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The Next Step for Idaho’s CWCS. Today’s Agenda. 9:00 Welcome, overview, and what is expected 10:00 Identifying focal areas 12:00 Lunch - Open discussion 1:00 Identifying focal areas 3:00 Open discussion, Wrap-up 4:00 Adjourn. C omprehensive W ildlife C onservation
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Today’s Agenda 9:00 Welcome, overview, and what is expected 10:00 Identifying focal areas 12:00 Lunch - Open discussion 1:00 Identifying focal areas 3:00 Open discussion, Wrap-up 4:00 Adjourn
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy “…provide a framework for conserving ‘species of greatest conservation need’ and the habitats upon which they depend.”
State Wildlife Grant Program in 2001 • CWCS required by 2005 • Strategic document, not prescriptive “…enable agency and private partners to individually or cooperatively implement conservation actions that will benefit priority species and habitats.”
Current Implementation • BLM: Challenge Cost Share funding and Resource Management Plans specify SGCN • FS: Forest Plan updates incorporate SGCN • NRCS: Farm Bill programs target SGCN • USFWS: LIP targets SGCN • Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: specifies implementation of CWCS
From the Strategy… … to Action Plans… …to the ground
A Vision for Focal Areas Species A + 1. Select Species Species B + Species C + Species D = 2. Overlay Known Distributions Richness High Low
A Vision for Focal Areas 3. Compare with other priorities Winter Range Focus Streams Unique Habitat 4. Your Focal Areas High Richness Low
SGCN Prioritizing Tool • Species by section filters • Based on user interests
NatureServe Conservation Status Ranks • Assessment of the species condition statewide (S) and rangewide (G). G1 or S1 Critically imperiled G2 or S2 Imperiled G3 or S3 Vulnerable G4 or S4 Apparently secure G5 or S5 Secure
Hypothetical Example SGCN Richness Harlequin breeding Important Corridors … Focal Areas
Regional Workshops Coeur d’Alene (Feb 11, 22) SGCN Richness Maps IDFG Input IDFG Focal Area Maps Partner Input Final Focal Area Maps Idaho Falls (Apr 11, 25) Boise (Mar 19, Apr 3)
Workshop Objectives Capture regional expertise and local knowledge. Create ecological section-level focal area maps identifying areas of high conservation value. Enable use of maps and action plans as a conservation tool for on the ground implementation and prioritization.
What are Focal Areas? Resource Focal Area: a geographical area necessary for the long-term persistence of SGCNs and their habitats (aka High Resource Value Areas or Biologically Important Areas) Management Focal Area: a general geographical area that targets resources and efforts where they can benefit the largest number of species and habitats in need of conservation (likely includes species/habitats other than SGCN and may incorporate factors such as ownership, urgency of threat, etc.). Resource Focal Area: a geographical area necessary for the long-term persistence of SGCNs and their habitats (aka High Resource Value Areas or Biologically Important Areas) Management Focal Area: a general geographical area that targets resources and efforts where they can benefit the largest number of species and habitats in need of conservation (likely includes species/habitats other than SGCN and may incorporate factors such as ownership, urgency of threat, etc.).
In or Out? General areas important for SGCN but by no means are intended to imply that conservation actions should be restricted to these areas.
Specific Questions Are there specific areas that need to be included as focal areas for SGCNs and their habitat (e.g., waterfalls for black swift)? Are there areas we currently have identified that should not be (e.g., errors in the models)? Do these focal areas also include species or habitat significant to conservation for other reasons (e.g., migration corridors, big game winter range). What conservation actions are necessary in each area?
North Idaho Species • 3 Amphibians (1) • 13 Birds • 12 Fishes (3) • 20 Invertebrates (10) • 12 Mammals (4) • 1 Reptile • 61 Species of Greatest Conservation Need
North Idaho Priority Habitats • Arableland • Herbaceous Planted and Cultivated • Dry conifer forest • NRM Western Larch Woodland • Northern mesic confer forest • NRM Western Hemlock-Western Red Cedar forest • Subalpine forest • Mesic deciduous shrubland • Palouse Prairie • Riparian Woodland • Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland • Open water
What’s Expected? • Edit, embellish focal area boundaries • Define criteria • Identify actions • The Maps…