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2	Virginia’s Natural Heritage Program Mission: Identify, protect & conserve Virginia’s biodiversity Focus on: Rare plants and animals Rare and exemplary natural communities Significant caves and karst features
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4	Distribution of Natural Heritage Resources • 3,883 rare animal populations • 3,773 rare plant populations • 1,520 exemplary natural communities
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6	Why not just listed species? DNH tracks information on 258 G1 and G2 species and communities (the rarest of the rare globally). 6 of the 258 are communities, which are not listed 42 of the 258 are federally listed 23 of the 258 are not federally listed but are state listed This leaves 193 G1 - G2 NH resources unlisted 38 of the non-listed G1 - G2 species and communities are known from 2 or 3 locations 91 of the non-listed G1 - G2 species and communities are known from one location Conclusion: protecting only listed species could cause a species’ extinction with just one construction project
7	Virginia’s Natural Area Preserve System
8	"Mapped boundaries that enclose" Mapped boundaries that enclose: One or more natural heritage resources, and The surrounding habitat or buffer necessary to protect the resources. Represent land that should be considered for protection of the natural heritage resources. Do NOT represent protected lands
9	Stream Conservation Units (SCUs) Stream reaches are highlighted to flag presence of aquatic NH resources and signify that protection of these aquatic elements should be considered. SCUs: stream reaches that contain aquatic natural heritage resources 2 miles upstream and 1 mile downstream of documented occurrences, and all tributaries within this reach.
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12	Conservation Site Boundaries Conservation site boundaries include the full extent of known NH resources, and can also include: Adjacent associated habitat Buffer from adjacent disturbance, predation, or invasive species risks Additional land that may be necessary for effective stewardship, e.g.: Management of direct impacts to hydrology or water quality. Sufficient area to manage prescribed burn, for fire-dependent species
13	Sources of Conservation Site Boundaries Detailed conservation site plans contained in DNH technical reports Developed through: Comprehensive inventory work or Conservation planning work Biologists’ field notes, Aerial photography, and/or Other in-office resources
14	Uses of Conservation Sites Data Screening projects for potential impacts Local and regional planning Targets for acquisitions and easements Guide priorities for restoration activities Key factor in Virginia Conservation Lands Needs Assessment (VCLNA)
15	VA Conservation Lands Needs Assessment (VCLNA) An integrated assemblage of datasets and prioritization guidelines that serves as a flexible tool that can identify Green Infrastructure according to the needs and strategies of different conservation interests Widely applicable tool for identifying and prioritizing land conservation Data is available in: GIS format for in house manipulation and use Web based application to provide local users with GIS tools and information at the desktop via the Web (i.e. ArcIMS site)
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17	Virginia Natural Heritage Data Explorer Allows internet users to conduct basic GIS functions on a remote website Requires only Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser and minimal instruction to operate Alternative to receiving digital data to integrate into existing GIS system Available on a subscription basis to organizations only There is a charge to for-profit organizations Found at www.vanaturalheritageexplorer.org
18	Land Conservation Data Explorer Online GIS mapping application that can be used to display, search, query, and print maps and lists of Virginia's conservation lands and VCLNA data. http://www.vaconservedlands.org
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