Designing Landscapes for Sustainable Bird Populations

1. Designing Landscapes for Sustainable Bird Populations Structured Decision Making Workshop Atlantic Coast Joint Venture

2. Problem Develop a methodology for assessing and designing landscapes for sustainable populations of birds [and other wildlife] in the SAMBI area that can be applied in other areas of the eastern United States. Prioritizes landscape based on current and potential future conditions Conservation implementation on the priority areas is expected to result in target populations of birds associated with these ecosystems. Selection of areas based on fundamental concepts of landscape ecology and conservation biology. Can be updated periodically as new data become available. Biological planning - Ecological context

3. Workshop objectives Determine which species should be used to design landscapes based on their habitat requirements. Which species represent unique map-able habitat requirements? Determine important landscape characteristics for each habitat Which habitat landscape characteristics are important in prioritizing areas? Which characteristics are compensatory and which are limiting? Biological planning – Species Selection/Habitat Relationships Conservation Design – Desired Landscape Configuration

4. Species selection Determine which species should be used to design landscapes Classify surrogacy of each species Flagship – charismatic species that attract public support Umbrella – species that require large areas of habitat, thus conferring protection to other species Biodiversity– presence may indicate high species richness Keystone – species that are critical... Determine habitat characteristics for each species Determine the intangible tradeoffs Bio-political constraints Biological planning – Species Selection/Habitat Relationships

5. Habitat and landscape criteria Determine habitat characteristics that are critical to the landscape design Classify surrogacy of each habitat Flagship – charismatic habitat that attracts public support Biodiversity – possess high species richness Unique – required for some species to be present Determine landscape criteria for each habitat Identify limiting factors Determine the intangible tradeoffs Bio-political constraints Conservation Design – Desired Landscape Configuration

6. Designing Landscapes for Sustainable Bird Populations Structured Decision Making Workshop Atlantic Coast Joint Venture

7. Five core elements - PrOACT • Problem – Solve the right problem • Objectives – Describe the desired outcomes • Alternatives – Consider any reasonable actions that achieve the outcomes • Consequences – Describe how well alternatives meet objectives • Tradeoffs – Evaluate consequences of each alternative • Core of structured decision making (Hammond et al., 1999).

8. Problem Develop a methodology for assessing and designing landscapes for sustainable populations of birds [and other wildlife] in the SAMBI area that can be applied in other areas of the eastern United States. Prioritizes landscape based on current and potential future conditions Conservation implementation on the priority areas is expected to result in target populations of birds associated with these ecosystems. Selection of areas based on fundamental concepts of landscape ecology and conservation biology. Can be updated periodically as new data become available.

9. Dividing the problem Problem1: Identify a group of birds (focal species) associated with open pine systems that represent co-occurring species, are a reliable tool for biodiversity assessment, and are sensitive to resources, area, connectivity, and natural processes. Problem2: Identify characteristics of priority areas for conserving and restoring open pines systems that satisfy criteria for quantity, configuration, and location to achieve target populations of the umbrella species. Biological planning – Species Selection/Habitat Relationships

10. Species selection Determine which species should be used to design landscapes Determine key habitat characteristics for each species Classify surrogacy of each species Flagship – charismatic species that attract public support Umbrella – species that require large areas of habitat, thus conferring protection to other species Biodiversity– presence may indicate high species richness Keystone – species that are critical to ecosystem function. Determine the intangible tradeoffs Bio-political constraints Biological planning – Species Selection/Habitat Relationships

11. Biological planning – Species Selection/Habitat Relationships Assessing consequences • Basis • Preference to high priority species • Unidentified attributes?

12. Designing Landscapes for Sustainable Bird Populations Structured Decision Making Workshop Atlantic Coast Joint Venture

13. Dividing the problem Problem1: Identify a group of birds (focal species) associated with open pine systems that represent co-occurring species, are a reliable tool for biodiversity assessment, and are sensitive to resources, area, connectivity, and natural processes. Problem2: Identify characteristics of priority areas for conserving and restoring open pines systems that satisfy criteria for quantity, configuration, and location to achieve target populations of the umbrella species. Conservation Design – Desired Landscape Configuration

14. Conservation Design – Desired Landscape Configuration Habitat and landscape criteria • Determine habitat characteristics that are critical to the landscape design • Identify limiting versus compensatory characteristics • Classify “surrogacy” of each habitat • Flagship – charismatic habitat that attracts public support • Biodiversity – possess high species richness • Unique – required for some species to be present • Determine the intangible tradeoffs • Bio-political constraints

15. Homework • Review the problem statement • Did we get it right? • Look over the species x habitat attributes tables • SAMBI species and habitat characteristics are next • Look over the landscape prioritization objectives • What other characteristics are important?