Table 1. LCC Annual Process for Assessing Science Needs and Selecting Projects NEAFWA RCN Annual Process Date(s) LCC Event LCC Decision or Process NEAFWA NEAFWA Decision or Process October October LCC Technical Committee Meeting/Call Recommendations on Projects for LCC Funding Meeting Approve RCN Recommendations Recommendations on CSC Needs November November LCC Steering Committee meeting Funding Decisions on LCC Projects (including RCN projects for LCC support) NEAFWA Directors Meeting Final Decisions on RCN Projects Approve Recommendations on Climate Science Center Needs Approve Modification to Priority Topics for RFP December Notify Applicants/Announce Funding Decisions Request on Science Needs to Partners RCN Request for Proposals LCC Steering Committee Conf. Call Additional Decisions on Projects (as needed) March Technical Committee Call/Meeting Develop Recommendations on Science Needs RCN Proposals due April Steering Committee meeting at Northeast F&W Conference Approval of Science Needs (including RCN topics that LCC could support); Additional decisions on projects (as needed) Directors Meeting at Northeast F&W Conference Select Priority RCN Topics for Following Year Northeast F&W Conference Presentations on completed LCC Projects Northeast F&W Conference Presentations on completed RCN Projects Provide RCN proposals to tech. review teams May-June Assess need for RFP or direct contracts Technical review scores due Issue targeted RFP if needed July Technical Committee Call/Meeting Review of Proposals, recommendations on initial science projects, identification of need for further work on proposals Proposals reviewed and scored by states August LCC Steering Committee Conf. Call Decisions on initial projects (as needed) September Revision of proposals (as needed); input from Northeast Fish and Wildlife Diversity Technical Committee NE F&W Diversity Tech. Com. Recommendations on RCN projects
NALCC: Specific vulnerability assessments of cold water stream habitats and species including brook trout •Additional support for brook trout and other cold water vulnerability assessments incorporating EBTJV needs USGS Science Center support, Coordination with ongoing projects and EBTJV NALCC: Vulnerability of coastal wetlands and beaches to sea level rise and other anthropogenic stressors •Assess current state of sea level rise data and tools for predicting impacts to coastal habitats; determine gaps and needs. LCC working with NOAA, NPS, USGS, EPA, and CZMs Action 6: Develop and apply models Designing Sustainable Landscapes for Wildlife: forecasting changes to landscapes, habitats and species & development of decision support tools (NALCC 2010); Forecast effects of sea level rise on habitat of piping plovers & identify responsive conservation strategies (NALCC 2010); Forecasting changes in aquatic systems and resilience of aquatic populations (NALCC 2010) NALCC: Species-habitat modeling and mapping of aquatic species; Species-habitat modeling and mapping of terrestrial and wetland species •Complete ongoing terrestrial, aquatic and coastal projects LCC NALCC: Adaptive Management Frameworks for Representative Species •Support Adaptive Management Framework for American Black Duck LCC, BDJV Action 7: Determine immediate priorities (triage) RCN 7: Identify and Assess Threats to NE Species of Greatest Conservation Need •Assess LCC and RCN role on as needed basis LCC, NEAFWA Design Strategy 1: Assess decision support needs •Ensure that all projects have links to and input from conservation decision-makers. LCC Action 2: Develop regional, consistent, spatial databases RCN: Creation of Regional Habitat Cover Maps: Application of the NE Terrestrial Habitat Classification System (RCN 2007-1) • Finish mapping all (Canada, lakes); • Usable product limits); RCN Topic 1: Develop Regional Base Maps for Analyses of NE SGCN Data (marine); •RCN or LCC support for marine mapping NEAFWA, LCC
