Abstract Spatial conservation prioritization is used globally to guide decision making with the aim of delivering the best conservation gain per unit investment. However, despite many publications on the topic, the extent to which this approach is used by decision makers has been unclear. To investigate the degree to which prioritization has been adopted by practitioners to guide conservation implementation, we conducted an online survey, collecting data on the approaches used to develop prioritizations and the reported extent of translation to on‐the‐ground action. Using a cluster analysis, we identified two categories of prioritizations, those developed to advance the field (42% of responses) and those intended for implementation (58% of responses). Respondents reported 74% of the prioritizations intended for implementation had translated to on‐the‐ground action. Additionally, we identified strong collaboration between academics and practitioners in prioritization development, suggesting a bridging of the theory‐practice gap. We recommend continued collaboration and research into the effectiveness of prioritizations in delivering conservation impacts.

Samuel P. Sinclair

E.J. Milner‐Gulland

Robert J. Smith

Emma J. McIntosh

Hugh P. Possingham

Ans Vercammen

Andrew T. Knight

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。

The use, and usefulness, of spatial conservation prioritizations

Strong collaboration between academics and practitioners in prioritization development is identified, suggesting a bridging of the theory‐practice gap and recommended continued collaboration and research into the effectiveness of prioritizations in delivering conservation impacts.

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

The use, and usefulness, of spatial conservation prioritizations

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