The Next Step for Idaho’s CWCS

9:30 Welcome, overview, and what is expected 10:30 Identifying focal areas 12:00 Lunch - Open discussion 1:00 Identifying focal areas 3:00 Wrap-up 3:30 Adjourn Today’s Agenda

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.”

229 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) 18 priority habitats 14 ecological sections

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 the ground … to Action Plans…

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 S1Critically imperiled G2 or S2Imperiled G3 or S3Vulnerable G4 or S4Apparently secure G5 or S5Secure

A Vision for Focal Areas 1. Select Species Species A Species B Species C Species D Overlay Known Distributions Richness = High Low

A Vision for Focal Areas 3. Compare with other priorities Winter Range Focus Streams Unique Habitat Richness 4. Your Focal Areas High Low

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.). 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.).

Hypothetical Example SGCN Richness Harlequin breeding Important Corridors … Focal Areas

Regional Workshops SGCN Richness Maps Final Focal Area Maps Partner Input Idaho Falls (Apr 11, 25) Boise (Mar 19, Apr 3) Coeur d’Alene (Feb 11, 22) IDFG Input IDFG Focal Area Maps

Workshop Objectives 1.Capture regional expertise and local knowledge. 2.Create ecological section-level focal area maps identifying areas of high conservation value. 3.Enable use of maps and action plans as a conservation tool for on the ground implementation and prioritization.

1.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)? 2.Do these focal areas also include species or habitat significant to conservation for other reasons (e.g., migration corridors, big game winter range). 3.What conservation actions are necessary in each area? Specific Questions

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.

3 Amphibians 28 Birds (1) 15 Fishes (3) 49 Invertebrates (15) 22 Mammals (6) 3 Reptiles 120 Species of Greatest Conservation Need Southwest/Central Idaho Species (#) = Number of species lacking essential information pertaining to their status in Idaho.

Dry conifer forest NRM Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna RM Lodgepole Pine Forest Northern mesic conifer forest Subalpine forest RM Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland, Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland, Subalpine Mesic Meadow Mesic deciduous shrubland Dry grassland Columbia Basin Foothill and Canyon Dry Grassland Rocky Mountain Cliff, Canyon, and Massive Bedrock Southern xeric shrubland and steppe IMB Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe, Mixed Salt Desert Scrub, Big Sagebrush Steppe, Big Sagebrush Shrubland, Columbia Plateau Low Sagebrush Steppe, Western Juniper Woodland and Savanna Arableland Non-native herbaceous (Seeded Perennial Grassland) Priority Habitats & Systems

Edit, embellish focal area boundaries Define criteria Identify actions The Maps… What’s Expected?