Is conservation right to go big? Protected area size and conservation return-on-investment

摘要: Abstract Policy guidelines for creating new protected areas commonly recommend larger be favored. We examine whether these recommendations are justified, providing the first evaluation of this question to use return-on-investment (ROI) methods that account how area size influences multiple ecological benefits and economic costs protection. acquired protect forested ecosystems in eastern US rich endemic species. ROI analyses often alter about from those obtained when considering only or costs. Large offer a greater return per dollar invested if goal protecting sites is reduce forest fragmentation on wider landscape, whereas smaller higher prioritizing offering protection more A portfolio site sizes may need included networks objectives motivate conservation.