CONSERVATION TARGETS, KEY ECOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES AND CRITERIA FOR SPATIAL DESIGN, Version 1.0
Summary
Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture and the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative have collaborated to identify and describe the state of conservation targets in the Pacific Coast Ecoregion in support of the Pacific Northwest Coast Conservation Blueprint (Landscape Conservation Design (LCD) project. This document presents a description of the primary ecological systems of the Pacific Coastal Ecoregion and recommends a framework for further LCD assessment and analysis. Within this document, 7 ecological systems are identified as common conservation targets among the entities engaged in the LCD partnership. This includes coastal forest, sandy beaches and coastal dunes, rocky shores and cliff, freshwater wetland, riverine, [...]
Summary
Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture and the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative have
collaborated to identify and describe the state of conservation targets in the Pacific Coast Ecoregion in
support of the Pacific Northwest Coast Conservation Blueprint (Landscape Conservation Design (LCD)
project. This document presents a description of the primary ecological systems of the Pacific Coastal
Ecoregion and recommends a framework for further LCD assessment and analysis.
Within this document, 7 ecological systems are identified as common conservation targets among the entities
engaged in the LCD partnership. This includes coastal forest, sandy beaches and coastal dunes, rocky shores
and cliff, freshwater wetland, riverine, estuarine, and oak and prairie. Each conservation target has a profile
that includes a general description and recommended classification system, nested habitat targets, previous
assessments and prioritizations, potential landscape-scale Key Ecological Attributes (KEA) and indicators,
potential focal species, major impacts (threats), associated ecosystem services, and key spatial design criteria.
Three concepts are central to ecological function--connectivity, diversity, and resiliency. These concepts were
identified as major ecosystem drivers across all 7 ecological system targets.
The assessment was conducted by Pacific Birds staff and a consultant in collaboration with U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service staff, and presented to Pacific Northwest Coast LCD participants on two occasions. The
project was funded in part by a grant from the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative and
in-kind contributions from Pacific Birds staff.
