Congruence of areas of high-value diversity for taxa pairs was moderate to low, and averaged 38.5% for areas of high-value diversity based on the combined index of biodiversity.
About 70% of the areas of high-value diversity identified based on the Standardized Biodiversity Index included natural protected areas.
Areas of high-value diversity were defined as those cells within the 15% top segment of ranked values for the different criteria.
We also urge that additional natural protected areas be established to include the gap of 30% of areas of high-value diversity not currently protected.
However, they average only 274.6 km2, thus occupying a small fraction of the areas of high-value diversity, and there is no guarantee that the species found in an area of high-value diversity site will be present in its protected fraction.
We used five criteria for identifying areas of high-value diversity: species richness, rarity, vulnerability, a combined index of biodiversity, and a Standardized Biodiversity Index that measured all four taxa together.
The areas of high-value diversity identified according to the Standardized Biodiversity Index included all amphibian and mammal species, all but one reptile species (categorized as rare) and all but six bird species (three of which were categorized as threatened).
The performance based on the average proportion of threatened species excluded from areas of high-value diversity followed the rank combined index of biodiversity=rarity (0.3%) > vulnerability (9.9%) > species richness (13.8%).
We took an step for biodiversity conservation planning in the studied region, and discuss the usefulness of maps of areas of high-value diversity for conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental impact assessment and mitigation.
"We have companies who are looking to create a very special organizational structure such as companies who also have a high value for diversity and values like that, particularly international companies," says Beron.
I've been watching, with great interest, Bruce Rauner's TV ads -- view here and here -- and it certainly creates the impression that he places a high value on diversity.
