Methodology Work packages WP 1: Understanding combinations of anthropogenic and natural processes across scales WP 2: Scaling biotic processes WP 3: Up- and down-scaling methods: cross-scale method development WP 4: Multi-level governance and policy instruments WP 5: Testing the practical suitability and matching of methods and policy instruments WP 6: Synthesis: Integration and development of SCALETOOL WP 7: Dissemination and Science-policy dialogue WP 8: Coordination Expected results Partners Project timetable Project organisation

WP3: Up- and down-scaling methods: cross-scale method development

(Yiannis Matsinos, Co-ordinator)

Objectives

The main objective of WP3 is to review, evaluate, and improve methodology to up-scale and down-scale biodiversity data and assessments of biodiversity status and trends including multiscale conservation priority setting. Specifically WP3 objectives include:

• Development of methods for conservation prioritization and optimization of networks of protected areas across multiple administrative levels;
• Development of methods for analyzing cross-scale fragmentation including population viability methods;
• Development of upscaling and downscaling tools and methods for inferring coarse scale biodiversity assessment from point estimates;
• Development of uncertainty models including multilevel statistical models in reference to biodiversity scaling;
• Optimization of monitoring methods across scales.

Description of work

WP 3 will review, evaluate, and improve methods to support the cross-scale analyses in WPs 1, 2&5. WP3.1 will expand software for optimization of networks of protected areas to cover multiple administrative levels with different conservation priorities. It will further allow freely scalable methods for determining conservation priorities at different administrative levels. WP3.2 will develop methods for analyzing cross-scale fragmentation and population viability with a focus on minimum area requirements. WP3.3 will develop uspscaling and downscaling tools and methods for inferring coarse scale biodiversity assessment from point estimates, which then will be used especially in WP2.4&5. WP3.4 will develop uncertainty models, including multilevel statistical models, to scrutinize results from analyses of biodiversity scaling. WP3.5 will develop methods for optimizing species monitoring across scales.