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Exploring Alabama’s Natural Heritage Program: A Conservation Biology Class Journey

Join the Alabama Natural Heritage Program Conservation Biology Class as they delve into the history, staff, data acquisition methods, projects, and key topics of the program. Discover how this initiative serves as a vital repository for rare species information within the geopolitical unit. Learn about the core staff roles and methodologies used for data acquisition, storage, and dissemination. Explore projects like Heritage Tracking Lists, ecological assessments, and more. Have questions? Get your answers here!

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Exploring Alabama’s Natural Heritage Program: A Conservation Biology Class Journey

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  1. The Day in the Life of the Alabama Natural Heritage Program Conservation Biology Class November 11, 2008 Al Schotz Alabama Natural Heritage Program Auburn University, AL 36849 334-844-5019 ars0002@auburn.edu

  2. Today’s Topics • History and purpose of the ALNHP and the Heritage Network • Staff • Data acquisition, storage, and dissemination • Projects • Questions

  3. History and Purpose • Robert Jenkins, a Nature Conservancy scientist, was the first to coin the concept “Natural Heritage Program.” • South Carolina established the first Heritage Program in 1974. • In 1989 Alaska became the last state to establish a Heritage Program (ALNHP was second to last, having been established only three months earlier). • Many countries now have heritage programs. • Purpose of heritage programs is to serve as a repository for biological information of rare species and natural communities within a specific geopolitical unit. • Information used by various agencies, organizations, and institutions in development, conservation, and research initiatives.

  4. StaffAll heritage programs consist of six core staff members • Director • Finance Specialist • Botanist • Ecologist • Zoologist • GIS/Database Specialist

  5. Methods of Data Acquisition

  6. An Element Occurrence Defined Each unit (e.g., a citation from a technical report or a population recorded during a field survey) of information according to Natural Heritage methodology is called an “Element Occurrence.” Further defined, an Element Occurrence is an area of land in which a species or natural community is, or was present.

  7. Method of Data StorageElement Occurrence data is stored in a computer database program known as Biotics Biotics consists of four primary applications • Tracker • Mapper • Administrator • Exchanger

  8. Data Dissemination • Can be tailored to meet specific needs • Request form required to receive data • Data Sensitivity

  9. Projects and Publications • Heritage Tracking List • Plant and Animal Status Surveys • Ecological Assessments and Inventories of Public Landholdings • Management Plans • Regional Conservation Plans • Scientific Papers • Magazine Articles

  10. Questions???

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