Methods and Tools to Methods and Tools to Integrate Biodiversity Integrate Biodiversity into Land Use Planninginto Land Use Planning

Pat ComerPat Comer

Chief Terrestrial Chief Terrestrial EcologistEcologist

Greater Yellowstone AreaGreater Yellowstone Area

Local Partner: Bridger-Teton National Forest

Objective: Support forest plan revision and implementation

Adapted from Hagan & Whitman (2006) Biodiversity Indicators for Sustainable Forestry. Journal of Forestry, June 2006

Landscape Diversity

At-Risk Species

Community Diversity

Desirable Species

Sustainability Vision

SocialEconomic Ecological

Clean Water Biodiversity Clean Air

IndicatorsCondition

Trend

Policy Response

Condition

Trend

Policy Response

Condition

Trend

Policy Response

Condition

Trend

Policy Response

Ecological Sustainabil

ity

Criteria and IndicatorsCriteria and Indicators for Sustainability B-T NFfor Sustainability B-T NF

Social Sustainabil

ity

Economic Sustainabil

ity

Indicators (35)

Recreational Opportunities (road access and roadless

areas)

Scenic Integrity

Educational Opportunities

Indicators (100+)

Ecosystem Diversity

Species Diversity

Invasive Species

Fuel Load, Pests, Disease

Watershed Integrity (stream channel function, soil

productivity, water quality, etc.)

Indicators (11)Forest

Productivity

Carbon Sequestration

Livestock Grazing

Energy Production

Commercial Recreation

Water Development

Common Steps in Common Steps in PlanningPlanning

•WHAT IS THE PLANNING AREA?

•WHERE ARE THEY?

•WHAT ARE CURRENT CONDITIONS?

•WHAT ARE DESIRED CONDITIONS?

•WHAT ARE EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES?

•WHAT STRATEGIES WILL MOVE US TOWARD DESIRED CONDITIONS?

•WHICH INDICATORS REQUIRE CONSIDERATION?

•HOW WILL WE MONITOR AND EVALUATE OUR IMPLEMENTATION?

•WHAT ARE REFERENCE CONDITIONS?

•WHAT ARE THE TRENDS AMONG THOSE CONDITIONS?

Conservation ElementsConservation ElementsFocus for Ecological SustainabilityFocus for Ecological Sustainability

• Species DiversitySpecies DiversitySpecies of ConcernSpecies of Concern

• ESA proposed, candidates, ESA proposed, candidates, petitionedpetitioned

• G1-G3 (T1-T3) NatureServe statusG1-G3 (T1-T3) NatureServe status• May include distinct populationsMay include distinct populationsSpecies of InterestSpecies of Interest• S1-S2 NatureServe statusS1-S2 NatureServe status• Other T/E not captured aboveOther T/E not captured above• UAFWS birds of concernUAFWS birds of concern• Regional/local concernRegional/local concern• Other public interest requiring Other public interest requiring

plan componentsplan components

• Ecosystem DiversityEcosystem DiversityRepresentative ecosystem typesRepresentative ecosystem typesVegetation types and structural Vegetation types and structural

stagesstages

Ecological Ecological System System

TypeType

Nested Nested Dominance Dominance

TypesTypes

Ecological System and Structural Stage

Building Element InformationBuilding Element Information

Building Element InformationBuilding Element Information

Modeling Modeling LandscapeLandscapeConditionConditionCombines land Combines land use, road type, use, road type, built built infrastructure, etc.infrastructure, etc.

Model weights Model weights effects, adds effects, adds distance effectdistance effect

Specified to Specified to element-groupselement-groups

Greater Yellowstone Area

Relative Relative Compatibility Compatibility

with Land with Land UsesUses

Land Use ScenariosLand Use Scenarios

1) Land Use Type

2) Special Designations

3) Regulation

4) Zoning/Policy Type

Scenario EvaluationScenario Evaluation

Land Use Land Use Conflict MapConflict Map Red areas Red areas

indicate indicate elements with elements with incompatible incompatible land use intent.land use intent.

Darker shades Darker shades indicate indicate richness of richness of elements in elements in conflictconflict

Vista Modules & Vista Modules & InteroperabilityInteroperability

Vista

Framework

Decision Support

System

Agency Regulatory Monitoring Tools

Ecological Dynamic

Simulation Tools:

e.g., Vegetation Dynamics

Development Tool (VDDT)

Land-use System Tools:

Transportation

Sylviculture

Agriculture

Predictive Range Mapping;e.g., MAXEnt, GARP

Conservation Scenario Optimization Tools:

MARXAN, SPOT

Economic Analysis & Reporting

Visualization Tools (e.g., Community Viz)

Knowledge Engine Tools:

EMDS

Stating Desired Stating Desired ConditionsConditions

• Establish measurable goals for representation

• Users may define multiple, potentially competing goal sets representing different values, or uncertainty

• A single land-use scenario can be evaluated against multiple goal sets

• Goals based on % of total area, % of occurrences, absolute amount of habitat, or absolute # of occurrences

•Regional-scale (e.g., Representation throughout the Greater Yellowstone area)

•Project Implementation (e.g., multiple occurrences summarized by HUC 6 units of the Greys River watershed)

•Individual Occurrence patch (e.g., one element of conservation concern/interest)

•National Forest Plan (e.g., Relative emphasis within the Bridger-Teton N.F.)

Analysis at Multiple Spatial Analysis at Multiple Spatial ScalesScales

Generating Regional Allocation Scenarios using

Spatial Optimization

Site Site ExplorerExplorer

Scenario Generation(e.g., MARXAN)

Scenario Modificatio

n(Site Explorer)

Site Land Use/Mgmt

Specification

Data & Expert Knowledge

Inputs

Intermediate Processes & Products

Outputs

Vista 2.0 Functions

AlternativeLand Use/ActivityScenario

Landscape Condition (geoproc tool)

Element Distribution & ConfidenceData

CurrentLand use, infrastructure, etc

Join and Rasteriz

eElement Conservation Layer

Aggregationand

Weighting

AggregatedConservation Value

ScenarioEvaluation

Element CompatibilityTo Land Use/Activity

EvaluationReport

Conflict Intensity Indices

Desired Conditions for Elements

What Are We Aiming What Are We Aiming For?For?

•Common Planning FrameworkCommon Planning Framework

•Common Library of Spatial Common Library of Spatial Data and Ecological KnowledgeData and Ecological Knowledge

•Functional Inter-operating Functional Inter-operating Decision Support ToolsDecision Support Tools