Assessing different management actions for the conservation of the grand skink (Oligosoma grande)

The ongoing biodiversity crisis necessitates conservation actions around the globe. With multiple factors contributing to species declines, different conservation strategies may be viable for different species. Population dynamics models can be used to forecast conservation outcomes and help in determining the optimal strategies in specific cases. This study introduces a population model integrating habitat expansion, translocation, captive breeding, and predator control with the goal of finding the most effective combination of actions for a particular species. We use as a case study the grand skink (Oligosoma grande), an endemic New Zealand lizard currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Using the IUCN Green Status score, we assess the impact of historical and future management actions on the viability of the population. We find that captive breeding and predator control best reduce the risk of the grand skink becoming Critically Endangered, potentially elevating its conservation status to Vulnerable within 36 years. Our approach can be applied to other taxa and complement the toolkit of conservationists and wildlife managers.