Applying systematic conservation planning to improve the allocation of restoration actions at multiple spatial scales

Ecological restoration is increasingly being upscaled to larger spatial scales of tens hundreds kilometers. Yet the complex logistics and high costs ecological mean that actions must be placed strategically at local meters maximize benefits reduce socioeconomic costs. Despite purported use systematic planning tools for allocating effort, uptake implementation data-driven goal setting remains poor in many programs. Here we demonstrate how sequential workflows conservation can translated two enhance estuarine fisheries eastern Australia. We select estuaries where feasible recommended based on quantitative regional goals (i.e. regional-scale prioritization), then identify potential sites smaller within principles ecology ensure success are maximized local-scale prioritization). At scale, identified four levels priorities (very high, intermediate, low) using current understanding each system. used spatially explicit Bayesian belief networks outcomes environmental niche habitat-forming species configuration habitats maximizes their by fish. show frameworks become an essential tool optimize investments multiple as efforts upscale globally.