My research focuses on the development of conceptual models for land use planning at long term such to protect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Once defined, the conceptual models are translated into mathematical programming for the optimization of decisions on the where, when and how to act. The flexibility of this kind of models - mostly used in Operations Research - allows their close allignment with the particularities of each research problem. I mostly use this tool in the selection of protected areas, identification of climatic connectivity and to trade off ecological, ecosystemic and socioeconomic goals for the sustainable development.