Forest Legacy Assessment of Need Draft Proposed Forest Legacy Areas Governors Commission for...

Forest Legacy Assessment of Need

Draft Proposed Forest Legacy Areas

Governor’s Commission for Protecting the Chesapeake Bay through

Sustainable ForestryMarch 13, 2006

Today’s Objectives:

Briefly review process used to identify Forest Legacy “Focus Areas”

Present “Draft Proposed Forest Legacy Areas”

Discuss additional FLP goals and criteria to refine Forest Legacy Areas

Important Public Values Scenic resources Recreational opportunities Public water supply

protection Wetlands Interior forest habitat Rare, threatened and

endangered species habitat Chesapeake Bay water

quality improvement Forest products utilization Threatened by conversion

to non-forest uses

FLA Eligibility Criteria Available Assessment Tools

SFLA Ecological Model

Tools to SupportForest Legacy Needs Assessment



Forest Stewardship SAP




quality improvement Forest products utilization Threatened by conversion

to non-forest uses




quality improvement Forest products

utilization Threatened by conversion

to non-forest uses


SFLA Economic Model


SFLA Vulnerability Model





quality improvement Forest products utilization Threatened by

conversion to non-forest uses


Locating Focus Areas IDENTIFY Ecologically and Economically

Important Forest Lands Medium and High valued forests (SFLA) Values adjusted for private ownership as recommended by

Commission

FILTER At least 50% forest cover/assessment area Medium to High Stewardship Potential (SAP) Medium to High Vulnerability (SFLA)

Review the Process

SFLA Ecologic and EconomicComposite Score

MediumHigh

Removing watersheds withlow composite SFLA score

IDENTIFY: Ecologically AND Economically Important Forest Lands

Western Region Focus Areas

By 2.5 km hexagons (natural breaks)



MediumHigh

Removing watersheds withforest cover <50%

FILTER: At least 50 % Forest Cover Western Region Focus Areas



FILTER: At Least 50% Forest Cover


MediumHigh

Removing watersheds withlow stewardship potential

FILTER: Medium to High Stewardship Potential Western Region Focus Areas




FILTER: Medium to High Stewardship Potential

FILTER: Medium to High Vulnerability Western Region Focus Areas


MediumHigh




FILTER: Medium to High Stewardship Potential

FILTER: Medium to High Vulnerability

Removing watersheds withlow vulnerability

Defining Proposed Draft Forest Legacy Areas

IDENTIFY FOCUS AREAS ✔

RELATE to other programs and objectives Maryland’s Green Infrastructure 1995 Forest Legacy Areas Rural Legacy Areas Existing Protected Lands Sensitive Species Forest Matrix Blocks

Workgroup Drafting Results


Sassafras-Bohemia

Elk Neck-Susquehanna

Deer Creek

Prettyboy-Gunpowder

Black Bird Creek-Millington


Focus Areas - SFLA Ecologic and Economic Composite Score - Filtered

MediumHigh


Green Infrastructure Hubs

Green Infrastructure Corridors


Sassafras-Bohemia


Deer Creek

Prettyboy-Gunpowder



Sassafras-Bohemia


Deer Creek

Prettyboy-Gunpowder



Protected Land

Sensitive Species Areas

2002 MDP Forest Landuse


Sassafras-Bohemia


Deer Creek

Prettyboy-Gunpowder



Existing Forest Legacy Areas

Existing Rural Legacy Areas


Sassafras-Bohemia


Deer Creek

Prettyboy-Gunpowder



The Nature Conservancy – ForestMatrix Blocks




MediumHigh


Protected Land







MediumHigh


Protected Land







MediumHigh


Protected Land




Sassafras-Bohemia


Deer CreekPrettyboy-Gunpowder

LibertyPatapsco

Patuxent-Crownsville Complex

Middle Patuxent

Lower Monocacy-Potomac Complex

Catoctin-South Mountain

LickingCreek

Sideling HillGreaterYoughiogheny

Green Ridge-Warrior Mountain

Cumberland

BackboneMountain

Nanjemoy

Zekiah

Lower Patuxent-Macintosh

Saint Mary's RiverP

arke

r C

reek


Upper Tuckahoe

Nassawango

Blackwater-Nanticoke Complex

Pocomoke-Dividing CreekCoastal Bays





FLA Total Area:

