POPULATION VIABILITY ANALYSIS AS A TOOL IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION POLICY - WITH REFERENCE TO AUSTRALIA

Wildlife conservation policy for endangered species restoration follow s a six-phase process. Population viability analysis (PVA) can play a major contributing role in four of these. PVA, as discussed here, is a technique where extinction vulnerabilities of small populations are e stimated using computer simulation modeling. The benefits and limitati ons of using PVA in wildlife decision and policy processes are reviewe d based on our direct experience. PVA permits decision makers to set t ime frames for management, estimate the required magnitude of restorat ion efforts, identify quantitative targets for species recovery, and s elect, implement, monitor, and evaluate management strategies. PVA is of greatest value for rare species policy and management. However, a l imitation of PVA simulation models is that they are constrained by the amount of biological data available, and such data are difficult to o btain from small populations that are at immediate risk of extinction. These problems may be overcome with improved models and more data. Ou r experience shows benefits of PVA far outweigh its limitations, and a pplications of the approach are most useful when integrated with decis ion analysis and completed within an adaptive management philosophy. P VAs have been carried out for 14 Victorian species and less used elsew here in Australia. Management and recovery plans are developed from th ese PVAs. We recommend that PVA be used to guide research programs, de velop conservation strategies, and inform decision and policy making f or both endangered and nonendangered species because it can significan tly improve many aspects of natural resource policy and management.