RCN: An interactive, GIS-based application to estimate continuous, unimpacted daily streamflow at ungaged locations in the Connecticut River Basin (RCN 2007-6) RCN: Instream Flow for Great Lakes Basin of NY and PA (RCN 2010-2) DD: Northeast Aquatic Classification and Mapping/Northeast Aquatic Habitat Classification System (Doris Duke) DD: Northeast Terrestrial Habitat Classification System (Doris Duke) DD: Secured Lands of the Northeast (Doris Duke 2007) • Mapping accuracy and validation; • Layers (land use, threats, refugia, invasives); • Create distribution maps for regional responsibility/high concern species •Better aquatic temperature data/classification NALCC: Habitat mapping and modeling at NALCC scale •Consider expansions of consistent data layers into Canada LCC with Canadian partners NALCC: Habitat mapping and modeling of marine bird distributions and coastal migration of birds and bats •Work with North Atlantic Marine Bird Cooperative to assess priorities LCC, USFWS, ACJV NALCC: Managed Lands Database Development •Work with ACJV on proposal for database LCC, ACJV Consistent/updated secured lands database •Ensure incorporation of information from National Conservation Easement Database into Northeast Secure Lands Database (TNC) LCC, TNC Assess for consistent data layers on stream temperature and hydrology LCC, USGS Action 3: Assess the existing habitat capacity RCN: Geospatial Condition Analysis of Northeast Habitats on the Northeast SGCN Habitat Maps (RCN 2009-2) RCN: The Conservation Status of Key Habitats and Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Eastern Region (RCN 2007-5) • Create distribution maps for regional responsibility/high concern species. NALCC: Assessment of forest condition and management •Complete first phase of representative species-habitat modeling including distribution maps; •Consider more detailed status assessments of habitats based on results of RCN LCC, NEAFWA
Conservation Status Report Action 4: Determine habitat objectives NALCC: Designing Sustainable Landscapes for Wildlife: forecasting changes to landscapes, habitats and species & development of decision support tools (NALCC 2010); •Complete first phase of representative species-habitat modeling LCC Action 5: Predict landscape change and future capacity Designing Sustainable Landscapes for Wildlife: forecasting changes to landscapes, habitats and species & development of decision support tools (NALCC 2010); NALCC: Forecast effects of sea level rise on habitat of piping plovers & identify responsive conservation strategies (NALCC 2010); NALCC: Forecasting changes in aquatic systems and resilience of aquatic populations (NALCC 2010) • Better information/tools on assessing sea level rise impacts on species and marsh management NALCC: Climate model downscaling •Complete phase of three LCC landscape change projects; •Identify additional needs for Climate Science Center LCC, CSC Action 6: Develop decision-support tools RCN: Northeast Regional Connectivity Assessment Project (RCN 2007-2) RCN: Proposal to Establish a Regional Initiative for Biomass Energy Development For Early-Succession SGCN in the Northeast (RCN 2007-7) RCN: An Interactive, GIS-based Application to Estimate Target Fish Communities in Northeastern Streams (RCN 2008-1) NALCC: Forecasting changes in aquatic systems and resilience of aquatic populations (NALCC 2010) NALCC: Forecast effects of sea level rise on habitat of piping plovers & identify responsive conservation strategies (NALCC 2010); NALCC: Designing Sustainable Landscapes for Wildlife: forecasting changes to landscapes, habitats and species & development of decision support tools (NALCC 2010); •Working with implementers/users, translate the information into usable tools •Complete phase of three LCC landscape change projects; •Involve user groups in ongoing or completed projects LCC, NEAFWA
American Black Duck Monitoring Action 1: Coordinate existing population surveys RCN: Development of avian indicators and measures for monitoring threats and effectiveness of conservation actions in the Northeast (RCN 2007-4) • The Conservation of Marsh Tidal Birds: Guiding Action at the Intersection of Our Changing Landscape (Comp SWG) •Identify and leverage existing federal monitoring programs and develop state/tribal/ngo surveys to complement the federal surveys to provide regional status •Establish Uniform Monitoring Practices that can be applied across large geographic areas for multi-jurisdictional resources •Host coordination meeting with LCC, NWRS and NPS I&M programs LCC Action 2: Identify and support unmet priority monitoring needs RCN: Regional Analysis of Frog Monitoring (RCN 2010-4) RCN: Development of Non-invasive Monitoring Tools for New England Cottontail Populations: Implications for Tracking Early Successional Ecosystem Health (RCN 2009-4) • Ensure accurate monitoring of representative species to support biological assessment and conservation design •Identify and increase ways to include citizen scientists in monitoring RCN 6: Design and Implement Monitoring Protocols, Measures, and Indicators for NE