Setting conservation priorities in multi-actor systems

Abstract Nature conservation is underresourced, requiring managers to prioritize where, when, and how spend limited funds. Prioritization methods identify the subset of actions that provide most benefit an actor's objective. However, spending decisions by actors are often misaligned with their objectives. Although this misalignment frequently attributed poor choices actors, we argue it can also be a byproduct working alongside other organizations. Using strategic analyses multi-actor systems in conservation, show interactions among multiple create between objectives individual why current uncoordinated prioritizations lead fewer achieved for actors. We draw three conclusions from our results. First, unsuitable metric evaluating spending, because may necessary achieve actors’ Second, prioritization cannot optimal (as they purport do), do not incorporate decisions. Third, practical steps taken move direction coordination thereby better