Marxan User Manual - Version 2.43 and above - User guide

Sep 17, 2026

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Marxan User Manual provides practical instructions for using Marxan version 2.43 and above. It explains the required data inputs, the steps to successfully run the software, and how to interpret resulting reserve solutions. The manual emphasizes application over theory, while warning how misuse can lead to incorrect problems or misleading conservation advice. It also directs readers to complementary resources such as the Marxan Good Practices Handbook and related peer-reviewed applications to build defensible spatial conservation analyses.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages134

Reading Time5 h 38 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

What is Marxan?

Marxan as a Decision Support Tool for Systematic Conservation Planning

Questions Marxan can Help Answer

Mathematical Formulation of Marxan

How Does Marxan Find Good Solutions?

Advantages of Marxan

Primary Assumptions

Limitations

User Manual MARXAN Marxan version 2.43 & above Issued: September 2020 2020 update by: Norma Serra-Sogas, Alessia Kockel, Edward T. Game, Hugh P. Possingham & Jennifer McGowan Originally authored by: Edward T. Game & Hedley S. Grantham With contributions from: Brooke Williams , Jeff Ardron, Carissa Klein, Dave Nicolson & Matt Watts Suggested citation for this m an ual: Serra-Sogas, N., Kockel, A., Game, E. T., Grantham H., Possingham H. P., & McGowan, J. (2020) . Marxan User Manual: For Marxan version 2.43 and above. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Arlington, Virginia, United States and Pacific Marine Analysis and Research Association (PacMARA), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Citation for Marx an software: Ball, I. R., Possingham, H. P., & Watts, M. E. (2009) . Marxan and relatives: Software for spatial conservation prioritization. In A. Moilanen, K. A. Wilson, & H. P. Possingham (Eds.), Spatial conservation prioritisation: Quantitative methods and computational tools (pp. 185–210). Oxford University Press. Preface Scope and Aim This manual is intended to equip readers with the basic knowledge required to use Marxan version 2.43 and above (Ball et al., 2009) . We cover all the necessary data inputs, as well asthe steps required to successfully execute the program and interpret the results. We focus on the practicalities of using Marxan rather than the principles of reserve system design and optimization algorithms that solve the reserve system design problem. Some of this information is available in the appendices. In other cases, we attempt to direct readers to the appropriate sources. We provide some guidance to the sorts of problems Marxan can solve. It is important, however, to understand how Marxan works in order to avoid solving the wrong problem or misinterpreting the solutions. Marxan can be a very powerful tool, but if misused, it can provide misleading advice and undermine the credibility of systematic conservation planning. Com plem entary Literature Where this manual seems light on detail or lacking in specific direction, additional information may be found in the Marxan Good Practices Handbook, available for download at [https://marxansolutions.org/](https://marxansolutions.org/ and)[ and](https://marxansolutions.org/ and) [https://pacmara.org/mgph-v2](https://pacmara.org/mgph-v2. This manual)[. This manual](https://pacmara.org/mgph-v2. This manual) and the Marxan Good Practices Handbook should be used together. This Manual and the Handbook provides the resources needed to undertake highly skilled and defensible analysis using Marxan. In addition, we strongly suggest reading some of the many peer reviewed articles that use Marxan in conservation applications. These articles demonstrate what types of questions Marxan is able to answer, how conservation problems are set up, the kinds of data that can be used, and how different objectives and constraints influence the resulting reserve solutions. Acknowledgements on the update Funding for this update to the Marxan manual was provided by a grant to The Nature Conservancy from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies to advance spatial action mapping and planning in conservation decision-making. Standing Acknowledgem ents from 2018 version Preparation of this version [version 1.8] of the Marxan manual has been as much a compilation exercise as a writing exercise and as a result, we owe a great deal of thanks to a large number of people. First and foremost, a huge amount of credit must be given to Ian Ball and Hugh Possingham, the original developers of Marxan and authors of the previous manual. It is through their manual that both of us [E.T. Game and H. S. Grantham], and many others, have learned to use Marxan. Much of their original manual has been incorporated into this version, especially in the technical appendix. We also wish to acknowledge the significant contribution of Jeff Ardron. Not only did Jeff provide valuable te

FAQs

What versions of Marxan does this manual cover?

The manual is intended for Marxan version 2.43 and above.

What does the manual focus on when teaching Marxan?

It focuses on the practicalities of preparing inputs, executing the program, and interpreting results rather than on underlying reserve system design principles and optimization algorithms.

Why is it important to understand how Marxan works?

Understanding Marxan helps avoid solving the wrong problem and prevents misinterpreting solutions, which can otherwise produce misleading advice.

Sep 17, 2026

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