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. With the information that a gap analysis yields, the boundaries of these areas can be modified (i) to include within these areas significant populations of wildlife species that can enhance the long-term survival of a larger metapopulation of the species already within the protected area, or (ii) to include other wildlife species or ecosystems that merit protection but are unrepresented within the protected area system. Gap analysis employs geographic information systems (GIS) to produce and overlay maps that delineate topography, boundaries, geological features (plains, rivers etc.), land ownership and use, forest cover and the distribution of wildlife species.