What is Landscape Conservation Design (LCD), technically?

Landscape conservation design (LCD) is a structured, participatory design process used to identify stakeholder values, assess current and plausible future landscape conditions, identify priority areas for conservation and development, and to co-design strategies that advance conservation outcomes at ecologically meaningful scales. LCD integrates stakeholder knowledge, ecological science, spatial analysis, and governance considerations into a single, iterative design workflow.

How does LCD differ from traditional conservation planning?

Traditional conservation planning often focuses on single objectives, single jurisdictions, or static land-use conditions. LCD explicitly addresses multiple objectives (ecological, social, cultural, economic), multiple ownerships and governance regimes, and dynamic conditions driven by climate and land-use change. See our infographic here. LCD is a design and decision-support process, not a regulatory or compliance tool.

What problem is LCD designed to solve?

LCD addresses the persistent mismatch between the scale at which ecological processes operate and the scale at which most conservation decisions are made. It is specifically intended for complex, fragmented landscapes where authority, ownership, and responsibility are distributed among many actors and institutions.

What are the core components of an LCD process?

While LCD is adaptable to context, it typically includes convening legitimate and relevant stakeholders; defining shared purposes and design criteria; interdisciplinary assessment of current landscape conditions; assessment of plausible future scenarios; spatial design of conservation and development priorities and connections; and co-development of strategies aligned with governance realities.

How is stakeholder participation treated in LCD?

Participation is a structural requirement, not an outreach add-on. Stakeholders are involved because their knowledge, authority, or actions materially affect landscape outcomes. Excluding legitimate actors undermines the validity, feasibility, and durability of LCD outputs.

Is LCD science-driven or values-driven?

LCD is both. Ecological and social science inform what is possible, plausible, and consequential, while stakeholder values inform what is legitimate, acceptable, and actionable. LCD explicitly integrates these dimensions rather than treating them as separate or sequential steps.

What types of data are typically used in LCD?

Data vary by landscape but often include species and habitat distributions; landscape connectivity and fragmentation metrics; climate exposure and vulnerability indicators; land-use and land-cover data; cultural, social, and economic information; and existing conservation investments and constraints. LCD emphasizes transparency about data quality, uncertainty, and limitations.

Does LCD require advanced spatial modeling?

Not necessarily, but probably. LCD uses spatial analysis appropriate to the decision context. In some cases, this involves advanced modeling; in others, simpler spatial representations are sufficient. The emphasis is on decision relevance and interpretability, not technical sophistication for its own sake.

How does LCD address climate change?

LCD incorporates plausible future conditions—such as climate-driven shifts in species distributions, disturbance regimes, and hydrology—into both assessment and design. This allows conservation strategies to be evaluated for robustness under changing conditions rather than optimized solely for present-day patterns.

What does LCD produce?

LCD outputs may include portfolios of spatially explicit conservation designs, identified connectivity priorities, strategic conservation narratives, decision-support products for agencies and partners, and a shared understanding among stakeholders. These outputs are intended to inform action, not replace decision-making authority.

Is LCD prescriptive?

No. LCD does not dictate specific actions, policies, or management decisions. It provides a shared design framework that stakeholders can use to align investments, actions, and governance mechanisms over time.

How does governance factor into LCD?

Governance is treated as a design constraint and opportunity. LCD explicitly considers who has authority, capacity, and responsibility to act, and it emphasizes strategies that are feasible within existing—or evolving—governance arrangements.

Can LCD be scaled or replicated?

Yes. LCD is inherently scalable and repeatable because it is process-based rather than site-specific. Core principles remain consistent, while methods, data, and engagement strategies are adapted to context.

How does LCD relate to conserving “Nature’s Half”?

LCD provides a practical means of translating large-scale conservation ambitions—such as conserving 30% of lands and waters by 2030 or 50% by 2050—into coherent, place-based designs that reflect ecological realities, social values, and governance constraints.