Development of a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for Georgia Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division

From the brow of the Appalachian Plateau… …to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean…

Georgia’s Biological Diversity

Georgia’s Biological Diversity National Ranks 2 nd in number of amphibians 2 nd in number of amphibians 3 rd in number of freshwater fishes 3 rd in number of freshwater fishes 3 rd in number of crayfishes 3 rd in number of crayfishes 7 th in number of reptiles 7 th in number of reptiles 7 th in number of vascular plants 7 th in number of vascular plants

Georgia’s Biological Diversity Ranked 6 th nationally in the number of vascular plants, vertebrate animals, and selected invertebrates Ranked 6 th nationally in the number of vascular plants, vertebrate animals, and selected invertebrates

Threats to Georgia’s Biodiversity Habitat conversion or destruction Habitat conversion or destruction Habitat fragmentation Habitat fragmentation Invasive exotic species Invasive exotic species Acute environmental stressors Acute environmental stressors Excessive predation, disease Excessive predation, disease Accelerated climate change Accelerated climate change Poaching Poaching

The primary threat to biological diversity? Destruction or degradation of natural habitats.

Planning for Effective Wildlife Conservation Identify conservation needs Identify conservation needs Evaluate effectiveness of existing programs Evaluate effectiveness of existing programs Prioritize future efforts based on need and opportunity Prioritize future efforts based on need and opportunity Develop new conservation methodologies Develop new conservation methodologies Obtain resources for implementation Obtain resources for implementation

Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) Georgia DNR has committed to develop and begin implementation by October 1, 2005 Georgia DNR has committed to develop and begin implementation by October 1, 2005 Current project will produce draft strategy by December 2004 Current project will produce draft strategy by December 2004 Funded under FY2002 State Wildlife Grant to Wildlife Resources Division Funded under FY2002 State Wildlife Grant to Wildlife Resources Division Involves collaboration with all natural resource agencies and organizations operating in Georgia 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 Rare species/natural community database development Identification of data gaps and survey needs Identification of data gaps and survey needs Biological surveys of public and private lands Biological surveys of public and private lands  State, federal, local government lands  Lands of private cooperators

Components of CWCS Assessment of distributions of species and natural communities and selection of high priority conservation targets Assessment of distributions of species and natural communities and selection of high priority conservation targets Development of conservation lands & sites databases Development of conservation lands & sites databases  Existing conservation lands  High priority sites for protection

Components of CWCS Cooperation with local governments on development of conservation plans Cooperation with local governments on development of conservation plans Collaboration with state and federal agencies on habitat protection and restoration programs Collaboration with state and federal agencies on habitat protection and restoration programs Providing technical support to private conservation organizations Providing technical support to private conservation organizations

Components of CWCS Review of existing conservation laws, rules, and policies Review of existing conservation laws, rules, and policies Review of land protection programs Review of land protection programs Public input and educational outreach Public input and educational outreach

Administrative Structure for CWCS Project

CWCS Technical Teams Birds Birds Mammals Mammals Amphibians and Reptiles Amphibians and Reptiles Fishes and Freshwater Invertebrates Fishes and Freshwater Invertebrates Terrestrial Invertebrates Terrestrial Invertebrates Plants and Natural Communities Plants and Natural Communities Ecological Systems Ecological Systems

CWCS Technical Teams (cont.) Historic Vegetation & Habitat Restoration Historic Vegetation & Habitat Restoration Database Support/Enhancements Database Support/Enhancements GIS Support and Land Use/Land Cover GIS Support and Land Use/Land Cover Conservation Tools & Regulations Conservation Tools & Regulations Environmental Education Environmental Education Outreach/Media Relations Outreach/Media Relations

CWCS as a Complement to Other Conservation Planning Efforts Georgia GAP/Aquatic GAP Georgia GAP/Aquatic GAP Ecoregion-based Conservation Planning Ecoregion-based Conservation Planning Management plans for public lands Management plans for public lands  State lands (WRD, PRHS, DOT)  Federal lands (DOD, NPS, USFS, USFWS)  Local governments (Parks, Greenspace)

CWCS as a Complement to Other Conservation Planning Efforts Management plans for private lands Management plans for private lands  Forestry lands  Private nature preserves  Land trust holdings Habitat Conservation Plans for federally listed species Habitat Conservation Plans for federally listed species Local/regional land use plans Local/regional land use plans

Assessment of Species of Greatest Conservation Need Biological data from WRD databases provided to technical teams in Excel spreadsheet format Biological data from WRD databases provided to technical teams in Excel spreadsheet format Species subsets based on taxonomic group, rarity, “special concern” status Species subsets based on taxonomic group, rarity, “special concern” status Technical teams added/deleted species as needed Technical teams added/deleted species as needed

Data Provided to Technical Teams Birds – 49 species Birds – 49 species Mammals – 36 species Mammals – 36 species Amphibians & Reptiles – 63 species Amphibians & Reptiles – 63 species Fishes – 130 species Fishes – 130 species Aquatic Invertebrates – 205 species Aquatic Invertebrates – 205 species Terrestrial Invertebrates – 67 species Terrestrial Invertebrates – 67 species Plants – 997 species Plants – 997 species

Special Concern Animal Species in Georgia

Special Concern Plant Species in Georgia

Factors Considered in Species Assessments Rarity (global and state) Rarity (global and state) Endemism Endemism Distribution in Georgia (regions, habitats) Distribution in Georgia (regions, habitats) Degree of imperilment, major threats Degree of imperilment, major threats Population/habitat trends Population/habitat trends Current level of protection Current level of protection Survey, research, and protection needs Survey, research, and protection needs Potential contribution of Georgia efforts to global conservation Potential contribution of Georgia efforts to global conservation

Methodology for Technical Teams Categorical ranking factors allow sorting of species by rarity, threat, population trends, research needs, etc. 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 “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 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

Occurrence Maps

Georgia GAP/Aquatic GAP Data Land cover data – 44 classes Land cover data – 44 classes Potential range maps for 300+ terrestrial vertebrates Potential range maps for 300+ terrestrial vertebrates Terrestrial vertebrate habitat models Terrestrial vertebrate habitat models “Critical reaches” for aquatic diversity in the Tallapoosa and Flint River basins “Critical reaches” for aquatic diversity in the Tallapoosa and Flint River basins

Natural Communities/Ecosystems Identification of high-priority natural communities based on rarity, condition, species composition, etc. Identification of high-priority natural communities based on rarity, condition, species composition, etc. Revision of natural community classification for Georgia Revision of natural community classification for Georgia Identification of high-priority ecological systems based on species/natural community assemblages Identification of high-priority ecological systems based on species/natural community assemblages

Prioritizing Species, Habitats, and Conservation Sites Species SpeciesHabitats/Ecosystems Conservation Sites Conservation Sites

Progress to Date Lists of high priority species have been developed and are being reviewed (300 animal species) 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 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 Key habitats are being identified and cross-walked to ecological systems in the National Vegetation Classification System

Progress to Date GIS Support team has completed an initial survey of WRD staff to determine GIS data needs 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 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 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 Draft assessment of conservation planning and implementation efforts in other states has been completed and is being reviewed 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 “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 GIS dataset of high-priority conservation sites is being developed, using data from DNR-TNC ecoregional planning projects as starting point

Progress to Date GNHP staff members collaborating with a group of volunteers on a revision of “Natural Environments of Georgia” 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. 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. Database Support team is assessing needs for biodiversity data within WRD and in other agencies/organizations.

Next Steps January-February Workshops to gain input from WRD staff on conservation targets, threats, and goals April-May Regional workshops with local “stakeholder” groups June 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