Working together for wildlife

From the York County Coast Star, June 30, 1999
Reproduced with permission.

By Lois Winter

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in conjunction with its affiliate Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge play a major role supporting local conservation efforts through the Gulf of Maine Program.

Established in 1991 as one of 11 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Ecosystems Programs, the Gulf of Maine Program offers technical assistance and directs interested individuals and organizations including state agencies, local conservation commissions, land trusts and state-wide organizations to funding opportunities.

Opportunities that 1) protect important fish and wildlife habitat through acquisition or 2) improve degraded habitat by restoring rivers and salt marshes.

When we began we first wanted to learn, "Where is the most important habitat for fish and wildlife in 14 coastal towns from Cape Elizabeth to Kittery?" Next we wanted to use the information, in collaboration with the Coastal Mosaic Project partners, to prioritize, catalyze and identify new land protection opportunities.

We began by selecting 43 threatened, endangered or declining species regularly found in southern Maine -- waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, anadromous and marine fish -- for our habitat analysis. Next, we identified, ranked and mapped habitat for all species. "One of our newest tools to identify nationally important habitat and to prioritize protection efforts is the Geographic Information System (GIS)," says Dr. Arnold Banner, Senior Biologist at the Gulf of Maine Program. GIS is a computer system designed to assemble, manipulate and display information that we can locate on a map – such as habitat for fish and wildlife.

For some species, such as piping plovers, we were able to use actual sightings to precisely map habitat. For others wider-ranging species, such as woodcock, we combined information on actual sightings with habitat models based on the environmental needs of each species. Once maps for each species were completed, two composite maps were created – one ranking important habitat for all species and one identifying important habitats in grasslands, forests, freshwater wetlands and estuaries. Large unfragmented natural areas were also mapped. All of this information is available on a CD that can help focus land protection efforts towards individual species, specific habitat types or large natural areas. "The CD includes a report describing the analysis, habitat maps and ArcExplorer, a simple GIS viewer that allows you to examine the entire region or zoom in to a particular plot of land," commented Stew Fefer, Project Leader at the Gulf of Maine Program.

While the composite maps highlight areas with important habitat values, it’s important to recognize that:

• other areas are likely to be important for other wildlife species not included in this analysis.
• this analysis is based on the best available information and identifies habitat most likely to be used, and
• wildlife populations increase, decrease and change location over time.

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge staff, working in cooperation with willing landowners, will use the results of this analysis to focus potential Refuge acquisitions in areas with highest value fish and wildlife values. In addition, the maps can help catalyze voluntary habitat protection efforts through partnerships. Where habitat values are nationally significant, federal matching funds may be available to support land acquisition by conservation partners.

As additional information is collected, it can be incorporated into this habitat analysis. For example, the Coastal Mosaic Project staff at Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is currently developing maps identifying conservation lands in the region. Once completed, the conservation lands data can be integrated with the information on important habitats to help identify areas that may be in greatest need of protection.

If you have a computer with Windows 95, 98 or NT, and if you are involved in conservation initiatives in southern Maine, you can request the CD from the Gulf of Maine Program by calling 207-781-8364. Feel free to call the Gulf of Maine Program for assistance in installing the data on your computer, and be sure to call if you need help in interpreting the information accurately. The Coastal Mosaic Project at the Wells Reserve also has access to the habitat information on the CD and you can call them at 207-646-1555 ext.229 for specific requests or printed maps.

The purpose of this information is to assist us in making better-informed choices to enhance the quality of life in our communities. If we continue to work together and pool our time, resources and expertise, the future for fish and wildlife… and us all will be in good hands in southern Maine.

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