Strategic planning for invertebrate species conservation - how effective is it?

Abstract

Activities for invertebrate conservation range from single species programmes to those spanning habitats or landscapes, but at any scale are often largely isolated and not integrated effectively with other efforts. Problems of promoting invertebrate conservation and synergies by effective cooperation are discussed. The rationale of species-level conservation is outlined briefly, with suggestions of how some of the apparent limitations of this approach may be countered in ways that benefit a greater variety of invertebrate life. This essay is intended to promote debate on some of the complex issues involved, and implies the need for careful and well-considered integration of individual conservation tactics into enhanced strategies to increase the benefits from the very limited resources devoted to invertebrate conservation.