Constrained optimization of landscape indices in conservation planning to support ecological restoration in New Caledonia

1. Curbing habitat loss, reducing fragmentation, and restoring connectivity are frequent concerns of conservation planning. In this respect, the incorporation of spatial constraints, fragmentation, and connectivity indices into optimization procedures is an important challenge for improving decision support.

2. Here we present a novel optimization approach developed to accurately represent a broad range of conservation planning questions with spatial constraints and landscape indices. Relying on constraint programming, a technique from artificial intelligence based on automatic reasoning, this approach provides both constraint satisfaction and optimality guarantees.

3. We applied this approach in a real case study to support managers of the ``Côte Oubliée -- `Woen Vùù -- Pwa Pereeù'' provincial park project, in the biodiversity hotspot of New Caledonia. Under budget, accessibility, and equitable allocation constraints, we identified restorable areas optimal for reducing forest fra...