Conservation Action Planning Process (CAP) Framework Project Scope & Targets

Conservation Action Planning Process (CAP) Framework Project Scope

Defining Project Scope Projects occur at many scales Map spatial area of Project Set overall project Goal Identify Project Team Defining Project Scope

Who will design and implement the project?

Laojunshan Project – Yunnan Condor Bioreserve, Ecuador What is the overall vision and scale of the project?

Conservation Projects SINGLE AREA Priority Conservation Areas MULTIPLE AREA Coarse-Scale Systems Wide-Ranging Species Pervasive Threats Conservation Projects

Conservation Action Planning Process (CAP) Framework Conservation Targets

What biodiversity are we trying to conserve or restore?

Focal Conservation Targets – The specific biodiversity features that a project team has chosen to concentrate on. Your targets should represent the overall biodiversity of your project site. Their conservation collectively will ensure the conservation of all native species within a functional landscape. This, however, does not mean to restore or sustain “natural” conditions in each project’s landscape rather ecologically “functional” ones. Conservation Targets

- Ecological Systems - Communities - Species

Conservation Targets: You won’t have the right strategies unless you have the right targets! Ecological Systems Assemblages of communities that occur together on the landscape; linked by environmental processes Terrestrial, freshwater, marine Ecological Communities Globally imperiled vegetation associations or aquatic alliances Species Imperiled, endangered, special concern Assemblages of species with similar conservation requirements Globally significant aggregations Ecological Systems Assemblages of communities that occur together on the landscape; linked by environmental processes Terrestrial, freshwater, marine Ecological Communities Globally imperiled vegetation associations or aquatic alliances Species Imperiled, endangered, special concern Assemblages of species with similar conservation requirements Globally significant aggregations Conservation Targets

Regional Coarse Intermediate Local Species Matrix Large Patch Small Patch Terrestrial Ecological Systems Medium/Large River Systems & Large Lake Systems Stream Systems & Medium Lake Systems Aquatic Macro- habitats Aquatic Systems Targets found at varied spatial scales

Matrix forest 3rd order river system Emergent wetland Selecting Targets Select up to 8 Focal Targets Start with Ecological Systems (which often include “nested” targets) Then Screen for Species that have Special Conservation Requirements

Selecting Focal Conservation Targets Group conservation targets related by ecological processes and that co-occur into systems or species assemblages. Examples: –Longleaf Pine Forest Matrix (4 communities/13 species) –Ridge Forest Matrix (12 communities/15 species) –Barrier Island Complex (5 communities/20 species) –Rare Mainstem/Tributary Fish Assemblage (11 species) –Mussel Assemblage (5 species) Selecting Targets

Regional Inter- mediate Local Coarse SpeciesTerrestrialFreshwater Delaware Basin Diadromous fish Freshwater mussel assemblage Critical Insects Neversink Basin Conservation Targets Communities and Ecological Systems -- Mixed hardwood upland system (moist) - (Catskill) Low gradient groundwater influenced riverine and bottomland swamp ecological system (Bashakill) Chestnut oak/conifer upland ecological system (dry) - (Shawangunk) Low alkaline headwater riverine and riparian ecological system (Upper Neversink & tributaries)

SpeciesTerrestrialFreshwater Communities and Systems Regional Coarse Inter- mediate Local Conservation Targets, Kissimmee River Valley, Florida Sandhill Crane Red-cockaded Woodpecker Grasshopper Sparrow Pine Flatwoods Mosaic (including isolated wetlands) Pre-Canal Kissimmee River & Floodplain Wetlands Lakes and wetland flow ways Lacustrine Wetlands Seepage Streams Draining Lake Wales Ridge

The Big Idea…. When the focal targets are all assembled you have in fact captured all the parts of your ecosystem and the critical processes that drive and sustain it.

Lumping or Splitting Targets? “Lump” conservation targets if they meet all of the following tests: Co-occur on the landscape Require similar ecological processes Have similar viability scores, or one target can serve as an indicator for the other Have similar threats Examples –Mussel & host fish assemblages –Grasslands & grassland nesting birds –Matrix forest & embedded plant community Therefore may ultimately require similar conservation strategies Selecting Targets

Your conservation targets will evolve. Selecting Targets

Coastal Dunes Brackish Marsh Freshwater Marsh Riverine System Matrix Forest Tiger Beetle Connecticut River Tidelands Project The Project Area Is Defined by the Targets... Not Vice-Versa Map Your Targets

Task: Decide on 8 or fewer targets which would represent the native biodiversity of the project area? If time allows, experiment with a target matrix or draw a rough “cartoon” map, showing where these targets occur in your project area Coaches in-training will assist in the process Timing: 1 hour and 10 minutes (up to lunch) Breakout Group Instructions: Selecting Targets

Report back on: Brief overview of project area (10 minutes maximum) Your team’s list of 8 focal targets Breakout Group Instructions: Selecting Targets