Systematic, science-based conservation planning is a hallmark of the Conservancy. For biodiversity to thrive, habitats need to be protected, enhanced, or restored not just in the still wild places on the planet but also where people live and make their livelihoods.
Multi-disciplinary planning can help elucidate where the highest priority places are and what needs to happen there – and inform tradeoffs between conservation and other societal values.
Science in Action
Terrestrial | Planning | Technology
Wildfire and Communities
How can land protection and restoration help protect communities from wildfire?
Terrestrial | Marine | Planning
TNC and the U.S. Navy
How can we protect natural resource and coastal military assets from sea level rise?
2022 | Marine | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Social Factors Key to Landscape-Scale Coastal Restoration: Lessons Learned from Three U.S. Case Studies
Bryan M. DeAngelis, Ariana E. Sutton-Grier, Allison Colden, Katie K. Arkema, Christopher J. Baillie, Richard O. Bennett, Jeff Benoit, Seth Blitch, Anthony Chatwin, Alyssa Dausman, Rachel K. Gittman, Holly S. Greening, Jessica R. Henkel, Rachel Houge, Ron Howard, A. Randall Hughes, Jeremy Lowe, StevenB. Scyphers, Edward T. Sherwood, Stephanie Westby, Jonathan H. Grabowski
This study examined three case studies involving large-scale and long-term restoration efforts including the seagrass restoration effort in Tampa Bay, Florida, the oyster restoration effort in the…
2022 | Marine | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Restoration Guidelines for Shellfish Reefs
J. Fitzsimons, S. Branigan, R.D. Brumbaugh , T. McDonald, and zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. (eds), Bryan M. DeAngelis, chapter author
The purpose of this guide is to provide guidance in decision-making for establishing shellfish reef restoration projects and examples of different approaches undertaken byexperienced practitioners in…
2022 | Terrestrial | Planning | Technology | Science | Publications & Reports
A framework to select strategies for conserving and restoring habitat connectivity in complex landscapes
D. Richard Cameron, Carrie A. Schloss, David M. Theobald, Scott A. Morrison
Protecting or restoring habitat connectivity in landscapes undergoing rapid environmental change requires multiple conservation and restoration strategies. These strategies have different risk…
2022 | Terrestrial | Planning | Science | Data
The Resilient Connected Network in California
Carrie Schloss, Dick Cameron, Elizabeth McGovern
As declines in biodiversity are further exacerbated by changing climate conditions, it is critical to ensure that plants and animals are resilient to the effects of climate change. This means…
2022 | Terrestrial | Planning | Technology | Science | Publications & Reports
The influence of model frameworks in spatial planning of regional climate-adaptive connectivity for conservation planning
Hyeyeong Choe, Annika T.H. Keeley, D. Richard Cameron, Melanie Gogol-Prokurat, Lee Hannah, Patrick R. Roehrdanz, Carrie A. Schloss, James H. Thorne
Planning for connectivity conservation often relies on modeled movement routes. However, these pathways can be sensitive to the conservation objective, modeling approach, analysis tool, and…
2022 | Freshwater | Terrestrial | Marine | Planning | Technology | Science | Maps & Webmaps
The Mitigation Wizard
Carrie Schloss, Liz O’Donoghue, Dan Rademacher, Patric Huber, Jodi McGraw, Kim Becerril, Janine Knapp
Every year, infrastructure agencies and developers spend hundreds of millions of dollars to mitigate for impacts to sensitive species and habitats. These mitigation sites are often piecemeal projects,…
2022 | Terrestrial | Planning | Science | Maps & Webmaps
Conserving a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, 30x30: A Path to a Resilient Future
In October 2020, Governor Newsom signed an executive order committing to protect 30% of California by 2030. This could put California on a trajectory to stem the biodiversity crisis. But, where this…
2022 | Terrestrial | Planning | Technology | Science | Publications & Reports
“No-regrets” pathways for navigating climate change: planning for connectivity with land use, topography, and climate
Carrie A. Schloss, D. Richard Cameron, Brad H. McRae, David M. Theobald, and Aaron Jones
Plant and animal species are already shifting their ranges in response to a changing climate. Maintaining connectivity between present habitat and suitable habitat in the future will become…
2022 | Marine | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Kelp Restoration Guidebook: Lessons Learned from Kelp Restoration Projects Around the World
Aaron M. Eger (University of New South Wales), Cayne Layton (University of Tasmania), Tristin A. McHugh (TNC), Mary Gleason, and Norah Eddy (TNC)
Kelp forests around the world are experiencing significant declines due to a variety of factors, driving the need for more active kelp restoration efforts. The science and practice of kelp forest…
