Our core mission is to empower effective biodiversity conservation through the development and application of transparent, cutting-edge research-driven spatial planning tools. We are dedicated to delivering solutions that are precisely tailored to local contexts, ensuring their relevance and impact. Working hand-in-hand with our partners, we co-design comprehensive planning solutions aimed at supporting critical biodiversity conservation efforts, ecological restoration initiatives, and sustainable ocean use practices in the face of a changing climate.

We are a dynamic team of university researchers committed to advancing the frontier of spatial planning for tangible, real-world conservation outcomes. Our collective expertise spans the entire spectrum of spatial planning, enabling us to develop and implement rapid, effective, and inclusive planning strategies. We believe in collaborative development and are constantly refining our methodologies and tools to meet the evolving needs of conservation.

We offer a suite of services centered around advanced spatial planning, providing partners with the tools and guidance necessary to achieve their conservation goals. A cornerstone of our offerings is our robust open-source platform, shinyplanr. This application is continuously evolving, with ongoing improvements driven by valuable user feedback and the integration of the latest scientific advancements in spatial ecology and conservation planning.

Our research is driven by a commitment to addressing complex conservation challenges through innovative spatial planning approaches. We concentrate on several key areas to enhance the applicability and impact of our work:

• Multiple-Use Planning: We are dedicated to incorporating the latest scientific research and planning priorities into our spatial plans, specifically focusing on developing a zoning approach within the shinyplanr application to effectively support multiple-use planning objectives. This allows for integrated management that balances conservation with other human activities.
• Ecosystem Services Integration: Our research identifies and quantifies key ecosystem services provided by common coastal habitats. We then integrate this crucial data into our conservation prioritization frameworks, ensuring that planning efforts recognize and protect the natural benefits that underpin human well-being.
• Climate-Smart Planning: A critical component of our work involves developing sophisticated approaches for designing climate-smart protected areas. This includes leveraging global Earth System Models and high-resolution climate models to project future conditions and adapt conservation strategies to ensure long-term resilience against climate change impacts.

For more in-depth information about our projects and methodologies, please visit our website: Spatial Planning for Conservation