CONSERVATION PLANNING

Translating national and regional goals down to local objectives is one of the core missions of the PIF process. Before local objectives may be developed, it is necessary to set regional goals. The PIF conservation planning process uses existing information to score species according to their conservation priority. A plan is then developed that is centered on high priority species but is habitat driven.

Tasks

Determine Priority Species and Habitats - A process has been developed to score and prioritize species within the physiographic area. This score utilizes population trend data, geographic distribution data, and a threats assessment. Species of conservation concern are then grouped according to habitat suites to determine priority habitats.

Synthesis - Information concerning ecological requirements, population trends, and habitat trends is used to select species that represent different ecological dimensions of the priority habitats. This approach assumes that if management activities are successful in maintaining these target species, remaining species within the suite will also be sustained.

Develop set of Conservation Goals - Conservation goals are set for both populations of target species and their habitat type based on population values from the early 1960's. The set of goals resulting from this process is intended to be the "blueprint" for regional conservation actions.