the rcoa process
DESCRIPTION
How do we find the best opportunities to support Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need across the entire Northeast? Start by erasing state boundaries, and using regional-scale data to look for priority habitat across a continuous landscape.TRANSCRIPT
context | vision | overview
IntroductionNortheast Regional Conservation Opportunity Areas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Vision
To identify and map a connected network of resilient
and ecologically intact habitats that will support
biodiversity under changing conditions
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Engage the collective wisdom and common interest of partners
Why is this project important?
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Geographic scale
Ecological scope
Partner networksKey partners
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Looking across state boundaries
Timeliness
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
EfficiencyRegional patterns focus conservation efforts
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Where can we hedge our investments in the face of change?
Habitats that appear secure locally may be in trouble elsewhere
Opportunities to pre-empt listing may be where species are not on the radar
Which species and habitats is my state/org most “responsible” for?
Is my state the battleground or sideshow for species or habitat x?
Jonathan Brooks MA F&WKate Moran CT DEEP Katie Callahan NH Fish and GameKevin Ruddock RI TNCMark Anderson, Arlene Olivero & Melissa Clark TNCMichale Glennon WCSPatrick Woerner NJ DEPSteve Fuller, Scott Schwenk, Renee Farnsworth & Stéphanie Cuénoud North Atlantic LCC
Team
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Andrew Milliken USFWS & North Atlantic LCCAndy Cutko ME DOCBrian Hall Harvard ForestBJ Richardson USFWSBrad Compton UMass AmherstChad Rittenhouse University of ConnecticutChris Burkett VA DGIF Chris Tracey PA Natural Heritage ProgramDan Rosenblatt NYS DECGwen Brewer MD DNRJeff Allenby Chesapeake Conservancy
ProcessLeveraging investments
RCN&
LCC SCIENCE
CORE AREAS
RSGCN HABITATS
RESTORATION
CONNECTIVITY
Inclusive collaboration
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RegionalConservationOpportunityAreas
ProcessLeveraging investments
RCN&
LCC SCIENCE
CORE AREAS
RSGCN HABITATS
RESTORATION
CONNECTIVITY
Inclusive collaboration
Relevantscience
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RegionalConservationOpportunityAreas
ProcessLeveraging investments
RCN&
LCC SCIENCE
CORE AREAS
RSGCN HABITATS
RESTORATION
CONNECTIVITY Coordinate partners for
success
Inclusive collaboration
Relevantscience
Better implementatio
n
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Leveraging investmentsTo address the long-term needs of game species
$$$ LCC products REGIONAL DATA | INTEGRITY | CONNECTIVITY | SPECIES MODELS | OPTIMIZATION
$$$ Natural heritage SPECIES DATA | SPECIES RANKS
$$$ Bear, moose and other representative species
$$$ RCN products HABITAT MAPS | RESILIENCE | SWAP SYNTHESIS
$$$ Land management priorities
$$$ Cultural resources
$$$ Partner productsSWAPs
NortheastRCOAAtlas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
VisionProducts
An atlas with methodology documentation
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
VisionProducts
Prioritize restoration & land management
Inform land protection
Identify core areas for all species
Complement/Confirm state priority areas
Regional context for state decisions
Monitor changes in landscape over time
Inform policy and listing decisions
Grant applications
Guide SWAP implementation and RCNs
An atlas with methodology documentation
Uses
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
A year in review
ALL PARTNERSreview maps as they are produced
GIS EXPERTSReview potential data sets
DIVERSITY TECHReview timeline
GIS EXPERTSAnalyze and evaluate data sets; Identify key decision points
ROUND 1 SWAPSRCOA process is using and unifying the products from the first round of SWAPs
NEFWDTC & LCC STEERING COMMITTEEApproval to implement draft methodology with continued input
2015
OTHER PARTNERS & EXPERTSprovide input on key decisions points such as priority threats, plants, restoration, and aquatic systems
JULMARJAN OCT 2016 MAR
VERSION 1MAPS
REVISE METHODS
EVALUATE DATA
EVALUATE METHODS
DRAFT METHODS
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Methods overview
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS RESTORATIO
N
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS RESTORATIO
N
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS RESTORATIO
NCONNECTIVITY
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS RESTORATIO
NCONNECTIVITY
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisIdentifies land wherewe can protect high ecological integrity and high resilience
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Start
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Create representative species selection index
Start
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Create representative species selection index
Start Optimization
Optimized terrestrial
and wetland core areas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Create representative species selection index
Optimization
Create aquatic core areas
Optimized terrestrial
and wetland core areas
Start
Aquaticcore areas
RSGCN habitats
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RSGCN: species status
Original
Threatened
Extirpated
Secure outside the region External risk Internal riskSpecies x distribution
Distribution analysis will weight species based on status
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RSGCN habitat associationsHabitat importance weights will be based on biodiversity, threat, etc.
