Northern Appalachian Ecoregion Conservation Planning Atlas WMS Service

Northern Appalachian Ecoregion Conservation Planning Atlas WMS Service (atlas-wms)

The Northern Appalachian Ecoregion Conservation Planning atlas contains data contributed by several groups: WildLife Conservation Society of Canada (WCSCanada), Two Countries One Forest (2c1Forest), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Nature Conservancy Canada, and The Wildlands Project (TWP).

State and Provincial Capitals (capitals)

Compiled from the National Atlas of the United states (www.nationalatlas.gov) and the Atlas of Canada (atlas.nrcan.gc.ca)

Waterbodies (Statistics Canada) (waterbodies-statscan)

Extracted from the NIMA Vector Map Level 0 Edition 5 (2000) database with a resolution of 1:1,000,000.

Utility Corridors (utility)

Extracted from the NIMA Vector Map Level 0 Edition 5 (2000) database with a resolution of 1:1,000,000.

Vehicular Trails incld. 4WD (trails)

Derived from a data set created from compiling roads from the U.S. Census 2000 Tiger/Line Files (1:100,000) and a Canadian source.

State and Provincial Boundaries (state-provinces-line)

Compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) political boundaries data layers, National Rail Network (1:100,000) and the Canadian Cartographic Boundary Files 2001 Census.

Secured Areas (U.S. Only) (secured-areas)

Secured Areas are managed parcels protected for natural resource conservation. These lands are owned and managed by various organizations: public and private, for-profit and non-profit. Compiled from numerous states, provincial and non-profit sources (refer to full metadata available into the Data Warehouse). Can only be distributed for the U.S. due to licensing constraints associated with Canadian data sources. Attributes include common name, ownership, management agency and GAP class. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Rivers (rivers)

Extracted from the NIMA Vector Map Level 0 Edition 5 (2000) database with a resolution of 1:1,000,000.

Other Populated Places (other_places)

Compiled from the National Atlas of the United states (www.nationalatlas.gov) and the Atlas of Canada (atlas.nrcan.gc.ca)

Major Towns (major_towns)

Compiled from the National Atlas of the United states (www.nationalatlas.gov) and the Atlas of Canada (atlas.nrcan.gc.ca)

International Boundary (international-line)

Compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) political boundaries data layers, National Rail Network (1:100,000) and the Canadian Cartographic Boundary Files 2001 Census.

GTOPO DEM (gtopo_dem)

Extracted from the North America Digital Elevation Model that represents an elevation map for North America derived from the global digital elevation model (DEM) - GTOPO30 data sets from the U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (EDC DAAC). The VALUE attribute represents the elevation in meters. Distributed by ESRI, Redlands, CA. A raster datasets with a cell size of 1 km.

Ecoregion Boundary (ecoboundary-land)

A 20km buffer around the Northern Appalachian/ Acadian Ecoregion resulting form the Ecoregional Assessment conducted by The Nature Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/ecs/napaj/nap )

Large Dams (dams)

Created from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National inventory of dams (NID), 2005 (scale unknown) and the Canadian Dam Association database of large dams (2003) with locations digitized using 1:50,000 topographic maps.

Conservation Priorities - Biophysical Units (Biophysical_units)

The Conservation priority ranks for biophysical units (U.S. Forest Service subsections and Canadian ecodistricts) were determined using a conservation importance vs. threat matrix. Conservation importance was based on the TNC Ecoregional Assessment and the Wildlands Network Design, while current threat was based on the Human Footprint and future threat was based on the three scenarios of Future Human Footprint. This study we lead by the 2C1Forest Science Working Group. A full report is available at http://www.2c1forest.org/en/resources/resources_docs/Special_Report_1.pdf

Conservation Priorities - Hydrological Units (hydrological_units)

The Conservation priority ranks for 1:250,000 Hydrological units were determined using a conservation importance vs. threat matrix. Conservation importance was based on the TNC Ecoregional Assessment and the Wildlands Network Design, while current threat was based on the Human Footprint and future threat was based on the three scenarios of Future Human Footprint. This study we lead by the 2C1Forest Science Working Group. A full report is available at http://www.2c1forest.org/en/resources/resources_docs/Special_Report_1.pdf

