Prioritization of marine turtle management projects: a protocol that accounts for threats to different life history stages

Project prioritization protocols are an important tool for allocating conservation resources efficiently, and have been applied to a range of species and ecosystems. Current approaches are inadequate when applied to species with distinct threats impacting different and/or multiple life history stages, such as sea turtles. We develop a model that integrates the benefit of any management project on a population by way of its expected population growth rate, including projects targeting different and/or multiple life history stages. To illustrate its utility, we prioritize projects for investment relevant to Australia's eastern population of Flatback turtle (Natator depressus). We rely upon expert-elicitation to estimate individual benefit parameters, feasibility, and cost, and calculate the cost-effectiveness of each project. The most cost-effective project was not the most feasible, cheapest, or most beneficial. Our approach will help managers make efficient decisions that account for the full range of threats operating on a population.

Conservation Letters

Conservation Letters

10

1755-263X

N/A

5

8