Abstract Conservation planning is often informed by quantitative targets: these are minimum amounts of the distribution of a species, vegetation type, or other biodiversity feature intended for protection. Targets are set for the global reserve system, and are also used at national and local levels to plan for both on‐ and off‐reserve conservation. Understandably, the conservation community holds a range of opinions about target‐based approaches to conservation planning. One school of thought is that the approach is inadequate, inflexible, and even counterproductive in many socioecological systems. We investigate the perceived limitations of target‐based conservation planning, and find that most have resulted from poor communication and misuse of targets, leading to misconceptions and misunderstandings. Here we put target‐based conservation planning in context by: (1) summarizing reported limitations of the approach and differentiating between those that are real and those that are misconceived; (2) identifying ways that some of the real limitations have, and can, be overcome, and (3) comparing target‐based conservation planning to alternative conservation prioritization approaches. We hope to stimulate further discussion that will guide and improve target‐based conservation planning.

Josie Carwardine

Carissa J. Klein

Kerrie A. Wilson

Robert L. Pressey

Hugh P. Possingham

Conservation Letters

CONSERVATION LETTERS 是一本科学期刊，发表对保护生物多样性具有重要意义的实证和理论研究。该杂志欢迎生物和社会科学领域的投稿——尤其是跨学科投稿——推动务实的保护目标和科学理解。手稿将按快速沟通时间表发布，因此应该是最新的和热门的。研究文章应该清楚地阐明他们的发现对保护政策和实践的重要性。

Conservation Letters is a scientific journal dedicated to publishing empirical and theoretical research that is significant for the conservation of biodiversity. The journal welcomes submissions from the fields of biological and social sciences, particularly interdisciplinary studies, to advance practical conservation goals and scientific understanding. Manuscripts will be published on a rapid communication timeline, so they should be current and relevant. Research articles should clearly articulate the importance of their findings for conservation policy and practice.

《Conservation Letters》是一本科学期刊，专注于发表对保护生物多样性具有重要意义的实证和理论研究。该期刊欢迎生物科学和社会科学领域的投稿，尤其鼓励跨学科的研究，以推动务实的保护目标和科学理解。手稿将按照快速沟通的时间表发布，因此应确保内容是最新和热门的。研究文章需清晰阐明其发现对保护政策和实践的重要性。

Category	Quartile
环境科学与生态学	1
环境科学与生态学, 生物多样性保护	1

Hitting the target and missing the point: target‐based conservation planning in context

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