Development of a Comprehensive Wildlife

Conservation Strategy for Georgia

Georgia Department of Natural ResourcesGeorgia Department of Natural Resources

Wildlife Resources DivisionWildlife Resources Division

Georgia’s Biological Diversity

Georgia’s Biological DiversityNational Ranks

22ndnd in number of amphibians in number of amphibians 33rdrd in number of freshwater fishes in number of freshwater fishes 33rdrd in number of crayfishes in number of crayfishes 77thth in number of reptiles in number of reptiles 77thth in number of vascular plants in number of vascular plants

Georgia’s Biological Diversity

Ranked 6Ranked 6thth nationally in the number of nationally in the number of vascular plants, vertebrate animals, and vascular plants, vertebrate animals, and selected invertebratesselected invertebrates

Threats to Georgia’s Biodiversity

Habitat conversion or destructionHabitat conversion or destruction Habitat fragmentationHabitat fragmentation Invasive exotic speciesInvasive exotic species Acute environmental stressorsAcute environmental stressors Excessive predation, diseaseExcessive predation, disease Accelerated climate changeAccelerated climate change PoachingPoaching

Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) Georgia DNR has committed to develop and begin Georgia DNR has committed to develop and begin

implementation by October 1, 2005implementation by October 1, 2005 Current project will produce draft strategy by Current project will produce draft strategy by

December 2004December 2004 Funded under FY2002 State Wildlife Grant to Funded under FY2002 State Wildlife Grant to

Wildlife Resources DivisionWildlife Resources Division Involves collaboration with all natural resource Involves collaboration with all natural resource

agencies and organizations operating in Georgia agencies and organizations operating in Georgia

Project Goal:

To develop a statewide wildlife conservation To develop a statewide wildlife conservation plan that provides an objective assessment plan that provides an objective assessment of the status and conservation needs of of the status and conservation needs of native wildlife and presents a prioritized set native wildlife and presents a prioritized set of strategies for protecting, restoring, and of strategies for protecting, restoring, and maintaining these species and their habitatsmaintaining these species and their habitats

Components of CWCS

Rare species/natural community database Rare species/natural community database developmentdevelopment

Identification of data gaps and survey needsIdentification of data gaps and survey needs Biological surveys of public and private Biological surveys of public and private

landslands State, federal, local government landsState, federal, local government lands Lands of private cooperatorsLands of private cooperators

Components of CWCS

Assessment of distributions of species and Assessment of distributions of species and natural communities and selection of high natural communities and selection of high priority conservation targetspriority conservation targets

Development of conservation lands & sites Development of conservation lands & sites databasesdatabases Existing conservation landsExisting conservation lands High priority sites for protectionHigh priority sites for protection

Components of CWCS

Cooperation with local governments on Cooperation with local governments on development of conservation plans development of conservation plans

Collaboration with state and federal Collaboration with state and federal agencies on habitat protection and agencies on habitat protection and restoration programsrestoration programs

Providing technical support to private Providing technical support to private conservation organizationsconservation organizations

Components of CWCS

Review of existing conservation laws, rules, Review of existing conservation laws, rules, and policiesand policies

Review of land protection programsReview of land protection programs Public input and educational outreachPublic input and educational outreach

Administrative Structure for CWCS Project

Tech n ica l Team s P u b lic In p u t

P ro jec t D irec to r

S teerin g C om m ittee

E xecu tiveC om m ittee

CWCS Technical Teams

BirdsBirds MammalsMammals Amphibians and ReptilesAmphibians and Reptiles Fishes and Freshwater InvertebratesFishes and Freshwater Invertebrates Terrestrial InvertebratesTerrestrial Invertebrates Plants and Natural CommunitiesPlants and Natural Communities Ecological SystemsEcological Systems

CWCS Technical Teams (cont.)

Historic Vegetation & Habitat RestorationHistoric Vegetation & Habitat Restoration Database Support/EnhancementsDatabase Support/Enhancements GIS Support and Land Use/Land CoverGIS Support and Land Use/Land Cover Conservation Tools & RegulationsConservation Tools & Regulations Environmental EducationEnvironmental Education Outreach/Media Relations Outreach/Media Relations

Assessment of Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Biological data from WRD databases Biological data from WRD databases provided to technical teams in Excel provided to technical teams in Excel spreadsheet formatspreadsheet format

Species subsets based on taxonomic group, Species subsets based on taxonomic group, rarity, “special concern” statusrarity, “special concern” status

Technical teams added/deleted species as Technical teams added/deleted species as neededneeded

Data Provided to Technical Teams

Birds – 49 speciesBirds – 49 species Mammals – 36 speciesMammals – 36 species Amphibians & Reptiles – 63 speciesAmphibians & Reptiles – 63 species Fishes – 130 speciesFishes – 130 species Aquatic Invertebrates – 205 speciesAquatic Invertebrates – 205 species Terrestrial Invertebrates – 67 speciesTerrestrial Invertebrates – 67 species Plants – 997 speciesPlants – 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) EndemismEndemism Distribution in Georgia (regions, habitats)Distribution in Georgia (regions, habitats) Degree of imperilment, major threatsDegree of imperilment, major threats Population/habitat trends Population/habitat trends Current level of protectionCurrent level of protection Survey, research, and protection needsSurvey, research, and protection needs Potential contribution of Georgia efforts to global Potential contribution of Georgia efforts to global

conservationconservation

Methodology for Technical Teams

Categorical ranking factors allow sorting of Categorical ranking factors allow sorting of species by rarity, threat, population trends, species by rarity, threat, population trends, research needs, etc.research needs, etc.

