Using MaxEnt Model to Guide Marsh Conservation in the Nenjiang River Basin, Northeast China

Abstract

Incorporating private and working lands into protected area networks could mitigate the isolation state of protected areas (PAs) and improve the efficiency of conservation. But how to select patches of land for conservation is still a troublesome issue. In this study, the MaxEnt model and irreplaceability index were applied to guide marsh conservation in the Nenjiang River Basin, Northeast China. According to the high accuracy of the MaxEnt model predictions (i.e., the average AUC value = 0.933), the Wuyuer River and Zhalong marshes in the downstream reaches of Wuyuer River are the optimal habitat for the Red-crowned crane and migratory waterfowls. There are 22 marsh patches selected by the patch irreplaceability index for conservation, of which 12 patches had been included in the current network of protected areas. The other 10 patches of marsh (amounting to 1096 km2) far from human disturbances with high NDVI (up to 0.8) and close distance to water (less than 100 m), which are excluded from the existing network of PAs, should be implemented conservation easement programs to improve the protection efficiency of conservation. Specifically, the marshes at Taha, Tangchi, and Lamadian should be given priority for conservation and restoration to reintroduce migratory waterfowls, as this would lessen the current isolation state of the Zhalong National Nature Reserve.