Conservation Priorities - 10km sq Hexagon Planning Units (ten_km2_hexagon_planning_units)

The Conservation priority ranks for the 10km sq planning units were determined using a conservation importance vs. threat matrix. Conservation importance was based on the TNC Ecoregional Assessment and the Wildlands Network Design, while current threat was based on the Human Footprint and future threat was based on the three scenarios of Future Human Footprint. This study we lead by the 2C1Forest Science Working Group. A full report is available at http://www.2c1forest.org/en/resources/resources_docs/Special_Report_1.pdf

Conservation Priorities - 10km sq Hexagon Planning Units that Transition (ten_km2_hexagon_planning_units_transition)

Hexagons that transition from a current state of High irreplaceability / Low vulnerability to a state of High irreplaceability / High vulnerability in the future based on the Future Human Footprint are highlighted in varying colors reflecting the future scenario under which the level of threat transitions from low to high. CT = FHF Current Trends Scenario, NCL = FHF Rapid Growth - North Central Lakes Scenario, PNW = FHF Rapid Growth - Pacific Northwest Scenario

Difference between Scenario 3 and Current Future Footprint (diff_scenario3)

The difference between Scenario 3: Rapid Influx B - North Central Lakes and the Current Human Footprint. Created by subtracting the Future Human Footprint from the Human Footprint. A raster data layer with a grid cell size of 90m. Contributed by Two Countries, One Forest. Lead researcher Dr. Robert Baldwin.

Scenario 1 - Current Trends (scenario1)

A future scenario (2040) of the Human Footprint based on current trends of growth experienced in the region in the 1990's. Based on the current Human Footprint this scenario of the future Human Footprint includes modeled layers of new residential roads, human population density, and amenity development based on the growth scenario. A raster data layer with a grid cell size of 90m. Contributed by Two Countries, One Forest. Lead researcher Dr. Robert Baldwin.

Scenario 3 - Rapid change B (scenario3)

A future scenario (2040) of the Human Footprint based on growth rates experienced in the North Central Lakes region of the U.S. as a result of high amenity and urban growth. Based on the current Human Footprint this scenario of the future Human Footprint includes modeled layers of new residential roads, human population density, and amenity development based on the growth scenario. A raster data layer with a grid cell size of 90m. Contributed by Two Countries, One Forest. Lead researcher Dr. Robert Baldwin.

Ecological Land Units: Elevation Zone (eco_elevation)

Elevation zones used to create the Ecological Land Units. Ecological Land Units are created from a combination of 6 elevation zones, 7 geological classes and 14 landforms types. 480 unique combinations. A raster data layer with a cell size of 90 m. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Ecological Land Units: Landform (eco_landform)

Landforms used to create the Ecological Land Units. Ecological Land Units are created from a combination of 6 elevation zones, 7 geological classes and 14 landforms types. 480 unique combinations. A raster data layer with a cell size of 90 m. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Ecological Drainage Units (edu)

EDUs are delineated as groups of 8-digit US Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit watersheds. EDUS were qualitatively defined by the TNC Freshwater Initiative using primarily USFS Fish Zoogeographic Subregions, USFS Ecoregions and Subsections, and major drainage divisions. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Terrestrial Ecoregions (terrestrial_ecoregions)

Ecoregion boundaries for the eastern United States, with extension into Canada for NAP (Northern Appalachian/Acadian) and STL (St. Lawrence/Champlain) ecoregions. TNC Eastern Conservation Science based the boundaries on USFS Ecological Units of the Eastern United States 1st Approximation (Keys et al. 1995) subsections, Natural Heritage Program data, and ecoregions and subregions of Canada's provincial Ecological Land Classifications.

