Assessing and Mapping the Potential Benefit of Creating Protected Areas for Protecting Endangered Species
Research Location:
Washington, DC, USA
Conservation Partner:
Rainforest Trust
Student Researcher
Lauren Abderhalden '22, Major: Biology, Major: Environmental ScienceFaculty Mentor
Dr. Robert RoseProject Description
Lauren helped Rainforest Trust improve priority setting efforts by exploring the potential benefits of creating new protected areas on biodiversity conservation and protection of endangered and threatened species. Using IUCN data, Lauren mapped the ranges of key wildlife species and explored how much of a range is currently protected, weighting species differently depending on the conservation status.
Lauren then explored patterns needed to update Rainforest Trust's priority setting efforts to identify areas where increasing the protected status of areas may improve biodiversity conservation and the protection of endangered species. Lauren's report helped inform Rainforest Trust's priority setting strategy.
