critical linkages - tnc presentation to ilc
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Critical LinkagesProactive transportation and land protection planning in MA
Interagency Lands Committee, January 14, 2009
Critical LinkagesProactive transportation and land protection planning in MA
Interagency Lands Committee, January 14, 2009
• CAPS (Conservation Assessment & Prioritization System)• UMass Landscape Ecology Program
– Kevin McGarigal, Scott Jackson, Brad Compton, Kasey Raleigh
– “Critical Linkages” (Connectivity)– Index of Ecological Integrity (Resiliency)
• Applications– Land Protection Planning– Connectivity Restoration– Climate Adaptation
Ecological IntegrityEcological Integrity
…the long-term capability of the ecological community to sustain its composition, structure and function and thus its resiliency to stress
Land Cover Map
UMass CAPS Index of Ecological IntegrityLand cover is mapped based on
several GIS data layersRoads
DEP Wetlands
Land Use
GIS data Land cover map
Integrity metrics
Index of Ecological Integrity
Ecological setting
The CAPS Analysis
Stressor metricsDevelopment & Roads
Habitat lossWatershed habitat lossWetland buffer insultsRoad traffic intensityMowing & plowing intensityMicroclimate alterations
PollutionRoad salt intensitySedimentationNutrient loading Point-source pollutionEmissions intensity
Biotic alterationsDomestic predatorsEdge predatorsNon-native invasive plantsNon-native invasive earthworms
Hydrological alterationsImperviousnessPercent impoundedUpstream road crossings Dam intensityWater withdrawals
Resiliency metricsConnectednessSimilarity
CAPS Integrity Metrics
Road Intensity
Development Intensity
Edge Effects
Similarity
Connectedness
Data and Town MapsData and Town Maps
http://www.umass.edu/landeco/research/caps/data/dep/dep.html#maps
A Comprehensive Biodiversity Assessment
PListed elementoccurrences
PConservation planningfor listed species
Protectingbiodiversity
PHidden biodiversityPAreas not yet
adequately inventoried
What weknow
What wedon’t know+=
BioMap UMass
• Listed element occurrences (fine filter)
• Conservation planning for listed species
• Common biodiversity (coarse filter)
• Hidden biodiversity• Areas not adequately
inventoried
“Critical Linkages”“Critical Linkages”
• 3,000,000 forest acres
• 3,000,000 forest acres• 35,000 mi. of public roads,
30,000 road stream crossings + 3,000 dams– Habitat fragmentation– Other challenges:
• Forests: Habitat conversion, pests and pathogens, climate change, atmospheric deposition
• Rivers: Water withdrawal, sedimentation, climate change, pollution
“Critical Linkages”“Critical Linkages”
LANDSCAPE (MATRIX)
BUFFER
CORE
INCREASING PROTECTION
INCREASING UTILIZATION
Large Scale Forest ConservationLarge Scale Forest Conservation
CONNECTIVITY CONNECTIVITY
“Critical Linkages”: Connectivity questions:“Critical Linkages”: Connectivity questions:
• To restore and maintain habitat connectivity– What road segments are most important to restore?– Which areas are most important to protect?
Critical Linkages 2008-2009Phase 1: Local Connectivity (Connectedness)
Critical Linkages 2008-2009Phase 1: Local Connectivity (Connectedness)
• Connectedness: connectivity of a focal unit (grid cell) with its surrounding landscape context– to what extent are ecological
flows (e.g., dispersal) from that unit impeded or facilitated by the landscape.
• Structural and Functional: Landscape resistance and distance are parameterized based on multiple species
Critical Linkages 2008-2009Phase 1: Local Connectivity (Connectedness)
Critical Linkages 2008-2009Phase 1: Local Connectivity (Connectedness)
CAPS Integrity Metrics: Connectedness
highly constrained point
highly connected point
Critical Linkages Phase 1: Local ConnectivityCritical Linkages Phase 1: Local Connectivity
• Identify priorities for protection and restoration of local connectivity– Statewide analysis– Automated scenario testing
•
Critical Linkages 2008-2009Phase 1: Local ConnectivityCritical Linkages 2008-2009Phase 1: Local Connectivity
Critical Linkages 2009-2010Phase 2: Regional Connectivity
Critical Linkages 2009-2010Phase 2: Regional Connectivity
• A network of important connections among protected areas and other areas of high ecological integrity (nodes)
– Graph Matrix Model under development– Random low cost paths
Critical Linkages 2009-2011Critical Linkages 2009-2011
Potential Regional Connectivity
Applications:Protection PrioritiesApplications:Protection Priorities
Protection Priorities
• Middlefield Connectedness
• Other data– POS– BioMap– Etc.
For example only—not actual priorities
• Middlefield IEI• Other data
– POS– BioMap– Etc.
Protection PrioritiesApplications:
Protection PrioritiesApplications:Protection Priorities
For example only—not actual priorities
• Transportation Planning and Restoration– Culverts, bridges, wildlife
crossings
Applications:Restoration PrioritiesApplications:Restoration Priorities
• Resilient habitats for rare and common species, and connectivity among them
Potential Regional Connectivity
ApplicationsClimate Change Adaptation
ApplicationsClimate Change Adaptation
Resilience• The capacity for renewal in a
dynamic environment– Gunderson 2000
• An ability to resist and recover from change or disturbance
Thank YouThank You
• “Critical Linkages” (Connectivity)• Index of Ecological Integrity (Resiliency)• Applications
– Land Protection Planning– Connectivity Restoration– Climate Adaptation
• Questions
Critical Linkages