Two day course June 25-26, 2013 in Brisbane at the University of Queensland
Marxan (Ian Ball and Hugh Possingham, 2000) is a software program used to support the design of marine and terrestrial reserves worldwide. Using Marxan, conservation planners can identify an efficient system of conservation sites that include a suite of biodiversity targets at a minimal cost. Marxan provides a unique method for designing reserves that is systematic and repeatable.
It is the most utilized conservation planning tool worldwide; over 60 countries, 1100 users, and 600 organizations use Marxan to support the design of terrestrial and marine reserves. For example, it has been used to help zone the Great Barrier Marine Park, design marine reserves in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and set spatial priorities in the Romanian Carpathians to protect large carnivores. Marxan is available at no charge from The Spatial Ecology Lab: Download Marxan Software.
Course Description
This hands-on course will provide participants with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to use Marxan in a conservation planning exercise. During the 2-day course, the following will be covered:
- Key concepts in systematic conservation planning
- Creation of planning units
- Creating the essential Marxan input files
- Parameter setting in Marxan
- Understanding and using Marxan results
- A brief introduction to Marxan with Zones
The course time will be split between lecture (~30%) and hands-on exercises (~70%). Each participant will have access to a computer equipped with Marxan and ArcGIS. The course is partially supported by the Australian Research Council funded Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) and the National Environmental Research Program (NERP) funded Environmental Decisions Hub.
Course Instructors
All instructors are based at The University of Queensland’s Ecology Centre in The Spatial Ecology Laboratory (http://www.uq.edu.au/spatialecology/).
Prerequisites
Participants are required to have basic technical knowledge of excel and ArcGIS/ArcInfo.
Courses are conducted in English.
Cost
$600 + GST for the two day course (includes course materials, use of computer, afternoon tea, and lunch). Special rates for NGOs and students apply- please contact Matt Watts for details.
Please fill in the registration form below to enrol. You will be sent a confirmation of your place in the course shortly after you register. You will not be invoiced for the course until registration is closed - all invoices will be sent 2-4 weeks before the course.