Mid-South Terrestrial Broadly Defined Habitats Condition Index with Barcode
Summary
This layer identifies terrestrial Broadly Defined Habitats associated with species of greatest conservation need as described in Wildlife Action Plans in the Mid-South region of the United States. Condition Index scores are assigned on a per-grid-cell basis at 30-meter resolution. Condition Index scores are derived from seven attributes related to desired condition metrics for specific habitats: 1) whether a targeted habitat is present, 2) patch size, 3) patch configuration or distance to nearest patch, 4) a site condition metric, such as basal area for forested landscapes, 5) a second site condition metric, such as overstory canopy cover for forested landscapes, 6) if targeted habitat not present, potential for restoration, and 7) [...]
Summary
This layer identifies terrestrial Broadly Defined Habitats associated with species of greatest conservation need as described in Wildlife Action Plans in the Mid-South region of the United States. Condition Index scores are assigned on a per-grid-cell basis at 30-meter resolution. Condition Index scores are derived from seven attributes related to desired condition metrics for specific habitats: 1) whether a targeted habitat is present, 2) patch size, 3) patch configuration or distance to nearest patch, 4) a site condition metric, such as basal area for forested landscapes, 5) a second site condition metric, such as overstory canopy cover for forested landscapes, 6) if targeted habitat not present, potential for restoration, and 7) if potential to restoration exists, whether grid cell is near existing habitat meeting a desired condition metric. Index scores range from 0 – 14 with zero describing non-habitat and 14 a targeted habitat meeting all desired condition metrics. The attribute table also includes a “bar code” or 13-digit number identifying classes of existing and potential habitat and which attributes contributed to the Condition Index score. This data layer product is a continuation of the development of the Conservation Blueprint, a landscape conservation planning tool originally developed by the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative.