Download Development of a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for

Development of a
Comprehensive Wildlife
Conservation Strategy for
Georgia
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division
Georgia’s
Biological
Diversity
Georgia’s Biological Diversity
National Ranks
2nd in number of amphibians
 3rd in number of freshwater fishes
 3rd in number of crayfishes
 7th in number of reptiles
 7th in number of vascular plants
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Georgia’s Biological Diversity
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Ranked 6th nationally in the number of
vascular plants, vertebrate animals, and
selected invertebrates
Threats to Georgia’s Biodiversity
Habitat conversion or destruction
 Habitat fragmentation
 Invasive exotic species
 Acute environmental stressors
 Excessive predation, disease
 Accelerated climate change
 Poaching
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Comprehensive Wildlife
Conservation Strategy (CWCS)
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Georgia DNR has committed to develop and begin
implementation by October 1, 2005
Current project will produce draft strategy by
December 2004
Funded under FY2002 State Wildlife Grant to
Wildlife Resources Division
Involves collaboration with all natural resource
agencies and organizations operating in Georgia
Project Goal:
To develop a statewide wildlife conservation
plan that provides an objective assessment
of the status and conservation needs of
native wildlife and presents a prioritized set
of strategies for protecting, restoring, and
maintaining these species and their habitats
Components of CWCS
Rare species/natural community database
development
 Identification of data gaps and survey needs
 Biological surveys of public and private
lands
 State, federal, local government lands
 Lands of private cooperators
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Components of CWCS
Assessment of distributions of species and
natural communities and selection of high
priority conservation targets
 Development of conservation lands & sites
databases
 Existing conservation lands
 High priority sites for protection
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Components of CWCS
Cooperation with local governments on
development of conservation plans
 Collaboration with state and federal
agencies on habitat protection and
restoration programs
 Providing technical support to private
conservation organizations
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Components of CWCS
Review of existing conservation laws, rules,
and policies
 Review of land protection programs
 Public input and educational outreach
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Administrative Structure for
CWCS Project
Executive
Committee
Steering Committee
Project Director
Technical Teams
Public Input
CWCS Technical Teams
Birds
 Mammals
 Amphibians and Reptiles
 Fishes and Freshwater Invertebrates
 Terrestrial Invertebrates
 Plants and Natural Communities
 Ecological Systems
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CWCS Technical Teams (cont.)
Historic Vegetation & Habitat Restoration
 Database Support/Enhancements
 GIS Support and Land Use/Land Cover
 Conservation Tools & Regulations
 Environmental Education
 Outreach/Media Relations
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Assessment of Species of Greatest
Conservation Need
Biological data from WRD databases
provided to technical teams in Excel
spreadsheet format
 Species subsets based on taxonomic group,
rarity, “special concern” status
 Technical teams added/deleted species as
needed
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Data Provided to Technical Teams
Birds – 49 species
 Mammals – 36 species
 Amphibians & Reptiles – 63 species
 Fishes – 130 species
 Aquatic Invertebrates – 205 species
 Terrestrial Invertebrates – 67 species
 Plants – 997 species
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Special Concern Animal Species in Georgia
Special Concern Plant Species in Georgia
Factors Considered in Species
Assessments
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Rarity (global and state)
Endemism
Distribution in Georgia (regions, habitats)
Degree of imperilment, major threats
Population/habitat trends
Current level of protection
Survey, research, and protection needs
Potential contribution of Georgia efforts to global
conservation
Methodology for Technical Teams
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Categorical ranking factors allow sorting of
species by rarity, threat, population trends,
research needs, etc.
“Uncertainty ranks” help document data gaps and
field inventory needs
Recommendations for changes in state rarity rank,
legal status, or status as “species of concern” will
be based on data provided in spreadsheets & other
supporting documents
Georgia GAP/Aquatic GAP Data
Land cover data – 44 classes
 Potential range maps for 300+ terrestrial
vertebrates
 Terrestrial vertebrate habitat models
 “Critical reaches” for aquatic diversity in
the Tallapoosa and Flint River basins
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Natural Communities/Ecosystems
Identification of high-priority natural
communities based on rarity, condition,
species composition, etc.
 Revision of natural community
classification for Georgia
 Identification of high-priority ecological
systems based on species/natural
community assemblages
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Prioritizing Species, Habitats,
and Conservation Sites
Species
Habitats/Ecosystems
Conservation Sites
Progress to Date
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Lists of high priority species have been developed
and are being reviewed (300 animal species)
Research and survey needs for high priority
species have been identified by technical team
leaders
Key habitats are being identified and cross-walked
to ecological systems in the National Vegetation
Classification System
Progress to Date
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GIS Support team has completed an initial survey
of WRD staff to determine GIS data needs
Georgia GAP land cover data is being assessed as
a tool for broad-scale planning
Habitat Restoration/Historic Vegetation team has
identified key management issues and is working
with UGA Institute of Ecology to develop a pilot
project for mapping historic vegetation
Progress to Date
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Draft assessment of conservation planning and
implementation efforts in other states has been
completed and is being reviewed
“Landowner’s Guide to Conservation Options”
has been revised and will soon be published
GIS dataset of high-priority conservation sites is
being developed, using data from DNR-TNC
ecoregional planning projects as starting point
Progress to Date
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GNHP staff members collaborating with a group
of volunteers on a revision of “Natural
Environments of Georgia”
WRD Education Plan is being finalized. EEA has
offered to help with implementation of CWCS
environmental education goals.
Database Support team is assessing needs for
biodiversity data within WRD and in other
agencies/organizations.
Next Steps
January-February 2004 - Workshops to gain
input from WRD staff on conservation
targets, threats, and goals
April-May 2004 - Regional workshops with
local “stakeholder” groups
June 2004 - Complete first draft of wildlife
conservation strategy
Next Steps
August-September 2004 – Hold public
meetings to solicit input on draft
conservation strategy
December 2004 – Complete final draft of
comprehensive wildlife conservation
strategy