Conservation Management Institute Scott Klopfer and Ken Convery

Mission Informed conservation action is necessary to stem the worldwide loss of biodiversity, and good management must be grounded in good science. Informed conservation action is necessary to stem the worldwide loss of biodiversity, and good management must be grounded in good science. We are a service organization specializing in conservation research, development, management, education, and outreach. We are a service organization specializing in conservation research, development, management, education, and outreach.

Areas of Work Information Technology Information Technology Military Lands Management Military Lands Management Spatial Technologies Spatial Technologies International Projects International Projects Human Dimensions Human Dimensions Outreach and Education Outreach and Education Field Ecology Field Ecology Ecological Restoration Ecological Restoration

Size and Scope CMI received over $4 million in contracts and grants in CMI received over $4 million in contracts and grants in In 2005 CMI had over 80 + staff on the payroll or in open positions. CMI supported 40 + students. In 2005 CMI had over 80 + staff on the payroll or in open positions. CMI supported 40 + students. CMI currently has 50+ active projects and numerous subprojects. CMI currently has 50+ active projects and numerous subprojects.

Why Land trusts? Relatively “new” mechanism for land conservation Relatively “new” mechanism for land conservation Therefore, wildlife, water, air, cultural,etc. Therefore, wildlife, water, air, cultural,etc. Large and getting larger Large and getting larger Tax incentives Tax incentives More organizations, working together More organizations, working together Greater interest with increasing development Greater interest with increasing development

Land trusts in Mid-Atlantic States

“Who” are Land Trusts? Membership organizations Membership organizations Commonly not “natural resource professionals” Commonly not “natural resource professionals” Very intelligent Very intelligent Understand their objectives Understand their objectives

Land Trusts Typically… Lack resources to build effective information technology in-house Lack resources to build effective information technology in-house Lack expertise to gather, compile, and analyze data Lack expertise to gather, compile, and analyze data Very open to “outsourcing” the process Very open to “outsourcing” the process Understand the importance of planning Understand the importance of planning

Need Huge Geographic Area - 8 Counties in SW VA Huge Geographic Area - 8 Counties in SW VA Small Staff Overworked Small Staff Overworked Town Hall Meetings Ineffective Town Hall Meetings Ineffective

REALLY need Efficient mechanism to identify priority lands and owners Efficient mechanism to identify priority lands and owners Maximize effectiveness of conservation action Maximize effectiveness of conservation action

New River Land Trust Land Prioritization Using a Decision Support System New River Land Trust Land Prioritization Using a Decision Support System

What is GIS? GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information Spatial Data + Tools = New Spatial Data

What is a Decision Support System? Tool Designed to Help Make Decisions Tool Designed to Help Make Decisions It will Retrieve, Analyze and Summarize Data based upon user input It will Retrieve, Analyze and Summarize Data based upon user input It Will Not Make Decisions For You It Will Not Make Decisions For You

Familiar DSS

Objective Create a GIS-based Decision Support System (DSS) That Will Help Identify Areas of Scenic/Aesthetic, Biological, Recreational, Historical, Cultural Importance within the New River Valley Create a GIS-based Decision Support System (DSS) That Will Help Identify Areas of Scenic/Aesthetic, Biological, Recreational, Historical, Cultural Importance within the New River Valley

Step 1 - Identify User Needs As a Group…What is Important to You? As a Group…What is Important to You? Forested Lands? Forested Lands? Open Space? Open Space? Water Quality? Water Quality? Scenic Beauty? Scenic Beauty? Roadless Areas? Roadless Areas? Prime Farmland Prime Farmland …More! …More!

“NRLT Conservation Themes” Scenic Viewsheds Scenic Viewsheds Biodiversity & Natural Heritage Biodiversity & Natural Heritage Water Quality Water Quality Agricultural & Farming Agricultural & Farming Forest Lands Forest Lands Historical & Cultural Historical & Cultural Threat / Risk Threat / Risk

Step 2 - Develop or Acquire Relevant Spatial Data for Each Theme Theme >= 1 data layer

Aesthetic / Scenic Conservation Theme Viewshed - Everything Visible from a Particular Vantage Point Viewshed - Everything Visible from a Particular Vantage Point You choose the features! You choose the features!

Threat / Risk Conservation Theme Population Growth Population Growth Road Density Road Density Proximity to Interstate Proximity to Interstate

Forested Lands Conservation Theme Forested Lands Forested Lands High Forest Site Quality High Forest Site Quality Create Index from Slope, Aspect, and Slope Position Create Index from Slope, Aspect, and Slope Position Large, Contiguous Blocks Large, Contiguous Blocks Fragmentation/Patch Statistics Fragmentation/Patch Statistics Riparian Forest Buffers Riparian Forest Buffers Intersect Forests with Stream Buffers Intersect Forests with Stream Buffers

Biodiversity & Natural Heritage Virginia Natural Heritage Data Conservation Sites Conservation Sites General Locations General Locations

Step 3 - Establish Importance Values of Data Layers We Facilitate - You decide! We Facilitate - You decide!

Online DSS Version 1.1

Output Areas of High Conservation Value

Example Output Red = High Importance Red = High Importance

Example Output DOD land constrained DOD land constrained Orange/Red = High Value Orange/Red = High Value

Benefits of Approach Process is Transparent and Repeatable Process is Transparent and Repeatable You Choose What’s Important! You Choose What’s Important! You Create the Model - Rank Individual Data Layers You Create the Model - Rank Individual Data Layers Flexibility! Flexibility! As the Landscape Changes so does Output As the Landscape Changes so does Output As Priorities Change so does Output As Priorities Change so does Output

Questions?