A multi-objective optimization approach associated to climate change analysis to improve systematic conservation planning

Shana Schlottfeldt*, Jon Timmis, Maria Emilia Walter, André Carvalho, Lorena Simon, Rafael Loyola, José Alexandre Diniz-Filho

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation has been since long an academic community concern, leading scientists to propose strategies to effectively meet conservation goals. In particular, Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) aims to determine the most cost effective way of investing in conservation actions. SCP can be formalized by the Set-Covering Problem, which is NP-hard. SCP is inherently multi-objective, although it has been usually treated with a monobjective and static approach. Here, we propose a multi-objective solution for SCP, increasing its flexibility and complexity, and, at the same time, augmenting the quality of provided information, which reinforces decision-making. We used ensemble forecasting, considering future climate simulations to estimate species occurrence projected to 2080. Our method identifies sites: 1) of high priority for conservation; 2) with significant risk of investment; and, 3) that may become attractive in the future. To the best of our knowledge, this application to a real-world problem in ecology is the first attempt to apply multi-objective optimization to SCP associated to climate forecasting, in a dynamic spatial prioritization analysis for biodiversity conservation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEvolutionary Multi-Criterion Optimization
Subtitle of host publication8th International Conference, EMO 2015, Guimarães, Portugal, March 29 --April 1, 2015. Proceedings, Part II
Editors António Gaspar-Cunha, Carlos Henggeler Antunes, Carlos Coello Coello
PublisherSpringer
Pages458-472
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-15892-1
ISBN (Print)9783319158914
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015
Event8th International Conference on Evolutionary Multi-Criterion Optimization, EMO 2015 - Guimarães, United Kingdom
Duration: 29 Mar 20151 Apr 2015

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume9019

Conference

Conference8th International Conference on Evolutionary Multi-Criterion Optimization, EMO 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityGuimarães
Period29/03/151/04/15

Keywords

  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Climate change
  • Multi-objective optimization
  • Parameter tuning
  • Spatial conservation prioritization
  • Systematic conservation planning
  • Uncertainty in simulations

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