DIVERSITY ENDEMICS PRIORITIESGLOBALLY SMALL-
RANGEDUSA
SMALL-RANGED THREATENED
ⓒ 2015 NALCC
Amphibians
Birds
Mammals
Jenk
ins,
CN
, KS
Van
Hou
tan,
SL
Pim
m, J
O S
exto
n (2
015)
US
prot
ecte
d la
nds
mis
mat
ch
biod
iver
sity
prio
ritie
s. P
NAS
(Ear
ly Ed
ition
) ww
w.pn
as.o
rg/c
gi/d
oi/1
0.10
73/p
nas.
1418
0341
12
RSGCN habitat conditionIEI and resilience could measure condition of weighted habitats
Weighted for RSGCN
Unweighted Weighted forcores
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RSGCN habitats analysisSecond tier
habitat opportunities
Develop opportunity screen
Screen RSGCN habitat opportunities
Develop status and importance weights
Best habitat opportunities
Start
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Develop importance and condition index
Restoration
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisIdentifying restoration opportunities for RSGCN in strategic locations
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisIdentifying restoration opportunities for RSGCN in strategic locations
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisIdentifying restoration opportunities for RSGCN in strategic locations
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisIdentifying restoration opportunities for RSGCN in strategic locations
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
SWAPs identify key restoration opportunities...
Rare ecological systems
Early successional habitats
Agricultural lands
Degraded watersheds
Fragmented waterways
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Which habitats and actions?
● Small enough to guide action to priority regions
Restoration analysisMapping at the HUC12 scale
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
● Small enough to guide action to priority regions
● Coarse enough to protect the anonymity of individual
landowners
Restoration analysisMapping at the HUC12 scale
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
● Small enough to guide action to priority regions
● Coarse enough to protect the anonymity of individual
landowners
● Many analysis already available using HUC12s
Restoration analysisMapping at the HUC12 scale
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Second, develop restoration scenarios with partners and peers
First, summarize data on HUC12s
Restoration analysisThree step process
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisThird, team applies scenarios to weight and map factors
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration Priorities
Restoration analysisFive HUC12 restoration opportunity maps for...
Ecological systems
Early successional habitats
Watershed and riparian buffers
Agricultural land
In-stream connectivity
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisAND users can customize weights for their own scenarios
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
CUSTOMIZED MAP
Connectivity
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Connectivity analysisNode to node corridors Global wall to wall permeability
Connectivity analysisNode to node corridors versus global wall to wall permeability
Connectivity analysisRegional connectivity corridors connecting nearby forest cores
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Forest in a core area
Corridors based on UMass resistance
Corridors with resistance modified by TNC permeability
Connectivity analysisRiparian climate corridors
Connectivity analysisRegional pinch points bottlenecks for species flow
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Connectivity analysisTidal marsh opportunities5 foot sea level rise model
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration opportunity: marsh at risk of loss to inundation
Restoration opportunity: marsh migration path over developed land
Conservation opportunity: upland migration corridor
Connectivity analysisRegional connectivity analysis
Marsh migration opportunities
Pinch-point analysis
FINAL OUTPUTSRegional core connectivity
corridors
FINAL OUTPUT
Upland marsh migration zones
FINAL OUTPUT
Regional pinch-points
Start
Next steps
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Implementation1. Begin reviewing methods
2. Team call 12/9
3. Participation on sub-teams to plan/implement mapping
4. Monthly calls through July 2016
5. 2 workshops to review results
How you can be involvedHelp integrate ongoing partner efforts and products. Examples:
SWAPs
PARCAs
North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative
Brook Trout Joint Venture/Brook Trout Projects
Brook trout patches, catchments
Brook trout probability of occurrence under current and increased temps
How you can be involvedProvide collaborative GIS support.
Assist with mapping and management of data.Facilitate technical support within your organization.
