3/22/2018. Why this not good enough? Why care about biological diversity?

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1 Inform Your Organization's Land Conservation Priorities using these DEEP Natural Resources Spatial Layers Wildlife Division Laura Saucier, Wildlife Diversity Program Robin Blum, Ecological Services Program Critical Habitats Layer Depicts 25 rare and specialized communities in Connecticut Product of a project Tool to be used for landscape planning and natural resource protection Smaller areas; 1 to tens of acres Specialized sub-habitats that provide critical habitat for rare flora and fauna Many are associated with interesting geologic features Critical Habitats of Connecticut 1. Beachshore (ocean and riverine) 2. Intertidal marsh 3. Acidic Atlantic white cedar swamp 4. Acidic red/black spruce basin swamp 5. Circumneutral northern white cedar swamp 6. Flood plain forest 7. Circumneutral spring fen 8. Coastal plain pond 9. Medium fen 10. Poor fen 11. Rich fen 12. Sea-level fen 13. Coastal wood/shrubland 13. Dry acidic forest (on sand/gravel) 14. Dry circumneutral forest (on marble) 15. Dry subacidic forest 16. Old growth forest 17. Subacidic cold talus forest 18. Acidic rocky summit outcrop 19. Alluvial grassland/outcrop 20. Circumneutral rocky summit outcrop 21. Coastal bluffs and headlands 22. Coastal grasslands 23. Sand barren 24. Subacidic rocky summit outcrop If the Critical Habitats layer is not new, why talk about it today? Reminder that land protection from development is a matter of urgency Critical Habitats receive no state regulatory protection DEEP involvement only comes into play if state money or state permits are required for a development/project DEEP has little funding for purchasing land or entering into conservation easements Some of these habitats are more vulnerable to development than others (wetlands vs. uplands) In 1998, Metzler and Wagner drafted a list of the 13 most imperiled ecosystems in Connecticut; those systems that were faced with the most immediate threat. These are also represented in Critical Habitats layer. Towns and land trusts are at the forefront of protecting Critical Habitats in our state. Towns and land trusts should be empowered to protect our ecological integrity. Towns and land trusts are the champions of protecting Connecticut s biological diversity. Why care about biological diversity? What protects our biological diversity currently? Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species in Connecticut The Connecticut Endangered Species Act, passed in 1989, recognizes the importance of our state s plant and animal populations and the need to protect them from threats that could lead to their extinction. The overall goal of the legislation is to conserve, protect, restore and enhance any endangered or threatened species and their essential habitat. Why this not good enough? Why is the Connecticut Endangered Species Act not good enough to protect our biological diversity? The land (Critical Habitats) has no regulatory means of protection Currently, the only means to protect the land is through statutory protection of state-listed species that may occur there Using the CT Endangered Species Act (CT ESA) for indirect protection is not as effective as direct protection of Critical Habitats could be, but it s the best we can do at this time CT ESA offers no protections for these special habitats where species have NOT been documented Caveat #1: the assumption that we know where all rare species occur Caveat #2: the assumption that we even know enough about the status of a species to even put it on the CT ESA Photo: DEEP Photo: DEEP 1

2 CASE STUDY: Inland dune Dune Ghost Tiger Beetle Cicindela lepida Critical Habitat: Sand Barren Dune specialist Habitat is pure white to pale yellow dry sandy areas with sparse or no vegetation, can include coastal and inland sand dunes. Ant lion Big Sand Tiger beetle In Connecticut, this species only occurs in areas that were covered by glacial Lake Hitchcock (Rocky Hill north into MA). The sand deposits left behind after glacial Lake Hitchcock drained are evident in towns like Enfield, Windsor, South Windsor Photos: Michael Thomas, DEEP, NPS Cicada killer Bee wolf Over 300 species of invertebrates have been documented using the Critical Habitats associated with the sandy deposits left behind by Glacial Lake Hitchcock (D. Wagner, University of Connecticut). Consider the species diversity of other Critical Habitats! Slide: Dave Wagner Freshwater Mussel Map DEEP recently created a map to identify and aid in protecting the watersheds that have sensitive freshwater mussels Primary means of protecting freshwater mussels is to minimize non-point source pollution What are freshwater mussels? Freshwater Mussels of Connecticut 1. Dwarf wedge Federal Endangered, State Endangered 2. Brook floater State Endangered (likely to be federally listed in the next 5 years) 3. Yellow lampmussel Species of Special Concern 4. Eastern pearlshell Species of Special Concern 7. Triangle floater 8. Creeper** 9. Alewife floater 10. Eastern elliptio 11. Eastern lampmussel Freshwater clams Mollusks Family Unionoidae ( pearly mussels ) 5. Eastern pondmussel Species of Special Concern 6. Tidewater mucket Species of Special Concern 12. Eastern floater Why are they important? Environmental Importance Important to freshwater ecosystems Filter feeders; bacteria, phytoplankton, detritus Adult mussel can filter up to 38 gallons of water a day Food web: raccoons, otters, muskrats and wading birds all prey on them North America has the highest diversity (35%) of species in the world! 297 species endemic to North America One of the most imperiled group of organisms (70% of species in North America are listed as Endangered or Threatened) 35 species have gone extinct in the last century Threats to Freshwater Mussels Landscape changes over the last 300 years colonial cutting, agriculture, reforestation happened relatively quickly Continued habitat loss and degradation dams (impoundments)-mills, flood control dewatering, lake draw-downs dredging, herbicides, algaecides stabilization, channelization and rip rap loss of riparian habitat water quality- non-point source pollution from urban development in the watershed Land Trusts can help reverse riparian loss and preserve habitat in the watershed to lessen the impacts to water quality from non-point source pollution. Wildlife Division Photos: Harvard forest dioramas, DEEP, USFWS 2

3 Natural Diversity Database Automation Project - Site Assessments Expected roll out in early 2019 Through DEEP s ezfile Portal ( Create user account Choose site assessment under the NDDB options Draw or upload polygons representing area of interest Receive a PDF report containing species list, snapshot of map, date, and applicant info REPEATEDLY DELAYED!!!!! New NDDB Request Site Assessment 3

4 REPEATEDLY DELAYED!!!!! Nature s Network A collaborative effort facilitated by the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative, a conservation partnership established in 2009 by the DOI (northatlanticlcc.org). Partners include 13 northeastern states, USFWS, NGOs, Universities Identifies opportunities for conserving and connecting intact habitats and ecosystems and supporting imperiled species or, link to it from NALCC Products page A suite of decision-support tools representing 5 conservation approaches: Conserve the irreplaceable id connected, intact, resilient areas Make better decisions for the future projections on how changes will affect natural resources Maximize limited resources science-based guidance Support local priorities with regional perspective Find opportunities to work together 4

5 Key Points and Fact Sheet documents available at: Questions? THANK YOU FOR STICKING IT OUT UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY!!! 5