Gap analysis (conservation)

Gap analysis is a tool used in wildlife conservation to identify gaps in protected areas, nature reserves or other wildlands where significant plant and animal species and their habitat are known to occur. This information is then used to improve the representativeness of nature reserves or the effectiveness of protected areas in conserving biological diversity. The boundaries of these areas can thereby be modified to: (i) include populations of an animal species outside the a reserve that can enhance the long-term survival of a larger metapopulation of the species already within the protected area, or (ii) include wildlife species or ecosystems that merit protection but are unrepresented within the protected area system but are outside of it. To do this, gap analysis employs geographic information systems (GIS) to produce and overlay maps that delineate various land features such as topography, boundaries, geological features (plains, rivers etc.), forest cover and the distribution of wildlife species.