““Uncertainty ranks” help document data gaps and Uncertainty ranks” help document data gaps and field inventory needsfield inventory needs

Recommendations for changes in state rarity rank, Recommendations for changes in state rarity rank, legal status, or status as “species of concern” will legal status, or status as “species of concern” will be based on data provided in spreadsheets & other be based on data provided in spreadsheets & other supporting documentssupporting documents

Georgia GAP/Aquatic GAP Data

Land cover data – 44 classes Land cover data – 44 classes Potential range maps for 300+ terrestrial Potential range maps for 300+ terrestrial

vertebrates vertebrates Terrestrial vertebrate habitat models Terrestrial vertebrate habitat models ““Critical reaches” for aquatic diversity in Critical reaches” for aquatic diversity in

the Tallapoosa and Flint River basinsthe Tallapoosa and Flint River basins

Natural Communities/Ecosystems

Identification of high-priority natural Identification of high-priority natural communities based on rarity, condition, communities based on rarity, condition, species composition, etc.species composition, etc.

Revision of natural community Revision of natural community classification for Georgiaclassification for Georgia

Identification of high-priority ecological Identification of high-priority ecological systems based on species/natural systems based on species/natural community assemblagescommunity assemblages

Prioritizing Species, Habitats, and Conservation Sites

SpeciesSpecies

Habitats/EcosystemsHabitats/Ecosystems

Conservation SitesConservation Sites

Progress to Date

Lists of high priority species have been developed Lists of high priority species have been developed and are being reviewed (300 animal species)and are being reviewed (300 animal species)

Research and survey needs for high priority Research and survey needs for high priority species have been identified by technical team species have been identified by technical team leadersleaders

Key habitats are being identified and cross-walked Key habitats are being identified and cross-walked to ecological systems in the National Vegetation to ecological systems in the National Vegetation Classification SystemClassification System

Progress to Date

GIS Support team has completed an initial survey GIS Support team has completed an initial survey of WRD staff to determine GIS data needsof WRD staff to determine GIS data needs

Georgia GAP land cover data is being assessed as Georgia GAP land cover data is being assessed as a tool for broad-scale planninga tool for broad-scale planning

Habitat Restoration/Historic Vegetation team has Habitat Restoration/Historic Vegetation team has identified key management issues and is working identified key management issues and is working with UGA Institute of Ecology to develop a pilot with UGA Institute of Ecology to develop a pilot project for mapping historic vegetationproject for mapping historic vegetation

Progress to Date

Draft assessment of conservation planning and Draft assessment of conservation planning and implementation efforts in other states has been implementation efforts in other states has been completed and is being reviewedcompleted and is being reviewed

““Landowner’s Guide to Conservation Options” Landowner’s Guide to Conservation Options” has been revised and will soon be published has been revised and will soon be published

GIS dataset of high-priority conservation sites is GIS dataset of high-priority conservation sites is being developed, using data from DNR-TNC being developed, using data from DNR-TNC ecoregional planning projects as starting pointecoregional planning projects as starting point

Progress to Date

GNHP staff members collaborating with a group GNHP staff members collaborating with a group of volunteers on a revision of “Natural of volunteers on a revision of “Natural Environments of Georgia”Environments of Georgia”

WRD Education Plan is being finalized. EEA has WRD Education Plan is being finalized. EEA has offered to help with implementation of CWCS offered to help with implementation of CWCS environmental education goals.environmental education goals.

Database Support team is assessing needs for Database Support team is assessing needs for biodiversity data within WRD and in other biodiversity data within WRD and in other agencies/organizations.agencies/organizations.

Next Steps

January-February 2004 - Workshops to gain January-February 2004 - Workshops to gain input from WRD staff on conservation input from WRD staff on conservation targets, threats, and goalstargets, threats, and goals

April-May 2004 - Regional workshops with April-May 2004 - Regional workshops with local “stakeholder” groups local “stakeholder” groups

June 2004 - Complete first draft of wildlife June 2004 - Complete first draft of wildlife conservation strategy conservation strategy

Next Steps

August-September 2004 – Hold public August-September 2004 – Hold public meetings to solicit input on draft meetings to solicit input on draft conservation strategyconservation strategy

December 2004 – Complete final draft of December 2004 – Complete final draft of comprehensive wildlife conservation comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy strategy