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Injecting Useful and Credible

Information into Wind Power Siting:BioMap2 as a Case Study

Andy Finton, MA Director of Conservation Science, October 26, 2012

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Topics for today

Wildlife/biodiversity data and wind siting

Habitat impacts

Direct impact on birds and bats

Case Study: BioMap2

Purpose and approach

Types of data available

Factors leading to effectiveness, credibility,legitimacy, and usefulness

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The Nature Conservancy

Mission: To conserve the lands and waters onwhich all life depends

Approach

Objective, pragmatic, science-based

Wind Energy

Climate Change top threat to biodiversity

Renewable Energy: part of the solution

Informed siting (operations)

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Funding

39% Dues/Contributions; 22% Land/Gifts;

21% Investments; 14% Govt. Grants; 4% Other

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The Nature Conservancy: Development by Design

Integrated planning for multiple objectives

Jonah Field Project, Wyoming

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2010

Guide strategic biodiversity

conservation in MA

Areas that are most critical

for the long-termpersistence of:

Rare Species

Resilient Habitats

Intact Landscapes

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BioMap2: Statewide spatial analysis

Species State-listed Species (MESA)

Non-listed Species of Conservation Concern

Resilient Habitats

Coastal habitats Wetlands

Rivers, streams, lakes, & ponds

Grasslands, shrublands, & barrens

Forests

IntactLandscapes

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BioMap2Core Habitat

Core Habitat - 1.2 million acres

Ingredients:Rare & vulnerable speciesCoastal habitatsWetlandsRivers, streams, lakes, & pondsGrasslands, shrublands, & barrensForests

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BioMap2Critical Natural Landscape

CNL - 1.8 million acres

Ingredients:

Intact Landscape

Wetland and River buffers

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BioMap2

BioMap2 Acres

Core Habitat 1,242,000

Critical Natural Landscape 1,783,000

Total (w/ Overlap) 2,092,000

Unprotected 1,231,000

BioMap2

Non-regulatory (vs. MESA, WPA, etc.)

All data are relevant to Wind Siting

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Species are dependent

on intact forest habitat

Fragmentation

degrades habitat and

other ecosystem

functions

BioMap2: Application to Wind Siting

Scarlet Tanager

Ovenbird

Habitat Fragmentation

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Intact Forests: BioMap2 Forest Cores

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BioMap2: Credibility and Legitimacy

Stakeholder Model

Deliver to stakeholders, collaborative application

Stakeholder buy-in

(Brand name) State Agencies

Municipalizes

Land Trusts

NGOs

2001

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BioMap2: Credibility and Legitimacy

Sources/Authors: Trusted experts

TNC: Objective/science-based, spatial analysis

experience MNHESP: 30-year rare species database,

rigorous standards and protocols

Methods:

Rigorous, objective, transparent

Supported by peer reviewed literature

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BioMap2: Credibility and Legitimacy

Statewide Analysis for local application Provides context, perspective, and avoids bias

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BioMap2: Usefulness

Information and Outreach: (www.nhesp.org) Summary Report (and Poster)

Technical Report

Town reports

Interactive web mapping GIS data-layers

Conferences, workshops, presentations

http://www.nhesp.org/http://www.nhesp.org/

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Thank You

Injecting Useful and Credible

Information into Wind Power Siting:

BioMap2 as a Case Study

Henry Woolsey, MNHESP

James DeNormandie, Project Manger

Jessica Dyson, TNC

Sarah Haggerty, MNHESP