{ "layers": [ { "currentVersion": 10.91, "cimVersion": "2.9.0", "id": 0, "name": "Natures Network Conservation Design 180625_cbw", "type": "Raster Layer", "description": "

Nature\u2019s Network Conservation Design depicts an interconnected network of lands and waters that, if protected, will support a diversity of fish, wildlife, and natural resources that the people of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region depend upon. This map serves as the \u201ccover page\u201d for the Nature\u2019s Network (<\/SPAN>n<\/SPAN>aturesnetwork.org<\/SPAN><\/A>) suite of products: it outlines some of the most important natural areas in the region and provides an entry point to learn more about the information used to identify them. The Conservation Design represents a combination of three Nature\u2019s Network products: 1) the Terrestrial Core-connector Network, 2) aquatic core areas, and 3) Core Habitat for Imperiled Species.<\/SPAN><\/P>

The <\/SPAN>Terrestrial Core-connector Network<\/SPAN><\/A> is made up of two components: 1) terrestrial and wetland core areas, and 2) connectors. <\/SPAN>Terrestrial and wetland core areas<\/SPAN>are intact, well-connected places that have the potential to support wildlife and plants that occur in terrestrial settings (such as upland forests) or in wetlands (such as marshes). These core areas contain important or unique features, including intact, resilient examples of every major ecosystem type in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Core areas contain widespread ecosystems (such as hardwood forests), rare natural communities (such as bogs), and important habitat for a variety of fish, wildlife, and plants. By design, they encompass approximately 25% of the landscape of the region. Core areas are linked together by a network of <\/SPAN>connectors<\/SPAN>. If protected, the connectors will foster the movement of animals and plants between core areas and across the landscape into the future. An additional feature of the Terrestrial Core-connector Network is a separately derived network of <\/SPAN>Grassland Bird Core Areas<\/SPAN>, the top 10% of which are incorporated into Nature\u2019s Network Conservation Design. Find more information and additional datasets that augment or complement the Terrestrial Core-connector Network here: <\/SPAN>http://www.naturesnetwork.org/data-tools/terrestrial-and-wetland-core-networks/<\/SPAN><\/A>.<\/SPAN><\/P>

Aquatic core areas<\/SPAN><\/A> are intact, well-connected stream reaches, lakes, and ponds in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region that, if protected as part of stream networks and watersheds, will support a broad diversity of aquatic species and the ecosystems on which they depend. They serve as the aquatic counterpart to terrestrial and wetland core areas. They feature intact, resilient examples of every major aquatic ecosystem in the region and also are designed to incorporate habitat for important species such as brook trout, American shad and Atlantic salmon. By design, aquatic core areas encompass approximately 30% of both the region\u2019s river and stream miles (lotic core areas) and the region\u2019s area of lakes and ponds (lentic core areas). Find more information and additional datasets that augment or complement the aquatic core areas here: <\/SPAN>http://www.naturesnetwork.org/data-tools/aquatic-core-networks/<\/SPAN><\/A><\/P>

Core Habitat for Imperiled Species<\/SPAN><\/A> can be viewed as relatively intact areas that contain habitats likely to support high levels of imperiled terrestrial and aquatic species. This product represents a regional network of habitats critical for sustaining populations of imperiled species, based on over 600 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Core habitat for imperiled species is intended to complement aquatic core areas and terrestrial and wetland core areas by highlighting ecosystem (habitat) types where they are closely associated with high numbers of imperiled species. By design, core habitats encompass approximately the top 10% of the natural landscapes estimated to be intact and most important for sustaining imperiled species. Find more information and additional datasets that augment or complement Core Habitat for Imperiled Species here: <\/SPAN>http://www.naturesnetwork.org/data-tools/habitat/<\/SPAN><\/A><\/P>

Intended Uses<\/SPAN><\/P>