5.13 Molloy & Davis Priorities for Threatened Species Conservation Work

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System Title	5.13 Molloy & Davis Priorities for Threatened Species Conservation Work
Keywords	Threatened species; species status classification; species management
Description	This system was devised by the Department of Conservation to assist it in setting management priorities for its threatened species work. There are 17 criteria that address the following 5 factors: taxonomic distinctiveness status of the species threats facing the species vulnerability of the species human values Panels of experts were used to assess mosses, vascular plants, birds, fish, terrestrial invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. Other taxonomic groups were not assessed. In 1994 403 species were included in three of the seven management categories: A-highest priority threatened species B-second highest priority threatened species C-third priority threatened species A further 408 species were placed in the remaining four categories: X-species which have not been sighted for a number of years but may still exist I-species for which little information exists, but based on existing evidence are considered to be threatened. O-species that are threatened in New Zealand but are known to be secure in other parts of their range. M-species that are rare or localised and of cultural importance to Maori.
Original Purpose	To assist the Department of Conservation with setting its management priorities for threatened species work.
Status	The criteria and the classification system were initially developed in 1992 (Molloy and Davis, 1992). The criteria, classification system and the associated database were updated in 1994 (Tisdell,1994)
Organisation	Department of Conservation
Jurisdiction	New Zealand
Contact person/position	Janice Molloy Species Protection Officer
Address	Biodiversity Recovery Unit Department of Conservation PO Box 10-420 Wellington Phone +64 4 471 0726 Fax +64 4 471 3279 Email jmolloy@doc.govt.nz
Available format	Published reports
Access	Freely available
Geographical coverage	Nationwide

Operational Specifications
Scale of Operation	It operates at the national level.
GIS Compatibility	N/A
Relationship between levels in the classification system	All criteria are used together and so there are no layers.
Contributing databases/ classification systems	N/A
Contributing database GIS compatibility	N/A
Relationship with other classification systems and spatial frameworks.	The outcomes of this classification are not directly comparable with the international IUCN classification system for threatened species because it incorporates a range of factors in addition to the status of the species. A new New Zealand system for classifying the threat status of species - the New Zealand Threat Classification - has been developed. This largely replaces the Molloy and Davis system.
Relationship with other databases	The classification system has been used to compile lists of threatened plants and animals (e.g. Tisdall, 1994)

Current and emerging use for:
Assisting with determining historic state/ baseline	Historical information about the population decline rate and habitat loss rate is required for the criteria.
Assisting with determining current state/ baseline	Considerable information about the current status of the species and its habitat is required for the criteria.
Asssisting with scenario building and modelling of possible futures	Trends over time in the status/management priority category may be able to be used to model possible future scenarios.
Risk Assesment	This classification system identifies species at risk and in need of management action.
Monitoring site selection and sample design	N/A
Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally and/or nationally	Data is collected at the national level.

Current use (who,level,why)

The classes identifying priority levels for threatened species work has been used by the Department of Conservation for a number of taxonomic groups. As at late 2002 it had been superceded by the New Zealand Threat Classification as the classification system used by the Department for monitoring changes in the status of threatened plant and animal species.

User friendliness/public and decision maker understanding

The class names are reasonably self explanatory. Relatively few people would be aware of the specific nature of the criteria defining the classes.

System strengths

The system has been designed for a specific purpose.
A number of factors are considered.

Current limitations of the system

The system is not comparable with the IUCN system for classifying threatened taxa because it incorporates a range of factors in addition to the status of the species.
The system does not provide a direct measure of the threat or rate of loss for an individual species

References

Molloy,J.; Davis,A. 1992. Setting priorities for the conservation of New Zealand's threatened plants and animals. First edition. Department of Conservation: Wellington.

Tisdall,C. 1994. Setting priorities for the conservation of New Zealand's threatened plants and animals. Second edition. Department of Conservation: Wellington.

System Title