Marxan
Decision support for conservation planning.
Overview
Marxan is a software tool that provides decision support for a range of conservation planning problems. It is most commonly used to design new reserve systems, but can also be used to report on the performance of existing reserve systems and to develop multiple-use zoning plans for natural resource management. Marxan uses a simulated annealing algorithm to find efficient solutions to the problem of selecting a set of sites that meet a range of biodiversity targets for a minimal cost.
✨ Key Features
- Systematic conservation planning
- Reserve design
- Spatial prioritization
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Connectivity analysis
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Widely used and well-established
- Strong scientific foundation
- Active user community
Unique Value: Provides a transparent, repeatable, and scientifically defensible method for identifying priority areas for conservation.
🎯 Use Cases (3)
✅ Best For
- Used in over 100 countries to inform conservation planning decisions.
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Field data collection
- Day-to-day project management
🏆 Alternatives
Offers a more sophisticated and flexible approach to reserve design compared to simpler scoring and ranking methods.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Marxan is free and open-source.
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