The use of rare plant habitat models in public lands decisions can be hampered by factors such as a lack of understanding of or confidence in underlying data, a lack of access to models, and a lack of opportunity for model use in decisions. This project seeks to explore and suggest potential solutions to these challenges, facilitating greater use of habitat models in public lands decision-making.
Many rare plants occur on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and are considered when permitting or conducting new actions on public lands. BLM is committed to using science to inform these decisions (Kitchell et al. 2015). Habitat models for many rare plants that occur on lands managed by the BLM currently exist, and others are being developed. However, use of these models in public lands decisions can be hampered by, among other factors, a lack of understanding of or confidence in the data by staff or stakeholders, a lack of publicly available models, and a lack of opportunity for use in the decision process.
Project Goals and Objectives
Our goal is to better understand how habitat models can be developed, shared, and used in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to strengthen decisions and improve outcomes for rare plants on public lands.
We have two objectives:
1. Understand how and to what extent habitat models for rare plants are currently being used in BLM decision-making.
2. Identify opportunities for facilitating greater use of habitat models for rare plants by BLM staff in their decisions.
Methods
USGS is collaborating with BLM staff in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California to conduct this study. We are incorporating a number of methodologies – including document analysis, interviews, and workshops – to complete different aspects of the project.
Anticipated Benefits
We hope that results of this project will help BLM staff better understand and use habitat models for rare plants in their decisions. By incorporating interviews, focus groups, and workshops into our project design, we also strive to initiate in-depth conversations between land managers and science providers about the development of habitat models and associated geospatial data products intended for use in public lands decision-making.
- Overview
The use of rare plant habitat models in public lands decisions can be hampered by factors such as a lack of understanding of or confidence in underlying data, a lack of access to models, and a lack of opportunity for model use in decisions. This project seeks to explore and suggest potential solutions to these challenges, facilitating greater use of habitat models in public lands decision-making.
Many rare plants occur on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and are considered when permitting or conducting new actions on public lands. BLM is committed to using science to inform these decisions (Kitchell et al. 2015). Habitat models for many rare plants that occur on lands managed by the BLM currently exist, and others are being developed. However, use of these models in public lands decisions can be hampered by, among other factors, a lack of understanding of or confidence in the data by staff or stakeholders, a lack of publicly available models, and a lack of opportunity for use in the decision process.
Project Goals and Objectives
Our goal is to better understand how habitat models can be developed, shared, and used in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to strengthen decisions and improve outcomes for rare plants on public lands.
We have two objectives:
1. Understand how and to what extent habitat models for rare plants are currently being used in BLM decision-making.
2. Identify opportunities for facilitating greater use of habitat models for rare plants by BLM staff in their decisions.Methods
USGS is collaborating with BLM staff in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California to conduct this study. We are incorporating a number of methodologies – including document analysis, interviews, and workshops – to complete different aspects of the project.
Anticipated Benefits
We hope that results of this project will help BLM staff better understand and use habitat models for rare plants in their decisions. By incorporating interviews, focus groups, and workshops into our project design, we also strive to initiate in-depth conversations between land managers and science providers about the development of habitat models and associated geospatial data products intended for use in public lands decision-making.