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FNAI Rare Species Habitat Conservation Priorities
This data layer was created by FNAI as part of the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment, a statewide analysis of natural resource conservation priorities for the Florida Forever statewide environmental land acquisition program. The model was explicitly designed to identify areas important for species habitat based on both species rarity and species richness. This data layer closely reflects the conservation priorities of FNAI and the rare species and natural communities we track.
FNAI mapped occurrence-based potential habitat for 248 species of plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, including aquatic species. Because land acquisition was the focus, species were included according to their need for additional habitat placed in conservation. All federally listed species were included, as well as many state listed species and several rare species not listed at either the federal or state levels. Suitable habitat was mapped only in the vicinity of known occurrences so that lands acquired because of these priorities are assured of protecting a known population of the species.
More Information
Relevance to Landscope:
The FNAI Rare Species Habitat Conservation Priorities is a primary biodiversity data layer used for statewide and regional conservation planning in Florida. It informs the priorities of the Florida Forever conservation land acquisition program and the Critical Lands and Waters Identification Project (CLIP). This data layer indicates the likely presence of occupied, suitable habitat for one or more rare species known to occur in the vicinity. The higher the priority, the rarer and/or more numerous the species with suitable habitat in a given location.
How to get more information:
For a detailed description of methods, please refer to: Conservation Needs Assessment Technical Report
Available at FNAI's Florida Forever Page
For an overview of the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment, please refer to: Conservation Needs Assessment Summary Report – December 2000
Available at FNAI's Florida Forever Page
How to get the data layer:
To download the GIS data layer, please refer to: Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment Data Layers, Version 3.0
