WEGE: A new metric for ranking locations for biodiversity conservation

Aim Effective policymaking for biological conservation requires the identification and ranking of the most important areas for protection or management. One of the most frequently used systems for selecting priority areas is the Key Biodiversity Areas (hereafter KBAs), developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, KBAs cannot be used to rank areas, potentially limiting their use when limited funding is available. To tackle this shortcoming and facilitate spatial prioritization, here we develop and validate the “WEGE index” (Weighted Endemism including Global Endangerment index), consisting of an adaptation of the EDGE score (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered). WEGE allows the ranking of any set of locations according to the KBA guidelines and on a continuous scale. Location Global. Methods We calculated the EDGE score, Weighted Endemism, Evolutionary distinctiveness, Extinction risk and our newly developed WEGE index for all terrestrial species of amphibians, mammals and birds accessed by IUCN. We then compared the performance of each of those five indices at prioritizing areas according to the KBA guidelines. Results We found that for all taxa surveyed, WEGE was consistently better at identifying areas that trigger KBA status. Main conclusions In our analyses, WEGE outperformed all other methods and metrics designed for similar purposes. It can serve as a robust evidence‐based methodology to prioritize among otherwise equally qualified sites according to the KBA categories. WEGE can therefore support transparent, evidence‐based and biologically meaningful decision‐making for conservation priorities.

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning
Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Vetenskapsrådet	2017-03862
WCS Christensen Conservation Leaders Scholarship
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia	PD/BD/128123/2016
World Wildlife Foundation - Education for Nature scholarship	35