Planning for Priority Species and Vegetation: Action Alternatives and Effects

1. Planning for Priority Species and Vegetation: Action Alternatives and Effects A Systematic Framework to Plan for Biological Resources In the BLM’s Land Use Planning Process March 29, 2010

2. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION BLM LEARNING NETWORK How does it work? SYSTEMATIC FRAMEWORK Species / Vegetation Health Assessing Effects Develop Strategies Monitoring Plans 2

3. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION On – Site Training CORE CONCEPTS • Identify priority species and vegetation • Assess health • Assess effects • Identify management strategies • Develop monitoring framework

4. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION What is our best estimate of how priority species and vegetation are doing?

5. Cover near leks Mean # males Distribution of leks LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Current and Desired Condition Linkage Between Key Attributes & Indicators Key Attribute Indicator Habitat Availability Population Size Connectivity of Populations

6. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Fair: outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation

7. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION General guidance • Good/fair threshold is most critical – good usually defines ecological desired condition • Don’t get stuck on getting the “right” indicators or values. Fill out, document, and send out for review • Prioritize filling gaps for key attributes based on: • Level of concern (poor status), or • Link to actions (what BLM will or could do)

8. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Overall Rating By Target Health Summary

9. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION HEALTH ASSESSMENT No Action Alternatives Evaluate health under alternative management scenarios Predict health over life of plan • Evaluate health under current management • Predict health under No Action alternative during the life of the plan Use this information to help formulate alternatives

10. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Health Assessment • Identify current condition Health Summary

11. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Health Assessment • Identify desired condition Health Summary

12. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION No action alternative Alternative A

13. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION EFFECTS ASSESSMENT ‘NO ACTION’ DATASET • Evaluate predicted effects for the life of the plan under the No Action Alternative ‘ALTERNATIVE’ DATASET(S) • Evaluate effects under alternative management scenarios Use this information to help formulate alternatives

14. Assess Effects LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Summary: No Action Alternative

15. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Assess Effects Summary: Alternative A

16. LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION