Planning for Biodiversity

The development of natural landscapes frequently results in a loss of biodiversity. One of the reasons suggested for this loss is that there is a lack of discourse between scientists and planners. This text is aimed bridging that gap. A significant consequence of the development of natural landscapes is habitat loss and fragmentation that results in widespread loss of biological diversity. While scientists have made great strides in determining principles and concepts fundamental to preserving biodiversity, their work will have little impact unless it is understood and implemented by those who are making on-the-ground decisions about land use. Planning for Biodiversity provides an accessible introduction to ecological concepts for planning professionals and students. Sheila Peck explains why planners should be concerned with habitat preservation and presents practical approaches to incorporating conservation principles into planning efforts. The book. introduces a clear framework for understanding biodiversity explains concepts related to ecosystem structure and function discusses the effects of size and connectivity on habitat quality and species movement suggests conservation priorities at different scales presents elements of reserve design examines types and sources of information considers the causes of uncertainty in biodiversity planning and the need for monitoring and adaptive management. In each chapter, Peck presents case studies that explore the practical implications of the concepts examined, and provides contact information for each group involved in the case. Case studies include the Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest, Montana; Pinhook Swamp Linkage, northeastern Florida; National Gap Analysis Program; CALFED Bay-Delta Program, California; and numerous others. In addition, she includes planning guidelines which summarize the main points of the chapters, and a useful glossary of ecological terms. Planning for Biodiversity synthesizes and explains important ecological concepts and represents the first guide for planners that clearly details how to incorporate conservation plans into their work. Planners, landscape architects and designers, planning and design students, developers, local officials, and anyone interested in designing and developing more ecologically sound land-use projects will find the book an invaluable resource.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the USDA Forest Service partnered to co-host a symposium on “Planning for Biodiversity: Bringing Research and Management Together,” held February 29–March 2, 2000 at the Kellogg West Conference Center, California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. The goal of the 3-day conference was to identify the current status of our knowledge and gaps in our understanding of regional biodiversity and ecosystem processes, present and future threats to species and habitats, and effective monitoring strategies for southwestern and central coastal California resources. Through a program of 52 invited presentations, 18 contributed posters, and 10 focused discussion groups, the conference created an environment for formal and informal communication among the 300 attendees about the results of scientific studies and their application to resource conservation and management, as well as the information needs of managers responsible for determining and implementing management on the ground. Of the 45 technical papers presented at the conference, 14 are included in this volume. Authors were asked to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding their topic and identify areas needing future research. Each paper was assigned to an editor for review and received one to three additional peer reviews. Expanded abstracts of nine posters also were reviewed by the editors and included. The topics addressed in the papers and poster abstracts reflect the breadth of the conference presentations and the issues facing the science and management communities, ranging from the threats of fire, air pollution, grazing, exotic species invasion, and habitat loss on native habitats and sensitive species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, to the role of mycorrhizal fungi as indicators of biological change.