystems are complex, and they are socially and economically important. Thus, conservation planning tools and processes need to accommodate this.
As you navigate through this website, you will learn about regional and watershed conservation planning tools and see them “in action” as they are applied within salmon ecosystems. This website contains a toolkit of concepts and best practices, case studies that highlight these tools in action and resource links to external sources of additional information. The goal is to empower the conservation community to consider the many objectives of salmon conservation in a transparent, flexible, and credible manner.
About the Toolkit
We define "Tools" generally as things that help us manage complexity in ways that are science-based, transparent, and repeatable. These tools can help us along the path towards the overall goal of conserving wild salmon. Our toolkit is structured around basic tasks that are necessary for conserving salmon: 1) evaluating and assessing current population health, 2) assessing watershed condition, threats, and limiting factors, 3) modeling intrinsic patterns and processes of the watershed, 4) designing wild salmon conservation networks, 5) assessing fisheries management, and 6) monitoring status, trends, and effectiveness. Currently, the scale of application is focused on watersheds and regional applications for the freshwater life stage of salmon.
Follow the wheel/cog graphic around the site to start exploring. Each cog will take you to a discussion of relevant tools and case studies of their application.
- targets
Planning Objectives
The first steps in effectively using conservation planning tools is to identify clear objectives and goals, explicitly determine the appropriate scale, and link these considerations to an appropriate tool or set of tools .
Overview Scale Tools and Methods - populations
- Watershed Condition
- monitor
- intrinsic
Intrinsic Potential (IP)
Overview Copper River IP modeling IP modeling for Hokkaido Taimen Oregon North Coast - Fisheries Management
Fisheries Management Assessment
Overview - ConDes
Spatial Conservation Design
Overview Pacific Rim Forest Service Key Watersheds North American Strongholds - threats
About This Toolkit
Overview
Additional Resources
Also, feel free to contact us with feedback. As a continuously-evolving resource site, we are always interested in suggestions for ways to improve user access and information.
Acknowledgements
Wild Salmon Center thanks the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Esri, Ecotrust and US Forest Service for their generous support, which has made the development of this toolkit possible. Also, organizations that supported case studies illustrating the use of conservation planning tools include the Oregon Department of Forestry, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Resources Legacy Fund.