2.43 million acres2432931.684

Forest Legacy ProgramPrimary Goals and Criteria Protect environmentally important,

privately-owned forest land threatened with conversion to non-forest uses

Provide employment opportunities and economic stability through maintenance of traditional forest uses

FOCUS AREAS

DRAFT FOREST LEGACY AREAS


LowMediumHigh



SFLA Vulnerability Rank

LowMediumHigh



Draft Proposed FLA Ecologicand Economic Rank

LowMediumHigh

Sassafras-Bohemia



LibertyPatapsco


Middle Patuxent



LickingCreek



Cumberland

BackboneMountain

Nanjemoy

Zekiah


Saint Mary's RiverP

arke

r C

reek


Upper Tuckahoe

Nassawango




Sassafras-Bohemia



LibertyPatapsco


Middle Patuxent



LickingCreek



Cumberland

BackboneMountain

Nanjemoy

Zekiah


Saint Mary's RiverP

arke

r C

reek


Upper Tuckahoe

Nassawango




Draft Proposed FLAVulnerability Rank

LowMediumHigh

Forest Legacy ProgramSupporting Goals and Criteria Justify retaining or discarding select

proposed areas Refine boundaries Address important regional

considerations

Supporting Goals and Criteria

Protect and maintain forested areas that are most important for providing water quality services Wetlands, riparian zones, floodplains

Protect native forest plants, animals and habitats FIDS habitat, matrix forest blocks, sensitive

species

Meet multiple conservation objectives of the State’s public and private conservation programs POS, Rural Legacy, MALPF, TNC, CELC

Provide recreational opportunities Public lands, Greenways, Water Trails


Provide watershed and water supply protection Ground and surface public water supplies

Provide educational opportunities Public lands, Visitor’s centers, Parks

Maintain important scenic and cultural resources Maryland Historical Trust resources


Draft Proposed FLA Interior Forest Acres

LowMediumHigh

Sassafras-Bohemia



LibertyPatapsco


Middle Patuxent



LickingCreek



Cumberland

BackboneMountain

Nanjemoy

Zekiah


Saint Mary's RiverP

arke

r C

reek


Upper Tuckahoe

Nassawango




Draft Proposed FLA Green Infrastructure Acres

LowMediumHigh

Sassafras-Bohemia



LibertyPatapsco


Middle Patuxent



LickingCreek



Cumberland

BackboneMountain

Nanjemoy

Zekiah


Saint Mary's RiverP

arke

r C

reek


Upper Tuckahoe

Nassawango




Draft Proposed FLA Green Infrastructure Acres

LowMediumHigh

Sassafras-Bohemia



LibertyPatapsco


Middle Patuxent



LickingCreek



Cumberland

BackboneMountain

Nanjemoy

Zekiah


Saint Mary's RiverP

arke

r C

reek


Upper Tuckahoe

Nassawango




Green InfrastructureHubs and Corridors

Draft Proposed FLA Sensitive Species Acres

LowMediumHigh

Sassafras-Bohemia



LibertyPatapsco


Middle Patuxent



LickingCreek



Cumberland

BackboneMountain

Nanjemoy

Zekiah


Saint Mary's RiverP

arke

r C

reek


Upper Tuckahoe

Nassawango




Next Steps

Meet with State Conservation Programs POS Rural Legacy MET MALPF TNC

Refine Assessment of Need and Draft Forest Legacy Areas

Seek Public and Local Government Review




MediumHigh


Protected Land







MediumHigh


Protected Land




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