PROCESS

The Conservation Lands Network was created by a collaborative group of more than 125 scientists and resource managers representing over 40 agencies, conservation nonprofits, universities, and environmental consulting firms.  The project used existing data, supplemented by expert opinion, to identify a network of conservation lands for biological diversity preservation. 

A detailed description of the approach and methodology can be found in Chapter 3 of the report.

Working closely together for several years, the project:

• Conducted a “coarse filter” gap analysis that inventoried the distribution and protection levels for all vegetation types in the Bay Area, and set conservation goals that ensure protection of the target species throughout their range.

• Identified a "Coarse Filter Conservation Lands Network" using conservation planning software, 100-hectare hexagonal planning units, and 556 vegetation type conservation targets that best meets those conservation goals while including existing protected lands and factoring in the ecological integrity of the landscape.

• The Coarse Filter Conservation Lands Network was refined by “fine filter” analysis that reviewed the effectiveness of the network to meet the habitat requirements of hundreds of plant, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile and invertebrate conservation targets, as well as key features such as serpentine soils and ponds.

The resulting Conservation Lands Network encompasses a mosaic of interconnected habitats and the ecological processes essential to meet the biodiversity goals.  Rather than identifying specific parcels, the Conservation Land Network is a regional approach to biodiversity conservation across all nine Bay Area counties.

Photos: Acorn by California Native Plant Society.  Coyote by Bob Gunderson.