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Abstract
This study develops a theoretical and empirical framework for optimal conservation
planning using satellite land cover data and economic data from a farm survey. A case
study is presented for a region within the South-west Australia Biodiversity Hotspot
(Nature 403, 853). This Biodiversity Hotspot is a focus for conservation investment as
it combines a relatively high level of biodiversity with severe threat to the biodiversity
from agriculture. The conservation planning model developed determines the optimal
set of bush fragments for conservation. This model can also be used to assess the
trade-off between the budget and a vegetation species metric. Results from the case
study show that, without an effective conservation scheme that at least fences fragments,
significant plant biodiversity losses will occur in the North East Wheatbelt
Regional Organisation of Councils region of the WA wheatbelt over a 10-year period.
A perfect price discriminating auction scheme could reduce the costs of conservation
by around 17 per cent relative to a fixed-payment scheme; however, a fixed payment
on outcome (measured as change in the species metric) scheme represents a viable
second-best alternative, to a conservation auction, where conservation spending is
spatially targeted.