Wide-ranging Species Conservation

“The overwhelming message from population viability studies of large carnivores is that conservation planning must be undertaken at vast spatial scales and must consider connectivity. . . If maintaining viable populations of species that have large home ranges and are vulnerable to human activities is an objective, then the conservation planner must grapple with the design and management of entire landscapes.” (Noss et al. 1996)

MERIT Panther Subteam Members and Co-authors:

Author Affiliation ExpertiseRandy Kautz FFWCC Conservation planningBob Kawula FFWCC GIS data analysisTom Hoctor UF Landscape modelingJane Comiskey UT Mathematical modelingDeborah Jansen BCNP Public land biologistDawn Jennings USFWS Team leaderJohn Kasbohm USFWS Recovery coordinatorDavid Maehr UK Panther researcherFrank Mazzotti UF Wildlife and land useRoy McBride FFWCC Panther capture teamLarry Richardson FPNWR Public land biologistKaren Root BGSU PVA modeling

Panther Subteam Goals:

• Identify areas essential to the long-term survival of the Florida panther in the wild.

• Identify landscape linkage(s) to habitats north of Caloosahatchee River to ensure future dispersal.

• Identify areas that could be restored to provide additional habitat for panthers.

• All of this work done in a best science, consensus-based reserve design process

Panther Habitat/Landscape Zones:

• Primary Zone

• Dispersal Zone

• Secondary Zone

“The Primary, Dispersal and Secondary zones comprise essential components of a landscape-scale conservation plan for the protection of a viable Florida panther population in south Florida.”

Primary zoneSecondary zone Dispersal zonePublic lands

Florida PantherSubteam of MERIT

August 27-28, 2001Final Boundaries of

Primary Zone,Secondary Zone, and

Dispersal Zone

Florida Ecological Greenways Network 2013 Update Goals

• Update the FEGN to identify a functionally connected statewide ecological network of public and private conservation lands that incorporates new and updated GIS data.

• Ensure the FEGN maximizes protection of high priority natural communities and species identified in the Florida State Wildlife Action Plan.

• Address climate change impacts to maximize the potential of Florida’s native biodiversity to functionally respond to sea-level rise and other environmental changes.

2013 FEGN Update Panther Maxent Results

2013 FEGN Update Panther

Circuitscape Results

New FEGN (2013)

CLIPCLIP

Critical Lands & WatersIdentification Project

Critical Lands & WatersIdentification Project

CLIP Database Schematic

CLIP Database Schematic

Strategic Habitat Conservation

Areas

Potential Habitat Richness

Rare Spp. Habitat Conserv. Priorities

Priority Natural Communities

FL Ecological Greenways Network

Landscape Integrity Index

Significant Surface Waters

Natural Floodplain

Wetlands

Core Data Layers Resource Categories

Aggregated CLIP ModelBiodiversity

Landscapes

Surface Water

Groundwater

Marine

Aquifer Recharge

10 Marine Layers

CLIP v3.0 Aggregated PrioritiesCLIP v3.0 Aggregated Priorities

CLIP and the BlueprintCLIP and the BlueprintCooperative Conservation Blueprint

CLIP is the Science Expert science product A unified GIS application Stands alone

Blueprint Builds on CLIP Cross links with social & economic priorities Creates GIS overlay

Cooperative Conservation Blueprint

CLIP is the Science Expert science product A unified GIS application Stands alone

Blueprint Builds on CLIP Cross links with social & economic priorities Creates GIS overlay

Blueprint Regional Pilot Study Areas

Overall Coordination Mary Oakley & Tom

Hoctor Ensure regional continuity

Southwest Christine Small &

Julie Morris Ecological connectivity

work

Northern Everglades Kim Love Landowner incentive work Focus on water

CCB Regional Pilot Project Elements

• Create a regional science-based map of landscape-scale conservation priorities (a Regional CLIP).

• Work with federal, state, and local partners.• Identify best potential routes for protecting

ecological connectivity and other conservation priorities.

• Identify existing and proposed incentives.• Work with strategic landowners to discuss

conservation options including non-regulatory incentives relevant to selected corridor routes.

Draft Regional CLIP PrioritiesDraft Regional CLIP Priorities

CCB Subcommittee

Corridors

CCB Subcommittee

Corridors

Panther Habitat Data SynthesisTom Hoctor, University of Florida

Julie Morris, Wildlands ConservationMike O’Brien

University of Tennessee

Panther Habitat Model

University of Tennessee

Panther Habitat Model

USFWS Panther Focal

Areas

USFWS Panther Focal

Areas

CCB Regional CLIP Priority

Areas

CCB Regional CLIP Priority

Areas

University of Florida FEGN

Panther Maxent

Habitat Model

University of Florida FEGN

Panther Maxent

Habitat Model

UT and Potential

Panther Habitat Synthesis Model

UT and Potential

Panther Habitat Synthesis Model

Panther Habitat

Overlay Model

Panther Habitat

Overlay Model