Human activities are threatening the survival of many species. One way for communities, agencies and the government to stop the loss of biodiversity and rescue endangered species is through habitat protection.
An agreement between wildlife organizations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service paved the way for the identification and protection of critical habitats for 23 species living on U.S.
Predicting the optimal amount of time to spend learning before designating protected habitat for threatened species
Deciding when to protect threatened species habitat when complete knowledge about the habitat extent is uncertain is a common problem in conservation. More accurate habitat mapping improves conservation outcomes once that habitat is protected. However, delaying protection to improve accuracy can lead to species decline or, at worst, local extinction when threats to that habitat continue unabated before protection is implemented. Hence, there is a trade-off between gaining knowledge and taking conservation action.
Deciding when to stop learning and take action is a common, but difficult decision in conservation.