The Uses of Biodiversity Conservation Data at Georgia Department of Natural Resources

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The Uses of Biodiversity Conservation Data at
Georgia Department of Natural Resources 
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Nongame Wildlife Natural Heritage Section
(NWNHS)

• Part of Georgia Department of Natural Resources
  (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD)
• Helping to manage rare species and significant
  natural areas in Georgia

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Nongame Wildlife Natural Heritage Section
Nongame Wildlife
Natural Heritage Section
Headquarters
(Social Circle)
Birds, reptiles, amphibians, backyard wildlife
habitats, cave surveys
Nongame-Endangered
Wildlife Program
(Forsyth)
Rare plants, fishes, mussels, natural
communities, and ecosystem studies
Coastal Nongame
Office
(Brunswick)
Rare plants, fishes, mussels, natural
communities, ecosystem studies and rare species
and habitat conservation data
Natural Heritage
Program
(Social Circle)
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NatureServe

• Network of natural heritage programs and
  conservation data centers
• In all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Latin America and
  the Caribbean
• Decentralized with local custodianship of data
• Consistent methods for inventory and data
  management

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Rare Species and Habitat Data

• ET - The Element Tracking database contains
  information about taxonomy, protection status,
  rarity rank and other general data about rare
  elements
• EO - An Element Occurrence is the location of a
  rare species or significant natural habitat
• EORs - Element Occurrence Records are records in
  our database of EOs

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Sources of EO Data at GNHP

• DNR biologists
• Museums and herbaria
• Scientific literature
• Individual private and governmental biological
  consultants and academic researchers
• Federal, state and regional agencies
• Qualified amateur enthusiasts

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Data Entry . . .
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QC Data Checks

• Proper ID of element
• Accuracy of source attribute information of
  element
• Accuracy of location information
• Accuracy of data entry into our database

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Data Management Software at GNHP

• BCD, Biological and Conservation Data System
  current database
• Biotics 4 - starting spring 2004.
• Also store information in paper files and (no
  longer updated) hanging map files

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BCD

• DOS Based system using Advanced Revelation
  database program
• Developed in 90s by The Nature Conservancy,
  Science Division
• GNHP has developed GIS components with ArcView
  3.x Avenue scripting language to aid in data
  entry and use.

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Biotics 4
Spatial Data Management
Tabular Data Management
Administration
Data Exchange Tools

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Uses of Biodiversity Conservation Data in Georgia
DNR

• Set priorities in acquiring property for state
  natural areas and other state lands purchases
• Help manage current holdings at DNR for example
  wildlife management areas, public-fishing areas,
  state natural areas and state parks.
• Reference for staff in preparation of USFWS
  Section 6 status surveys and reports of protected
  species
• Aid to DNR/WRD Law enforcement officers in
  reprimanding individuals who dont comply with
  state wildlife laws and regulations
• Help staff respond to request from individuals
  and agencies concerning rare species and habitat
  management issues

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Sharing Data with Others Outside DNR

• Useful for managing land to protect rare
  elements.
• BUT - Rare element location data is often
  sensitive
• A balance must be made between providing the data
  for people to make prudent management decisions
  and protecting this sensitive data.

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Reasons for Protecting Sensitive Element Location
Data

• To protect the land owner
• To protect the rare natural resource

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Protect Landowner

• Over-zealous wildlife enthusiasts (e.g., birders)
• Trespassing collectors
• Vandals in caves or at rock outcrops
• Recreational vehicles (ATVs mountain bikes)
• Perceived threats from above

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Protect Resource

• Unscrupulous collectors of wildlife
• Trampling of rare plant populations, sensitive
  habitats
• Disturbing nesting sites, breeding areas

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FOIA - Freedom of Informationand Open Records
Acts

• Most government agencies have freedom of
  information acts
• The Georgia State Government is no exception.
  Citizens can ask governmental agencies to release
  any information unless there are legal exceptions.

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The Open Records Act and Georgia DNR

• In Georgia rare species location information is
  protected by an exemption to the Open Records
  Act.
• DNR has the legal right to limit distribution of
  information on locations of rare species and
  sensitive natural habitats.
• The only exception to this exemption is for
  property owners or representatives of the
  property owner. They have the right to request
  the information about rare species on their
  property.

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Open Records in Other States

• States vary considerably on issues involving FOIA
• The natural heritage program in South Carolina,
  South Carolina Heritage Trust, does not have an
  exemption to their open records act, so they are
  obligated to provide rare species location
  information to anyone who asks
• Most other states have some legal protection for
  the data
• Many states charge for this data Georgia does
  not
• Issues regarding federal FOIA requests are
  unresolved

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Access to Sensitive Data at GNHP
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Rare Element Data is Provided in the Following
Ways

• As a Statewide Generalized Dataset
• For Region-wide Planning
• To Agencies with Extensive Land Holdings
• For Site Review
• For Biological Researchers
• To Other Members of NatureServe

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As a Statewide Generalized Dataset

• User has access to information from all records
• Locations are generalized only county or quarter
  quad are given (and soon watersheds will be
  available)
• A few attributes are given, such as scientific
  name and common name, ranks and status of
  element.
• Used as a coarse filter in site reviews and as a
  tool for evaluating issues within a given area.
• Currently on our Web page

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Rare Elements by County
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Rare Elements for Bibb County
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For Region-wide Planning

• User has access to all records within state or
  region
• Locations are at the precision of original
  records
• Few attributes are given and these are
  generalized.
• Only the taxonomic group and general information
  about protection status are provided
• For example a Bald Eagle location might be
  represented as a state and federally protected
  bird
• Currently provided to regional development
  centers (RDCs) for state regional planning and
  power line utilities for planning new lines.
• License agreement is usually needed.

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To Agencies with Extensive Land Holdings

• Only records near sites of interest are provided,
  typically including ½ mile buffer area.
• All records are to the precision of our original
  data
• Most attributes are provided unaltered
• Currently provided to agencies such as USFS,
  forest resource companies, and utilities.
• Property owners and agents of the property owners
  have access to all rare species data on their
  property.
• License agreement is needed for buffer areas.

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For Site Review

• Only rare element locations within 3 miles of
  site are provided
• Locations within ¼ mile of site are given
  precisely.
• Locations at a greater distance are increasingly
  generalized the further they are away from the
  site.
• Only a few attributes are provided such as
  scientific name and common name
• Reflects the current level of data provided for
  small individual sites in typical information
  requests.
• License agreement is not typically needed

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Site Review Letter and Map
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For Biological Researchers

• Locations are provided for a single element or
  group of elements.
• Data is not Generalized
• Typically provided to taxonomy and ecology
  researchers
• License agreement usually not need
• Sensitive data use agreement needed for locations
  of special concern species.

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To Other Members of NatureServe

• Locations are provided for the whole state or
  large regions of the state
• Data is not Generalized
• Currently NatureServe, Arlington and TVA receives
  data like this
• License agreement needed for those outside DNR

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In Summary

• Access data
• Improve data
• Use data

. . .To conserve Georgias biodiversity