Monday, July 6, 2026

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Room BE.0.10

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Details

There is a minimum number of 5 and a maximum number of 20 participants for this training. What will you need? - Participants will need their own laptop and have a basic understanding of spatial data formats. - Basic skills in R, ideally pre-installation of Rstudio, prioritizR (https://prioritizr.net/) and the ‘highs’ R-package Systematic conservation planning (SCP) is a scientific framework of applying decision theory towards identifying where or what to do given all available information (data, parameters). This training course will introduce participants to the principles and techniques of systematic conservation planning. Together we will progress through typical stages of a SCP project from the design to the prioritization for identifying solutions to conservation problems. During this course, the participants will receive basic understanding on the concepts of SCP and learn how to use some widely used applications, for example prioritizR, although other software like Zonation can be exemplarly showcased as well. The prioritizR suite is an R-package to facilitate the use of exact algorithms, e.g. integer programming, to derive solutions to specific conservation problems, such as where additional area-based conservation or restoration efforts are to be placed or where a biodiversity monitoring project is to be established. PrioritizR is freely available and runs on all operating systems able to run R (Windows, MacOs, Linux). The course will provide participants with (a) a basic understanding of the principles of systematic conservation planning, (b) instructions how to prepare input data and parameters for a SCP project, (c) the use of two state-of-the art prioritization tools to derive solutions to planning problems, (d) explore different scenarios to account for example for connectivity and socio-economic factors, and (e) how to critically interrogate the solutions and derive performance indicators. Ultimately the aim of the course is for users to obtain the knowledge base and confidence needed to start applying systematic conservation planning to your own work. General course outline: 1.Basics of systematic conservation planning and spatial prioritization: concepts, prerequisites, approaches, applications. 2.Hands-on exercises in separate breakout groups: prioritizR. 3.Joint reflection and comparison of the software. 4.Q&A on own analysis questions.

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Organiser