Integrating ecosystem services and ecological connectivity to prioritize spatial conservation on Jeju Island, South Korea

Increasing development pressure on designated natural heritage areas poses a significant threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. Balancing intensive development and biodiversity conservation is crucial for achieving ecological sustainability. Ecological connectivity (EC) enhances regional ecological sustainability by promoting interactions between ecological sources and stabilizing ecosystem dynamics. Spatial conservation prioritization (SCP) is a useful approach for identifying areas requiring protection; however, resource allocation decisions for connectivity conservation remain challenging. In this study, we identified SCP areas and evaluated EC using the circuit theory-based Omniscape algorithm on Jeju Island, South Korea, a designated natural heritage site. Our objectives were to identify key pinch point areas, determine suitable locations for conservation and restoration based on our EC findings, and discuss strategies to enhance EC on Jeju Island. Our results showed that ecological sources are predominantly situated in central and eastern Jeju Island, whereas urban areas had high resistance values. These findings indicate ecological disconnection between coastal and mid-mountain areas; pinch points represented 4.92% and 8.87% of these areas, respectively. Channeled areas were mainly concentrated in mid-mountain regions. SCP areas occurred in small (22.06 km², 18%) and large (97.52 km², 79.54%) patches in coastal and mid-mountain areas, respectively, which did not overlap with existing protected areas. Our findings will assist land use planners and stakeholders in implementing conservation and restoration policies for mid-mountain areas, and provide guidance for connecting coastal and inland regions.