Criteria used in assessing wildlife conservation potential: A review

The criteria which have been used for the assessment of wildlife conservation values during the last decade are reviewed. Nine studies, ranging from studies of particular sites to those of ecological evaluation methods, are examined. Five criteria — diversity, rarity, naturalness, area and threat of human interference—were used in more than half of these studies. The rationale for each of these is considered, and problems of definition, measurement and application are discussed. Other criteria, which are used less frequently, are reviewed briefly.Three groups of criteria are recognised. The first can be estimated during a site visit. The second relies on extensive survey data within the geographical area, thus demonstrating the important role of amateur naturalists and their conservation organisations. The third group relies for its estimation upon a collection of case histories: there is an urgent need, both nationally and internationally, for systems to store and retrieve such data.