2022 | Freshwater | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Groundwater Levels in California Reveals Ecosystems at Risk
Melissa M. Rohde, Tanushree Biswas, Ian W. Housman, Leah S. Campbell, Kirk R. Klausmeyer, Jeanette Howard
Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are increasingly threatened worldwide, but the shallow groundwater resources that they are reliant upon are seldom monitored. In this study, the researchers…
2022 | Freshwater | Planning | Science | Maps & Webmaps
SAGE: Shallow Groundwater Estimation Tool
Melissa M. Rohde, Tanushree Biswas, Ian W. Housman, Leah S. Campbell, Kirk R. Klausmeyer, Jeanette Howard
Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are critical habitats throughout California that rely on shallow groundwater. Unfortunately, only a small subset of wells provide monitoring data for shallow…
2022 | Freshwater | Terrestrial | Marine | Planning | Publications & Reports
The Guidebook for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants: Promoting Nature-Based Mitigation Through FEMA Mitigation Grants
The Nature Conservancy, AECOM
With increase in devasting storms and wildfires due to climate change, we need solutions to help mitigate the impact. Traditionally, “gray” or “hard” infrastructure…
2022 | Freshwater | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Groundwater dependence of riparian woodlands and the disrupting effect of anthropogenically altered streamflow
Melissa M. Rohde, John C. Stella, Dar A. Roberts, Michael Bliss Singer
This study combines satellite, groundwater, and streamflow data over a 5 year period (2015-2020) to understand the impacts of groundwater depth and streamflow alteration on groundwater-dependent…
2021 | Freshwater | Terrestrial | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Using information on forest succession to advance strategies for salmon recovery and carbon storage in meandering river systems
John C. Stella, Li Kui, Gregory H. Golet, Frank Poulsen
Streamside forests are incredibly important for fish, birds and other wildlife. They are also valuable for storing carbon which is needed to combat climate change. This is especially the case in…
2021 | Freshwater | Terrestrial | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Sacramento River: balancing ecological and social restoration goals to restore riparian habitat along a lowland floodplain river, California, USA
Case study by: K.D. Holl, G.H. Golet
Advancing conservation requires understanding the constraints imposed on natural systems by human societies. This understanding typically comes from engagement with local stakeholders, as opposed…
2021 | Terrestrial | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Enhancing Habitat Value for Shorebirds in Rice Agriculture
Case study by: Khara Strum (Audubon California), Kristin Sesser (Point Blue Conservation Science), Greg Golet (TNC)
This case study communicates lessons learned by TNC and partners from years of research and monitoring of habitat enhancement projects in Sacramento Valley rice agriculture. It is a contribution to…
2021 | Terrestrial | Marine | Planning | Technology | Science | Publications & Reports
Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve Invasive Plant Species Action Plan
Moses Katkowski, H. Scott Butterfield, John Knapp, Kelly Easterday, Laura Riege, Mark Reynolds
This 5-year action plan describes the vision for invasive plant species mapping, monitoring and treatment at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve in Sourthern California. The plan is adaptive and…
2021 | Freshwater | Terrestrial | Planning | Technology | Science | Publications & Reports
Planting Stormwater Solutions: A methodology for siting nature-based solutions for pollution capture, habitat enhancement, and multiple health benefits
Kelsey Jessup, Sophie S. Parker, John M. Randall, Brian S. Cohen, Rowan Roderick-Jones, Shona Ganguly, Jill Sourial
This paper presents results from Planting Stormwater Solutions, part of TNC’s Urban Conservation work in Los Angeles. The authors develop a methodology to prioritize siting of vegetated…
2021 | Terrestrial | Planning | Science | Publications & Reports
Framework for Resilience: Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative
P. Manley, K. Wilson, N. Povak
The Framework for Resilience offers a shared vision for resilience that recognizes the interdependent nature of social and ecological values. These values are described by ten pillars that represent…
2021 | Terrestrial | Planning | Publications & Reports
Assessment of Current Landscape Conditions: Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative
Kristen N. Wilson, Patricia N. Manley
Climate change, high-severity wildfire, and drought threaten the resilience of forests and communities in the Sierra Nevada. The Tahoe–Central Sierra Initiative (TCSI) is a partnership of state…