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Restoration Team: help develop restoration scenarios
In-stream connectivity Riparian zones and water qualityEarly successional habitatAgricultural land restorationUnique ecological systems
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
RSGCN Habitat Team:
Evaluate species status weightingDevelop habitat weightsIdentify threat and opportunity metricsHelp review of draft results
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Connectivity Team:
Develop methods to simplify and map results of complex modelsProvide input on salt marsh migrationHelp review draft results
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Terrestrial Cores Team:
Develop ecosystem weights that reflect biodiversity and ecosystem services
Review representative species models
Help review draft results
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Aquatic Cores Team:
Evaluate datasets proposed for core areas
ecological integrity
resilient networks
fish species occurrence or probability
Help review of draft results
Questions ?
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
print version below
context | vision | overview
IntroductionNortheast Regional Conservation Opportunity Areas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Vision
To identify and map a connected network of resilient
and ecologically intact habitats that will support
biodiversity under changing conditions
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Engage the collective wisdom and common interest of partners
Why is this project important?
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Geographic scale
Ecological scope
Partner networksKey partners
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Looking across state boundaries
Timeliness
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
EfficiencyRegional patterns focus conservation efforts
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Where can we hedge our investments in the face of change?
Habitats that appear secure locally may be in trouble elsewhere
Opportunities to pre-empt listing may be where species are not on the radar
Which species and habitats is my state/org most “responsible” for?
Is my state the battleground or sideshow for species or habitat x?
Jonathan Brooks MA F&WKate Moran CT DEEP Katie Callahan NH Fish and GameKevin Ruddock RI TNCMark Anderson, Arlene Olivero & Melissa Clark TNCMichale Glennon WCSPatrick Woerner NJ DEPSteve Fuller, Scott Schwenk, Renee Farnsworth & Stéphanie Cuénoud North Atlantic LCC
Team
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Andrew Milliken USFWS & North Atlantic LCCAndy Cutko ME DOCBrian Hall Harvard ForestBJ Richardson USFWSBrad Compton UMass AmherstChad Rittenhouse University of ConnecticutChris Burkett VA DGIF Chris Tracey PA Natural Heritage ProgramDan Rosenblatt NYS DECGwen Brewer MD DNRJeff Allenby Chesapeake Conservancy
RegionalConservationOpportunityAreas
ProcessLeveraging investments
RCN&
LCC SCIENCE
CORE AREAS
RSGCN HABITATS
RESTORATION
CONNECTIVITY Coordinate partners for
success
Inclusive collaboration
Relevantscience
Better implementatio
n
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Leveraging investmentsTo address the long-term needs of game species
$$$ LCC products REGIONAL DATA | INTEGRITY | CONNECTIVITY | SPECIES MODELS | OPTIMIZATION
$$$ Natural heritage SPECIES DATA | SPECIES RANKS
$$$ Bear, moose and other representative species
$$$ RCN products HABITAT MAPS | RESILIENCE | SWAP SYNTHESIS
$$$ Land management priorities
$$$ Cultural resources
$$$ Partner productsSWAPs
NortheastRCOAAtlas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
VisionProducts
Prioritize restoration & land management
Inform land protection
Identify core areas for all species
Complement/Confirm state priority areas
Regional context for state decisions
Monitor changes in landscape over time
Inform policy and listing decisions
Grant applications
Guide SWAP implementation and RCNs
An atlas with methodology documentation
Uses
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
A year in review
ALL PARTNERSreview maps as they are produced
GIS EXPERTSReview potential data sets
DIVERSITY TECHReview timeline
GIS EXPERTSAnalyze and evaluate data sets; Identify key decision points
ROUND 1 SWAPSRCOA process is using and unifying the products from the first round of SWAPs
NEFWDTC & LCC STEERING COMMITTEEApproval to implement draft methodology with continued input
2015
OTHER PARTNERS & EXPERTSprovide input on key decisions points such as priority threats, plants, restoration, and aquatic systems
JULMARJAN OCT 2016 MAR
VERSION 1MAPS
REVISE METHODS
EVALUATE DATA
EVALUATE METHODS
DRAFT METHODS
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Methods overview
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS RESTORATIO
NCONNECTIVITY
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
COREAREAS
RSGCN HABITATS RESTORATIO
NCONNECTIVITY
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisIdentifies land wherewe can protect high ecological integrity and high resilience
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Start
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Create representative species selection index
Start
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Create representative species selection index
Start Optimization
Optimized terrestrial
and wetland core areas
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Core areas analysisCreate weighted selection index
Grow terrestrial and wetland core areas
Create representative species selection index
Optimization
Create aquatic core areas
Optimized terrestrial
and wetland core areas
Start
Aquaticcore areas
RSGCN habitats
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RSGCN: species status
Original
Threatened
Extirpated
Secure outside the region External risk Internal riskSpecies x distribution
Distribution analysis will weight species based on status
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RSGCN habitat associationsHabitat importance weights will be based on biodiversity, threat, etc.
