Sagebrush ecosystems, one of the most imperiled in North America, face continued and widespread degradation due to multiple factors, including climate change, invasive species, and increased human development. Effective sagebrush management must consider how to best conserve and restore habitats to stem the decline of species that rely on them, especially given limited conservation resources. To address the critical need for science-based tools that balance management priorities and guide strategic conservation efforts, we recently developed the Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET). This USGS-facilitated decision-support tool generates map products to improve strategic management planning efforts that prioritize sites for restoration and conservation actions, based on customized management objectives.
PReSET utilizes the Prioritizr package (Program R) and integer linear programming (using a Gurobi Solver) to identify optimal solutions (i.e., sets of restoration or conservation action sites) with the desirable cost layer values and meaningful benefits for species. Management targets (e.g., the minimum number of birds per species protected or gained from restoration actions) are customizable to meet the unique objectives of managers at a local or regional scale.
PReSET relies on two habitat condition layers to classify the Current state of sagebrush habitats (i.e., intact or degraded) and define the set of potential management sites (pixels) that will be considered for any given problem. For example, those identifying priority areas for conservation or restoration actions, respectively. The tool then requires two general sets of inputs: a Cost layer for which the tool seeks to minimize or maximize values of selected pixels (e.g., dollar cost, habitat connectivity), and one or more Feature Layers, which represent some measure of species value for each pixel (e.g., presence/absence, abundance, probability of persistence, etc.).
Key Concepts and Outcomes
- PReSET generates decision-support map products identifying priority sites for management, based on a customized suite of management scenarios, that are directly relevant to the ongoing and emerging needs of land managers and can help guide effective and efficient management planning for habitats in sagebrush ecosystems.
- Management scenarios identify priority habitats for conservation (i.e., protecting existing, intact habitats), restoration (i.e., degraded sites with recovery potential), or both (e.g., by ensuring connectivity of existing and restorable habitats)
- PReSET’s map products represent optimal solutions (i.e., maps of optimal management sites) that balance species needs while minimizing or maximizing some measure of “cost.” When applied in the decision-making process, these solutions can help guide the prioritization of a subset of sites for management action.
- Applications of PReSET will complement existing conservation strategies used by agencies (e.g., Sage-grouse priority conservation or management areas [PACs/GMHAs/PHMAs], big game migration corridors, and the Sagebrush Conservation Strategy). Conservation and restoration scenarios can be used to further refine “defend and grow the core” initiatives for sagebrush management.
- PReSET’s underlying framework is fully customizable and capable of incorporating a diversity of available spatial data describing “cost” or species metrics across space, thereby ensuring high relevancy to sagebrush conservation planning efforts. For example, it can incorporate measures of future risk that considers dynamic threats critical for effective management planning, such as human development, invasive species, and climate change.
- PReSET can be applied at multiple spatial scales to address management questions at broad (e.g., regional or multi-state patterns) to fine (i.e., local, county) scales that match the needs of stakeholders/end-users.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the PReSET maps products be available for use?
We currently have maps of hypothetical scenarios available or in production to demonstrate capabilities of PReSET (Duchardt et al. 2021b). Customized maps will be developed in conjunction with specific regional PReSET applications (e.g., Wyoming, CRB) and will be made publicly accessible via USGS data release (with or without associated manuscript products). We also anticipate making these data available to explore and download via a USGS web viewer.
Is there software available so I can run PReSET on my own computer?
Yes and no. While PReSET operates using open-source software (i.e., Prioritizr and the Gurobi Solver), the technical details behind customization of the tool are complicated and running optimizations requires substantial computing power and time. For these reasons, we recommend that users leverage our knowledge and computing resources to answer specific management questions with PReSET. Our short-term plan is to make all PReSET map products accessible via a webviewer so users can explore the data and generate custom summary statistics. Our long-term plan is to bundle popular PReSET capabilities into a user-friendly application so that partners can run their own scenarios using self-uploaded spatial extents (shapefiles), however, these resources are not yet available.
Can we use our own spatial data in PReSET?
Yes! Spatial data from any source can be incorporated into PReSET to address management questions if they are informative for the scenario proposed.
Our team uses an existing conservation strategy, how can PReSET be used to step down (refine) these spatial management plans?
As shown in Duchardt et al. (2021a), the spatial extent and resolution of management questions can be customized within PReSET. This facilitates further refinement or “stepping-down” of existing conservation strategies that identify or rank priority areas (e.g., polygons or rasters) for management action, that consider additional factors such as spatially varying management dollar costs or future threats. Thus providing additional decision-making resources that can lead to more efficient or effective use of limited management resources.
I’d like to develop a scenario specific to my local jurisdiction or area of work, is that possible?
Yes! Currently, these options are only available on a limited basis where sufficient funding for USGS resources is available. The long-term goal is to transfer a subset of key tool capabilities (identified as important by and for stakeholders and partners) into a user-guided website application where users can design their own scenarios by designating a spatial extent (e.g., uploading shapefiles of a specific project area) and selecting their own custom inputs (e.g., cost layers, species).
At what spatial resolution(s) does PReSET function? How might uncertainty in spatial inputs impact the accuracy of its map products?
PReSET currently operates at 30-m resolution. However, users should weigh the benefits of smaller resolutions with greater computation resources needed to obtain solutions. We are currently exploring how to consider uncertainty of spatial layers in PReSET scenarios and gauge the potential impacts on solutions.
