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Northeastern and Upper Midwestern Terrestrial Habitat Classification System

Northeastern and Upper Midwestern Terrestrial Habitat Classification System . Getting started in the Midwest…. Objectives. NAASF is looking to upgrade the state wildlife plans across the region to be more in sync with each other.

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Northeastern and Upper Midwestern Terrestrial Habitat Classification System

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  1. Northeastern and Upper Midwestern Terrestrial Habitat Classification System Getting started in the Midwest…

  2. Objectives • NAASF is looking to upgrade the state wildlife plans across the region to be more in sync with each other. • updating existing maps and classifications to the USNVC and ecological systems • implementation of the SWAPs within each state and across the MW region will be greatly enhanced through the development of current, consistent habitat GIS datasets.

  3. Benefits • Final classification and map will reflect a balance between the state needs and consistency across the region which will aid SWAPs and other partners in working on conservation goals across a 21 state region of the MW and NE

  4. Area of Study

  5. Final Products from NE Project • Terrestrial regional habitat classification system • Detailed terrestrial habitat GIS dataset for the region (underway) • Standardized GIS dataset of currently secured lands (i.e., protected or conserved areas) throughout the region • Standing NE regional habitat mapping coordinating committee

  6. Example from the NE

  7. Steps for the Midwest • Develop consistent classification • Map classification over 8-state region • Link to NE Map to help create a 21-state regional map

  8. Terrestrial Habitat Classification • Based on Ecological Systems • Added classes for altered habitats and land-use types • Systems component is hierarchical with upper levels of Formation and Macrogroup • Compatible with Landfire approaches in region.

  9. ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF THE UNITED STATES A WORKING CLASSIFICATION OF U.S. TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schulz, K.Snow, and J. Teague. 2003

  10. Ecological Systems: • groups of biological communities (associations or types) that co-occur on the landscape • share similar physical environments • influenced by similar dynamic ecological processes • practical, mid-scale units that inform resource management decisions • mappable & identifiable • intermediate geographic scales (101 - 103 ha) • temporally persistent (>50 yrs)

  11. Examples of Ecological Systems in the Midwest

  12. Boreal Jack Pine-Black Spruce Forest Great Lakes Dune Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Fen South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest

  13. Terrestrial Habitat Classification • Based on Ecological Systems • Added classes for altered habitats and land-use types • Systems component is hierarchical with upper levels of Formation and Macrogroup • Compatible with Landfire approaches in region.

  14. Examples of altered habitats and land-use types from Northeast Project

  15. Terrestrial Habitat Classification • Based on Ecological Systems • Added classes for altered habitats and land-use types • Systems component is hierarchical with upper levels of Formation and Macrogroup • Compatible with Landfire approaches in region.

  16. systems can be aggregated into higher-level units where these are useful: * From the FGDC-standard levels of the National Vegetation Classification.

  17. Terrestrial Habitat Classification • Based on Ecological Systems • Added classes for altered habitats and land-use types • Systems component is hierarchical with upper levels of Formation and Macrogroup • Compatible with Landfire approaches in region.

  18. LANDFIRE • Mapped ecological systems • Focused on upland habitats • Developed field keys to systems • Developed automated classification tools MW Map downloaded August 2010 See: www.landfire.gov

  19. Terrestrial Habitat Classification • Based on Ecological Systems • Added classes for altered habitats and land-use types • Systems component is hierarchical with upper levels of Formation and Group • Compatible with GAP and Landfire approaches in northeast. • Modular structure with Ecological Systems plus Structural Modifiers

  20. Structural Information in MW • Review and update vegetation structural data layer produced through the inter-agency LandFire effort, aiming to depict desired vegetation structural classes for wildlife habitat characterization.

  21. Result: flexibility (Example from NE) Habitat types: Formation, Macrogroup, System HABITAT UNITS Hab. Unit A Hab. Unit B habitat Unit C Structural Modifiers: Cover, height, etc. Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland habitat (system) Pine warbler habitat: Laurentian-Acadian Northern Pine-(Oak) Forest [stage: >= mature] Upland shrubland habitat Oak-Pine habitat (macrogroup)

  22. But how about the habitat classes already used? • Habitat System units crosswalked to habitat classes in each state’s State Wildlife Action Plan in NE and will be in MW • And to NLCD classes • Being crosswalked to types used by state Heritage Programs as much as possible

  23. Examples of SWAP crosswalks: NJ

  24. Project stages • Develop classification • Map classification over 8-state region

  25. General Mapping Process • LandFire Map data provide base information • Review and revise map • Ancillary data brought in: soils, geology, DEM, etc • Use Heritage data, field checks, etc.

  26. Example of Final Product

  27. Beginning of the MW Project… • Contract signed this summer… • Currently developing list of stakeholders, partners, and participants • Collecting SWAP information from 8 MW states • Crosswalking among classifications will commence soon.

  28. Questions, Suggestions, Comments

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