Abstract Using a conservation index as a prioritization tool, we explore combining some protected areas and dividing others in order to optimally redistribute rangers when no additional financial resources are available. Then we explore splitting protected areas to achieve the optimal distribution of additional human resources if additional financial resources become available. We found that efficiencies can be achieved by combining ranger areas with low value indices and splitting ranger areas with high value indices thus freeing rangers to move from low valued areas to high valued areas. Another approach to prioritizing conservation resource distribution when budgets are limited is return on investment. Using the index of the ranger area divided by the cost of managing the ranger area, to prioritize where budgets are distributed could provide greater protection at different budget levels over other methods of prioritization. The ROI Index, which measured the per index cost, outperforms most other methods of prioritization for most of the conservation goals we study. ROI Index however only came in 4th as a method of prioritization when it came to protecting species abundance. The three analyses offered new methods to combine benefits and costs to prioritize the distribution of conservation resources.

中文翻译：

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结合收益和成本，优先分配保护资源：来自以色列的证据

摘要 使用保护指数作为优先排序工具，我们探索合并一些保护区并划分其他保护区，以便在没有额外财政资源时优化重新分配护林员。然后，如果有额外的财政资源，我们将探索分割保护区以实现额外人力资源的最佳分配。我们发现，通过将护林员区域与低价值指数相结合，将护林员区域与高价值指数分开，从而使护林员从低价值地区转移到高价值地区，可以实现效率。在预算有限时优先考虑保护资源分配的另一种方法是投资回报。使用护林员区域的指数除以护林员区域的管理成本，与其他优先排序方法相比，优先考虑预算分配的位置可以在不同的预算级别提供更大的保护。对于我们研究的大多数保护目标，衡量每个指数成本的投资回报率指数优于大多数其他优先排序方法。然而，在保护物种丰度方面，ROI 指数仅作为一种优先排序方法排在第四位。这三项分析提供了结合收益和成本来优先分配保护资源的新方法。