Sara Vickerman May 10, 2012

1. Proposed Habitat/Biodiversity Metric Framework Agreement Sara Vickerman May 10, 2012 Defenders of Wildlife

2. Background • Nature offers tangible benefits • Biodiversity is challenging to measure • Metrics needed for tracking outcomes, transactions • Lack of consistency inhibits cross-jurisdictional management • Coordinated approach needed • Measuring Up report proposed consistent framework Defenders of Wildlife

3. Goal: Develop and implement credible and consistent set of measures of the quantity and quality of habitat for fish and wildlife that can be applied cost-effectively across programs, ownerships and scales. Defenders of Wildlife

4. Benefits of a consistent framework: • Reduced cost • Improved results, easier to communicate • Necessary for adaptive management • Informs climate change adaptation • Reports outcomes to investors • Job creation Defenders of Wildlife

5. Objectives: • Form a public/private partnership • Identify lead agency/ organization • Determine most efficient, cost effective approach • Connect site-scale to landscape scale measures • Secure funding from multiple sources Defenders of Wildlife

6. Tasks: • Review existing metrics • Select terrestrial vegetation/habitat and aquatic classification system • Connect to major ecological monitoring programs • Build team of experts – engage with locals • Management structure for maintenance and transparency Defenders of Wildlife

7. Elements of the agreement : • Support collective efforts • Integrate agreed-upon measures into existing monitoring systems • Participate in training for application to planning, management • Assist with communications and outreach • Help secure financial support Defenders of Wildlife

8. Potential signatories: • Federal agencies • Private organizations • Businesses? • States? Defenders of Wildlife

9. Sara Vickerman Defenders of Wildlife Email: svickerman@defenders.org Telephone: 503-697-3222