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A focus of conservation planning is to maximize the probability of species persistence, but this may reduce the number of species that can be secured with a limited budget. Using a data set of 700 New Zealand species, we examine the trade-off between providing a high level of persistence for some species and a lower level of persistence for more species. We find that the target persistence level that delivers the highest conservation outcome is a function of the annual budget, such that lower budgets have lower optimal targets. However, it is never optimal to manage species below a 75% probability of persistence. We introduce a prioritization approach that maximizes biodiversity gains based on a flexible persistence target, and demonstrate how strategies with fixed high-persistence targets can be inefficient. We also illustrate the risks in spreading conservation resources too thinly by undertaking low levels of management on more species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article presents a study regarding the active adaptive management of the Tasmanian devil which is an endangered species in Australia. It focuses on the management action for a facial tumor disease affecting the endangered species. It states that a stochastic dynamic programming with Bayesian model has been adopted to determine the best management strategy to maximize the population of the Tasmanian devil.