2009 Strategic Plan Update: Attachment 1 - Habitat PrioritiesThe Florida Strategy identifies 45 different habitat types. Descriptions of each habitat type, its extent, and a list of the species each supports is contained in the document and is available on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's website. For our purposes, each habitat type was evaluated based on its degree of threat on a state-wide basis, extent of occurrence in the our work area, value to federal trust species, and program applicability. Three habitats do not occur in the work area. Classifications are as follows: Tier 1 Habitats are those which are very highly threatened, have very high or high resource value, occur to a great extent in the JFO work area, and have very high program applicability. These include:
Tier 2 Habitats are those which have significant threats, substantial habitat values, at least moderate occurrence in our work area, and a high level of program applicability. These include:
Tier 3 Habitats are those which on occasion merit attention depending on the significance of the potential resource payoff. These include:
Tier 4 Habitats rarely merit special consideration because of low threats, limited occurrence, low values, or limited program applicability. These include:
Tier 5 Habitats are those where we may have a measurable workload and little resource payoff. In the regulatory arena, these could be considered personnel “sinks”. However, they may also present restoration opportunities to higher value habitats. These include:
Coral Reef, Large Alluvial Stream, and Pine Rockland habitats do not occur in our work area. |