- Overview
Sagebrush ecosystems, one of the most imperiled in North America, face continued and widespread degradation due to multiple factors, including climate change, invasive species, and increased human development. Effective sagebrush management must consider how to best conserve and restore habitats to stem the decline of species that rely on them, especially given limited conservation resources. To address the critical need for science-based tools that balance management priorities and guide strategic conservation efforts, we recently developed the Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET). This USGS-facilitated decision-support tool generates map products to improve strategic management planning efforts that prioritize sites for restoration and conservation actions, based on customized management objectives.
PReSET utilizes the Prioritizr package (Program R) and integer linear programming (using a Gurobi Solver) to identify optimal solutions (i.e., sets of restoration or conservation action sites) with the desirable cost layer values and meaningful benefits for species. Management targets (e.g., the minimum number of birds per species protected or gained from restoration actions) are customizable to meet the unique objectives of managers at a local or regional scale.
PReSET relies on two habitat condition layers to classify the Current state of sagebrush habitats (i.e., intact or degraded) and define the set of potential management sites (pixels) that will be considered for any given problem. For example, those identifying priority areas for conservation or restoration actions, respectively. The tool then requires two general sets of inputs: a Cost layer for which the tool seeks to minimize or maximize values of selected pixels (e.g., dollar cost, habitat connectivity), and one or more Feature Layers, which represent some measure of species value for each pixel (e.g., presence/absence, abundance, probability of persistence, etc.).
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Figure 1. Illustration of the PReSET framework and inputs. Key Concepts and Outcomes
- PReSET generates decision-support map products identifying priority sites for management, based on a customized suite of management scenarios, that are directly relevant to the ongoing and emerging needs of land managers and can help guide effective and efficient management planning for habitats in sagebrush ecosystems.
- Management scenarios identify priority habitats for conservation (i.e., protecting existing, intact habitats), restoration (i.e., degraded sites with recovery potential), or both (e.g., by ensuring connectivity of existing and restorable habitats)
- PReSET’s map products represent optimal solutions (i.e., maps of optimal management sites) that balance species needs while minimizing or maximizing some measure of “cost.” When applied in the decision-making process, these solutions can help guide the prioritization of a subset of sites for management action.
- Applications of PReSET will complement existing conservation strategies used by agencies (e.g., Sage-grouse priority conservation or management areas [PACs/GMHAs/PHMAs], big game migration corridors, and the Sagebrush Conservation Strategy). Conservation and restoration scenarios can be used to further refine “defend and grow the core” initiatives for sagebrush management.
- PReSET’s underlying framework is fully customizable and capable of incorporating a diversity of available spatial data describing “cost” or species metrics across space, thereby ensuring high relevancy to sagebrush conservation planning efforts. For example, it can incorporate measures of future risk that considers dynamic threats critical for effective management planning, such as human development, invasive species, and climate change.
- PReSET can be applied at multiple spatial scales to address management questions at broad (e.g., regional or multi-state patterns) to fine (i.e., local, county) scales that match the needs of stakeholders/end-users.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the PReSET maps products be available for use?
We currently have maps of hypothetical scenarios available or in production to demonstrate capabilities of PReSET (Duchardt et al. 2021b). Customized maps will be developed in conjunction with specific regional PReSET applications (e.g., Wyoming, CRB) and will be made publicly accessible via USGS data release (with or without associated manuscript products). We also anticipate making these data available to explore and download via a USGS web viewer.
Is there software available so I can run PReSET on my own computer?
Yes and no. While PReSET operates using open-source software (i.e., Prioritizr and the Gurobi Solver), the technical details behind customization of the tool are complicated and running optimizations requires substantial computing power and time. For these reasons, we recommend that users leverage our knowledge and computing resources to answer specific management questions with PReSET. Our short-term plan is to make all PReSET map products accessible via a webviewer so users can explore the data and generate custom summary statistics. Our long-term plan is to bundle popular PReSET capabilities into a user-friendly application so that partners can run their own scenarios using self-uploaded spatial extents (shapefiles), however, these resources are not yet available.
Can we use our own spatial data in PReSET?
Yes! Spatial data from any source can be incorporated into PReSET to address management questions if they are informative for the scenario proposed.
Our team uses an existing conservation strategy, how can PReSET be used to step down (refine) these spatial management plans?
As shown in Duchardt et al. (2021a), the spatial extent and resolution of management questions can be customized within PReSET. This facilitates further refinement or “stepping-down” of existing conservation strategies that identify or rank priority areas (e.g., polygons or rasters) for management action, that consider additional factors such as spatially varying management dollar costs or future threats. Thus providing additional decision-making resources that can lead to more efficient or effective use of limited management resources.
I’d like to develop a scenario specific to my local jurisdiction or area of work, is that possible?
Yes! Currently, these options are only available on a limited basis where sufficient funding for USGS resources is available. The long-term goal is to transfer a subset of key tool capabilities (identified as important by and for stakeholders and partners) into a user-guided website application where users can design their own scenarios by designating a spatial extent (e.g., uploading shapefiles of a specific project area) and selecting their own custom inputs (e.g., cost layers, species).
At what spatial resolution(s) does PReSET function? How might uncertainty in spatial inputs impact the accuracy of its map products?
PReSET currently operates at 30-m resolution. However, users should weigh the benefits of smaller resolutions with greater computation resources needed to obtain solutions. We are currently exploring how to consider uncertainty of spatial layers in PReSET scenarios and gauge the potential impacts on solutions.
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