A biodiversity Vision for the upper Paraná Atlantic Forest Ecoregion

This is why WWF has focused its attention on critical ecoregions, the Global 200 (WWF 2000, Figure 1). These constitute a set of ecoregions selected among all terrestrial, marine, and freshwater habitats around the world through a science-based ranking effort. To identify the most outstanding examples, this ranking is based on a comparative analysis of biodiversity data throughout the world, using the ecoregions as the units of analysis. The Global 200 includes representations of all major habitat types in each major biogeographic unit. The objective of this ranking is to prioritize conservation actions throughout the world (Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson et al. 2000, 2001). WWF and partners are thus shifting from site-based projects to planning and action at the scale of ecoregions, in an approach called Ecoregion Conservation (ERC). Ecoregion Conservation allows us to achieve conservation goals that cannot be attained at other scales of planning and action (BOX 2). Similar approaches are taken by most other major environmental organizations throughout the world, including The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, and others (Bright & Mattoon 2001).

conservation results and to link human development opportunities to the maintenance of biological diversity. A cornerstone of ERC is a Biodiversity Vision (Box 3). A Biodiversity Vision is an analysis of patterns of biological diversity and threats and opportunities for conservation at the ecoregional level that serves as a blueprint for conservation action - a design of what the ecoregion's biodiversity will need to survive over the long term. A Biodiversity Vision is thus a planning tool, usually in the form of a document like this, aimed at guiding biodiversity conservation activities in the ecoregion. A Biodiversity Vision sets a number of biodiversity conservation goals, based on basic and widely accepted principles of conservation biology, and identifies critical areas to be conserved, managed or restored in order to meet those goals. These areas are identified through a science-based process that relies on the best available biodiversity data and socioeconomic information. Through this process we develop a Biodiversity Conservation Landscape, represented in a map, that shows how the ecoregion will look in 50-100 years if we are successful at conserving its biodiversity and ecological processes. This Biodiversity Conservation Landscape is a central piece of the Biodiversity Vision, and its representation in a map helps to focus conservation activities on those areas of the ecoregion that will render the best results for biodiversity conservation. A Biodiversity Vision also identifies clear conservation targets and serves as a tool to prioritize conservation actions in the ecoregion.