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Integration and Coordination
Getting Started
Definition
Purpose
Organizing
Examples & Links
Terms
Network Design
Vision and Goals
Network Scale
Integration
Design Principles
Application
Land Ratings
Design Checklist
Tips & Advice
Tools & Resources
Implementation
Acquisition
Incentives
Stewardship
Outreach
Funding
Maintenance
| Integration with other networks, programs and policies |  |
A plan for a conservation network should be integrated
and coordinated with other existing conservation planning efforts.
For example, The Nature Conservancy has developed ecoregional plans
for most areas in the United States. State fish and wildlife agencies
are developing comprehensive state wildlife conservation plans. The
Conservation Fund has its Green Infrastructure planning efforts.
In some areas, greenway plans have been developed. Coordinating efforts
can pool resources and avoid redundancy. The higher the number of
conflicting conservation plans for a given area, the lower the probability
that any of them will be implemented. |
This federal program provides money to state fish and wildlife agencies to develop comprehensive wildlife conservation plans by October 2005. Many of these plans will identify important habitats and some will likely propose statewide networks. After the plans are developed, the grant program will be available to fund projects consistent with the plans. This program should be a significant source of funding for habitat conservation in the future.
Conservation network maps can help guide and prioritize acquisitions by public agencies and private organizations, especially local governments and land trusts.
A conservation network and plan should be linked to any existing natural resources outreach and education programs to help with public and political support.
Few regulations are in place at any level of government that conserve wildlife habitat. However, some development may be limited by local environmental protection ordinances, wetland protection regulations, or restrictions on building in floodplains or on steep slopes.
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Conservation incentive benefits can be directed towards private landowners whose stewardship activities are critical to the success of a conservation network.
Wetland and conservation mitigation banks can be used to channel mitigation funds to highest priority habitats.
Protection of wetlands and other habitats are a natural way of managing stormwater and preventing floods without investing in costly infrastructure development.
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Overlaying proposed highway project maps with a map of priority conservation areas can guide future road building projects around ecologically sensitive areas and can help avoid costly road project delays.
Development and human activity should avoid areas prone to excessive damage from natural disasters, such as flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and mud and rock slides. These areas are also important ecologically, thereby producing multiple benefits by including them in the network.
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State heritage programs and similar biodiversity information sources can provide information for planning and assist with monitoring of the network.
Conservation network maps can help identify suitable and unsuitable places for development.
Network conservation efforts should be coordinated with activities of local land trusts and conservation organizations and linked to corporate conservation investments and mitigation activities.
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Zoning can be used to protect sensitive areas or natural hazard areas, such as flood plains, that may be an important part of a conservation network. Integrating conservation lands into local comprehensive land use plans is an effective way to protect biodiversity. For more information on integrating biodiversity conservation and local land use planning click here.
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