Mind the <scp>GAP</scp> —But make it better: Improving the U.S. Gap Analysis Project's protected‐area classification system to better reflect biodiversity conservation

Protected areas are foundational to the conservation of biological diversity, and many scientists have called for increased protections in face current extinction climate-change crises. Currently United States, most recognized way track amount protected land is Gap Analysis Project classification system, which we argue deficient three ways: it does not, a systematic way, specify typical uses constraints associated with each designation; not fine-tuned or nuanced enough distinguish levels protection among designations within “protected” “unprotected” that allow quite different human activities; largely ignores durability designations, failing account an area's vulnerability downsizing, downgrading, degazetting. We propose new system address these deficiencies demonstrate this method several common federal States.