Nielsen, Erica S.Hanson, Jeffrey O.Carvalho, Silvia B.Beger, MariaHenriques, RominaKershaw, FrancineVon der Heyden, Sophie2023-03-092023-03-092023-02Nielsen, E.S., Hanson, J.O., Carvalho, S.B. et al. 2023, 'Molecular ecology meets systematic conservation planning', Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 143-155, doi : 10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.006.0169-5347 (print)1872-8383 (online)10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.006https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/90039Integrative and proactive conservation approaches are critical to the long-term persistence of biodiversity. Molecular data can provide important information on evolutionary processes necessary for conserving multiple levels of biodiversity (genes, populations, species, and ecosystems). However, molecular data are rarely used to guide spatial conservation decision-making. Here, we bridge the fields of molecular ecology (ME) and systematic conservation planning (SCP) (the ‘why’) to build a foundation for the inclusion of molecular data into spatial conservation planning tools (the ‘how’), and provide a practical guide for implementing this integrative approach for both conservation planners and molecular ecologists. The proposed framework enhances interdisciplinary capacity, which is crucial to achieving the ambitious global conservation goals envisioned for the next decade.en© 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY license.Global conservationMolecular ecology (ME)Systematic conservation planning (SCP)Conservation plannersArticle