Critical Matrix Forest Blocks (critical_matrix)

These matrix occurrences are the Tier 1 portfolio matrix occurrences only (n = 176). They represent the best examples of viable matrix forest and encompass at least 1 representative of each matrix Ecological Land Unit (ELU) group. Matrix occurrences are bounded by fragmenting features such as roads, railroads, major utility lines, and major shorelines. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Critical Steep Slopes (critical_slopes)

This dataset represents the results of a GIS based model to identify steep slope communities in Northern Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion. This layer contains portfolio critical occurrences only. Attributes include items such as the size of the occurrence, elevation, bedrock geology, conservation status, landscape context, and portfolio status. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Critical Summits (critical_summits)

This dataset represents the results of a GIS based model to identify rocky summit communities in Northern Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion. This layer contains portfolio critical occurrences only. Attributes include items such as the size of the occurrence, elevation, bedrock geology, conservation status, landscape context, and portfolio status. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

All Floodplains (floodplains)

This dataset represents the results of a GIS based model to identify floodplain and riparian communities in Northern Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion. Attributes include items such as the size of the occurrence, elevation, bedrock geology, conservation status, landscape context, and portfolio status. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

All Ravines (ravines)

This dataset represents the results of a GIS based model to identify communities of ravines, bowls, and moist hollows in Northern Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion. Attributes include items such as the size of the occurrence, elevation, bedrock geology, conservation status, landscape context, and portfolio status. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

All Summits (summits)

This dataset represents the results of a GIS based model to identify rocky summit communities in Northern Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion. Attributes include items such as the size of the occurrence, elevation, bedrock geology, conservation status, landscape context, and portfolio status. A vector data layer. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Land Cover (landcover)

Land Cover data (circa 1990's) was compiled and crosswalked between U.S. and Canadian data sources to yield a regional dataset representing 13 major land cover types. These types include the following: Inland Open Water/Ocean, Low-High Intensity Residential, Commercial/Industrial/Transportation, Bare Rock/Sand/Clay, Quarries/Strip Mines/Gravel Pits/Peat Bogs, Regenerating Forest, Deciduous Forest, Conifer Forest, Mixed Forest, Shrubland, Agriculture/Plantations/Cultivated, and Forested Wetland, Emergent Herbaceous Wetlands. The input datasets which represented a variety of spatial scales were resampled to a pixel resolution of 30m x 30m cell. A raster data layer with a cell size of 30 m. Contributed by The Nature Conservancy. Lead researcher Mark Anderson.

Connectivity layers (Connectivity)

Connectivity

GAP Edges (GAP_Edges)

Edges modeled between nodes representing GAP status 1 lands > 1,000 ha. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

GAP Minimum Spanning Tree (GAP_Min_Span_Tree)

Minimum spanning tree (edges that connect all possible nodes with the shortest edge distance) between GAP status 1 lands > 1,000 ha. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

GAP Patches (GAP_Patches)

GAP status 1 lands > 1,000 ha used to model connectivity. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Last of the Wild Edges (Last_of_the_Wild_Edges)

Edges modeled between nodes representing Last of the Wild. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Last of the Wild Minimum Spanning Tree (Last_of_the_Wild_Min_Span_Tree)

Minimum spanning tree (edges that connect all possible nodes with the shortest edge distance) between GAP status 1 lands > 1,000 ha. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Last of the Wild Patches (Last_of_the_Wild_Patches)

Last of the Wild used to model connectivity. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Marten Edges (Marten_Edges)

Edges modeled between nodes representing marten source population habitat patches > 1,000 ha. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Marten Minimum Spanning Tree (Marten_Min_Span_Tree)

Minimum spanning tree (edges that connect all possible nodes with the shortest edge distance) between marten source population habitat patches > 1,000 ha. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Marten Patches (Marten_Patches)

Marten source population habitat patches > 1,000 ha used to model connectivity. Models created by Ryan Perkyl and Rob Baldwin at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Human Footprint (HF) (human_footprint)

The Human Footprint (HF) is a measure of ecologically relative human influence on the land created from publicly available datasets of population density, housing density, roads, rail, landcover, mines, dams, watershed and utility corridors. Human Footprint scores range from 0 to 100. A raster data layer with a grid cell size of 90m. Contributed by the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. Lead researcher Gillian Woolmer.