DIVERSITY ENDEMICS PRIORITIESGLOBALLY SMALL-
RANGEDUSA
SMALL-RANGED THREATENED
ⓒ 2015 NALCC
Amphibians
Birds
Mammals
Jenk
ins,
CN
, KS
Van
Hou
tan,
SL
Pim
m, J
O S
exto
n (2
015)
US
prot
ecte
d la
nds
mis
mat
ch
biod
iver
sity
prio
ritie
s. P
NAS
(Ear
ly Ed
ition
) ww
w.pn
as.o
rg/c
gi/d
oi/1
0.10
73/p
nas.
1418
0341
12
RSGCN habitat conditionIEI and resilience could measure condition of weighted habitats
Weighted for RSGCN
Unweighted Weighted forcores
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
RSGCN habitats analysisSecond tier
habitat opportunities
Develop opportunity screen
Screen RSGCN habitat opportunities
Develop status and importance weights
Best habitat opportunities
Start
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Develop importance and condition index
Restoration
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisIdentifying restoration opportunities for RSGCN in strategic locations
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
SWAPs identify key restoration opportunities...
Rare ecological systems
Early successional habitats
Agricultural lands
Degraded watersheds
Fragmented waterways
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Which habitats and actions?
● Small enough to guide action to priority regions
● Coarse enough to protect the anonymity of individual
landowners
● Many analysis already available using HUC12s
Restoration analysisMapping at the HUC12 scale
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Second, develop restoration scenarios with partners and peers
First, summarize data on HUC12s
Restoration analysisThree step process
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisThird, team applies scenarios to weight and map factors
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration Priorities
Restoration analysisFive HUC12 restoration opportunity maps for...
Ecological systems
Early successional habitats
Watershed and riparian buffers
Agricultural land
In-stream connectivity
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration analysisAND users can customize weights for their own scenarios
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
CUSTOMIZED MAP
Connectivity
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Connectivity analysisNode to node corridors Global wall to wall permeability
Connectivity analysisNode to node corridors versus global wall to wall permeability
Connectivity analysisRegional connectivity corridors connecting nearby forest cores
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Forest in a core area
Corridors based on UMass resistance
Corridors with resistance modified by TNC permeability
Connectivity analysisRiparian climate corridors
Connectivity analysisRegional pinch points bottlenecks for species flow
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Connectivity analysisTidal marsh opportunities5 foot sea level rise model
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Restoration opportunity: marsh at risk of loss to inundation
Restoration opportunity: marsh migration path over developed land
Conservation opportunity: upland migration corridor
Connectivity analysisRegional connectivity analysis
Marsh migration opportunities
Pinch-point analysis
FINAL OUTPUTSRegional core connectivity
corridors
FINAL OUTPUT
Upland marsh migration zones
FINAL OUTPUT
Regional pinch-points
Start
Next steps
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Implementation1. Begin reviewing methods
2. Team call 12/9
3. Participation on sub-teams to plan/implement mapping
4. Monthly calls through July 2016
5. 2 workshops to review results
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
How you can be involvedHelp integrate ongoing partner efforts and products. Examples:
SWAPs
PARCAs
North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative
Brook Trout Joint Venture/Brook Trout Projects
Brook trout patches, catchments
Brook trout probability of occurrence under current and increased tempsRCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
How you can be involvedProvide collaborative GIS support.
Assist with mapping and management of data.Facilitate technical support within your organization.
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Restoration Team: help develop restoration scenarios
In-stream connectivity Riparian zones and water qualityEarly successional habitatAgricultural land restorationUnique ecological systems
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
RSGCN Habitat Team:
Evaluate species status weightingDevelop habitat weightsIdentify threat and opportunity metricsHelp review of draft results
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Connectivity Team:
Develop methods to simplify and map results of complex modelsProvide input on salt marsh migrationHelp review draft results
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Terrestrial Cores Team:
Develop ecosystem weights that reflect biodiversity and ecosystem services
Review representative species models
Help review draft results
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
How you can be involvedServe on a working sub-team.
Aquatic Cores Team:
Evaluate datasets proposed for core areas
ecological integrity
resilient networks
fish species occurrence or probability
Help review of draft resultsRCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC
Questions ?
RCOA INTRODUCTION | 2015 NALCC