Species of Greatest Conservation Need (aquatic, estuarine, marine) •Further define this RCN (no projects were identified through RFP) NEAFWA RCN NALCC: Detecting changes in species distribution (for invasives) •Explore role in invasive species monitoring through detail by invasive species expert LCC •Identify monitoring for selected representative species USFWS, LCC Action 3: Coordinate closely with NPS and NWRs I&M Programs Flyway Integrated Waterbird Monitoring and Management •Identify and leverage existing federal monitoring programs and develop surveys to complement the federal surveys to provide regional status •Host coordination meeting with LCC, NWRS and NPS I&M programs LCC Action 4: Develop habitat monitoring objectives and assess net change Analysis of recent landscape change •Explore options for assessing contemporary change LCC, USGS, EPA
Action 5: Develop metrics for measuring success of conservation actions DD: Northeast Regional Monitoring and Performance Reporting Framework Duke) RCN: Regional Indicators and Measures: Beyond Conservation Land (RCN 2008-5) • Specific performance criteria and reporting must be a required part of all RCN projects--best if they are standardized • Long-term monitoring and performance evaluation to feed into the conservation framework, Fund implementation of the NE Regional Monitoring and Performance Reporting Framework •NEAFWA RCN Support for implementation of the NE Regional Monitoring and Performance Reporting Framework NEAFWA Action 6: Compile results from existing accomplishment tracking databases •SWG Success Stories: Immediate need for reporting on success of SWG work. •Compile recent SWG results NEAFWA, USFWS Action 7: Use results of monitoring to adapt future planning •Develop protocols for regular updating of planning Research Action 1: Identify and prioritize applied research needs USFWS: FWINS database •Modify existing or develop new online research needs tracking database LCC, USFWS Action 2: Coordinate funding for priority applied research projects RCN: Exploring the Connection Between Arousal Patterns in Hibernating Bats and White Nose Syndrome: Immediate Funding Needs for the Northeast Region (RCN RCN: Lab and Field Testing of Treatments for WNS (RCN 2010-1) •Establish process for exchange of information on emerging research needs among federal and state agency research funding programs Action 3: Work with the Northeast Climate Science Center (CSC) to identify annual research priorities •Establish close working relationship with new Northeast CSC; build CSC needs assessment into annual LCC needs assessment process LCC, USGS
Information Action 1: Conduct an information needs assessment •Support and engage in the forthcoming regional information assessment Long-term data management system •Develop a technical team and work with contractor to conduct a Northeast information assessment LCC, NEAFWA, USFWS Action 2: Design and develop database/portal •Develop a way for states, LCCs and other partners to immediately access the habitat mapping and geospatial condition analysis products coming out of the RCN process •Create regional geospatial database that can be shared and used all partners • An information delivery mechanism should be a requirement of every future RCN product •Support and engage in the forthcoming regional information needs assessment • Institutionalize long term datasets on a Regional cooperative basis • Create data sharing agreements between all members of NE conservation community Long-term data management system •Based on results of Northeast information needs assessment, design and pilot a northeast database/portal system LCC, NEAFWA, Action 3: Compile and link to existing databases Develop a way for states, LCCs and other partners to immediately access the habitat mapping and geospatial condition analysis products NALCC: Online tool for accessing the most recent conservation designs •Work with partners to compile existing maps and conservation designs LCC Action 4: Develop and maintain new specific databases RCN: Development of an Online Database to Enhance the Conservation of SGCN Invertebrates in the Northeastern Region (RCN 2009-3) •Regional habitat management database •Support development of SWAP database to promote consistency in next generation of SWAPs NALCC: Managed Lands Database Development NALCC: Consistent, updated secured lands database •Work with ACJV on proposal for managed lands database; LCC, ACJV •Support development of SWAP database pilot NEAFWA, LCC