This is a great article, the gist of which (in my words only) is that the conservation priorities in the US are mismatched with the needs of our biodiversity. Essentially, we have this strange situation where most of our preserved lands/habitats are in the western US. And of course, most of our endangered species, habitats, and development concerns occur in the east, where there is a great deal less protection.
It is my hope that studies like these can prioritize conservation goals, and steer us in a direction that works better for the plants and animals most at risk of extinction.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/04/01/1418034112.full.pdf
Oh, and not to take away from the importance of the study though, but an anecdote: the journal is great, but its name (PNAS) is a common butt of jokes in the science world.
It is my hope that studies like these can prioritize conservation goals, and steer us in a direction that works better for the plants and animals most at risk of extinction.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/04/01/1418034112.full.pdf
Oh, and not to take away from the importance of the study though, but an anecdote: the journal is great, but its name (PNAS) is a common butt of jokes in the science world.