SiteOpt: an open?source R?package for site selection and portfolio optimization

Conservation planning involves identifying and selecting actions to best achieve objectives for managing natural, social cultural resources. problems are often high dimensional when specified as combinatorial or portfolio multiple competing considered at varying spatial temporal scales. Although analytical techniques such modern theory (MPT) have been developed address these complex problems, open source computational platforms executing approaches not readily available. We present a user-friendly R-package called SiteOpt optimization of binary decisions while explicitly considering environmental economic uncertainty the risk tolerance decision makers. illustrate package with spatially-explicit site selection (i.e. conservation planning), including an option divestment selling assets), accounting future uncertainties in designing areas. The tool is applicable both non-spatial budget allocation species selection. Constraints design dependencies (e.g. connectivity among sites) can also be SiteOpt. Users optimize based on two by solving Nash bargaining solution. Importantly, quantifying asset correlation, measure included one objective traded off against benefits. Thus, used manage portfolio-based optimization. This facilitates variety problem settings, reserve selection, invasive management, law enforcement activities conservation, under risk.