Prioritizing species conservation programs based on IUCN Green Status and estimates of cost-sharing potential.

Over one million species around the world are currently at risk of extinction. As this number continues to grow, conservation organizations are faced with the challenge of deciding where to invest their limited resources. Cost-effectiveness can be increased by leveraging funding opportunities and increasing collaborative partnerships towards shared conservation outcomes. We propose a structured decision-making framework to prioritize candidate species programs based on a cost-benefit analysis that takes collaborative opportunities into account in examining both national and global conservation return on investment. Conservation benefit is determined by modifying the novel International Union for the Conservation of Nature Green Status for Species to provide an efficient, high-level measure that is comparable among species, even with limited information and time constraints. We apply this prioritization approach to the Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo, Canada, a not-for-profit organization looking to expand the number of species it assists with conservation translocations. We identify and prioritize additional species programs for the organization where conservation translocation expertise and actions could make the most impact. Estimating the likelihood of cost-sharing potential enabled total program cost to be distinguished from costs specific to the organization. Comparing a benefit-to-cost ratio on different geographic scales allowed decision-makers to weigh alternative options for investing in new species programs in a transparent and effective manner. Our innovative analysis aligns with general conservation planning frameworks and can be adapted for any organization. Article Impact statement: Conservation impact is maximized by leveraging cost-sharing and IUCN Green Status for strategic cost-benefit analyses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.