The selection of protected areas in the face of fluctuating populations.

Protected areas are an integral part of the majority of national conservation strategies,
and are seen by many as the most practical means of safeguarding biological diversity.
Nonetheless, many such areas exist in name only or have been awarded protected status for their
lack of economic potential rather than any genuine biological significance. Given the imminent
extinction crisis it is essential that networks of protected areas are fully representative of key
elements of biodiversity. To achieve this goal not only requires the efficient and effective
selection of novel protected area networks, but also the regular evaluation of the current
situation as regards existing/established networks, to identify and ultimately rectify possible
weaknesses and gaps in coverage. Despite increasingly urgent calls for the development and
application of comprehensive protected area evaluation systems, analyses of this type remain
rare, particularly regarding the number of individuals sustained over time.
This thesis provides an in-depth analysis of the status of the existing network of wetland
sites identified as nationally/internationally important for their wintering waterbird populations
(Special Protection Areas and Ramsar Sites) in Great Britain. In addition, the aim is to examine
the distribution patterns and population dynamics of selected waterbird species, and their
implications for the selection and management of these wetland protected areas both in Great
Britain and across the European Union; to examine the effectiveness and utility of alternative
site selection methods, in particular the use of linear programming techniques, for real-world
conservation issues; to provide suggestions for the improvement of the current network of
protected areas both in Great Britain and across the European Union; and to provide
recommendations and suggestions for waterbird conservation in general.