Selection of New Protected Areas Emphasizing Vegetation Types Using C-Plan (Case Study: Kohgiluye & Boir-Ahmad Province, Iran)

In this study the representativeness of protected areas emphasizing vegetation types has been considered in central Zagros, K & B province, Iran. Using "Systematic Conservation Planning" as the method of study and "C-Plan" as conservation decision support tools imply determining goals (% of study area need to be conserve) and targets (% of each vegetation types). Conservation target for each vegetation type was determined based on their natural rarity and encountered threats. Conservation gaps for each vegetation types realized by overlaying their maps and PAs network map. Then, using C-Plan two set of PAs network with and without taking in to account existing PAs was selected and compared in terms of area efficiency. The network which not take in to account existing protected areas as a constraint, is more efficient (total redundant area equals to 7.29% of the study area) comparing to the other one (total redundant area equals to 10.08% of the study area). However, due to the probable efficiency of existing PAs network for other taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles), it proposed to remaining current PAs network and adding new protected areas based on their complementarity for vegetation types.