Last of the Wild (LTW) (last_wild)

The Last of the Wild (n = 120) are the largest and wildest places in the Northern Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion. They are derived from the Human Footprint. Land with a Human Footprint score less than or equal to 10 is considered wild. A vector data layer. Contributed by the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. Lead researcher Gillian Woolmer.

A2A Corridor (a2a_corridor)

The Adirondack to Algonquin corridor. Contributed by the Wildlands Network. Project lead is Conrad Reining.

Predicted Lynx Habitat under current landscape conditions (2003) (lynx_2003)

Predicted Lynx Habitat under current landscape conditions - no population cycling, fecundity and survival set at mean rates of cycle. This data set is one of the outputs of Carlos Carroll's work on focal species in the Northern Appalachians. Static habitat suitability models for lynx, marten, and wolf were fed through a spatially explicit population model (SEPM), called PATCH. This is a raster datasets with a cell size of 1000 m. Contributed by the Wildlands Project. Lead contact Conrad Reining. Ref: Carroll, C. (2005).

Predicted Lynx Habitat with population cycling only in the Gaspe (lynx_no_trap)

Predicted Lynx Habitat with population cycling only in the Gaspe peninsula. This data set is one of the outputs of Carlos Carroll's work on focal species in the Northern Appalachians. Static habitat suitability models for lynx, marten, and wolf were fed through a spatially explicit population model (SEPM), called PATCH. This is a raster datasets with a cell size of 1000 m. Contributed by the Wildlands Project. Lead contact Conrad Reining. Ref: Carroll, C. (2005).

Predicted Marten Habitat under current landscape conditions (2003) (marten_current)

Predicted Marten Habitat under current landscape conditions - Survival in trapped areas 90% of base level, survival in untrapped areas 100% of base level. This data set is one of the outputs of Carlos Carroll's work on focal species in the Northern Appalachians. Static habitat suitability models for lynx, marten, and wolf were fed through a spatially explicit population model (SEPM), called PATCH. This is a raster datasets with a cell size of 1000 m. Contributed by the Wildlands Project. Lead contact Conrad Reining. Ref: Carroll, C. (2005).

Predicted Marten Habitat under timber restoration scenario (marten_restore)

Predicted Marten Habitat under timber restoration scenario ? conversion of all regenerating forest to mixed/conifer forest. This data set is one of the outputs of Carlos Carroll's work on focal species in the Northern Appalachians. Static habitat suitability models for lynx, marten, and wolf were fed through a spatially explicit population model (SEPM), called PATCH. This is a raster datasets with a cell size of 1000 m. Contributed by the Wildlands Project. Lead contact Conrad Reining. Ref: Carroll, C. (2005).

New Brunswick Buffer (new_brunswick_buffer)

A proposed wildlands network design for the Greater Northern Appalachian network design for the Greater Northern Appalachian region of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Contributed by the Wildlands Network. Project lead is Conrad Reining.

Selection Frequency (summed_summed_runs)

The average of the summed runs from all 12 scenarios of a reserve site selection analysis performed using MARXAN with 10 square km hexagon planning units (100 runs per scenario, 12 scenarios analyzed). Planning units attributed with the values between 0 and 100, representing the average frequency of selection. Contributed by the Wildlands Project. Lead researchers Patrick Doran and Conrad Reining.

Wildlands Network Design (wildland_network_design)

A proposed wildlands network design for the Greater Northern Appalachian network design for the Greater Northern Appalachian region of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Contributed by the Wildlands Network. Project lead is Conrad Reining.

Predicted Wolf Habitat under future landscape change (2025) (wolf_2005)

Predicted Wolf Habitat under future landscape change scenario (year 2025).This data set is one of the outputs of Carlos Carroll's work on focal species in the Northern Appalachians. Static habitat suitability models for lynx, marten, and wolf were fed through a spatially explicit population model (SEPM), called PATCH. This is a raster datasets with a cell size of 1000 m. Contributed by the Wildlands Project. Lead contact Conrad Reining. Ref: Carroll, C. (2005).