Jeff Jarvis
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 4:30-5:00
To assess the conservation significance of the newest United States network of protected areas, the BLM-administered National Landscape Conservation System, we employed GIS techniques using a dataset of special status animal species aggregated from NatureServe (2006). Our analyses suggest that the creation of a conservation system that emphasizes biodiversity and species of concern can play a significant role in the conserving of special status species, as well as the natural ecosystems on which their survival depends. Conservation designated areas such as these can conserve a greater proportion of special status animal species habitat than would be predicted by their area alone. Such directed conservation efforts will play a vital role in protecting the biodiversity of the United States.
Keywords: BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION, ENDANGERED SPECIES, GIS ANALYSIS, PUBLIC LANDS