Table 3 Search terms and strings used for searching online databases and websites

Publication database search terms (formatted for Web of Science)^a

Subject terms

AND

Intervention terms

AND

Outcome terms

AND

Qualifier terms

TS = (aquatic OR “river basin” OR ecoregion* OR bioregion* OR terrestrial OR marine OR freshwater OR coastal OR landscape OR seascape OR catchment OR “coastal zone” OR “ecological network” OR corridor OR “conservation area” OR “reserve network” OR “protected area” OR “national park” OR “planning unit”)

AND

TS = (“conservation plan*” OR “spatial plan*” OR “conservation assessment” OR “reserve selection” OR “area selection” OR “reserve design*” OR “conservation zoning” OR “key biodiversity area” OR “important bird area” OR “spatial priorit*”OR “conservation priorit*” OR “conservation area priorit*” OR “spatial optimi*” OR “protected area network design” OR “resource allocation” OR “conservation decision making” OR marxan OR zonation OR “C-Plan” OR RobOff OR BioRap OR CLUZ OR ConsNet OR CPLEX OR CREDOS OR “Ecoseed Marzone” OR MinPatch OR MultCSync OR NatureServeVista OR ResNet OR SPEXAN OR “conservation evaluation” OR “area identification” OR “decision-support tool” OR “conservation action”)

AND

TS = (outcome* OR evaluat* OR output* OR impact* OR effect* OR ineffective OR success* OR fail* OR benefit* OR implement*)

AND

TS = (biodivers* OR wildlife OR species OR habitat)

Google Scholar search terms

“Conservation plan” “conservation planning” “spatial plan” “conservation assessment” “reserve design” “conservation zoning”