Transboundary Decision Support System to Guide and Implement Conservation, Land Use, Energy, Transportation, and Climate Change Management and Monitoring

The project is the combination of two pilot projects initiated and funded by the Western Governors' Association (WGA) for development of a Decision Support System (DSS). The project will establish a useful and consistent source of mapped biological information that decision makers and the public can use to identify and understand crucial wildlife habitats and corridors.

Objectives:
Phase I

• Develop and compile natural resource spatial data that is compatible across the fourstate project area.
• Complete a connectivity/linkage plan for the project area to implement in Phase 2.
  Select a transboundary subset of species and habitats for Beaverhead Mountains section and Arid Lands project area.
• Define a transboundary compatible model of unfragmented habitats for Beaverhead Mountains section and Arid Lands project area.
• Complete a climate change plan identifying steps, data and outcomes to incorporate results of Pacific Northwest Climate Change Vulnerability and Water Resources in a Changing Climate assessments into the draft DSS.
• Collect technical and public input to assist in development of the DSS.

Phase 2

• Compatible datasets for all transboundary species of greatest conservation need and those that are socially and economically important for the entire project area
• Transboundary categorization of crucial habitat areas, including wildlife linkage
• Draft a list of best practices and management recommendations for corridors and crucial habitats
• Incorporate spatial representations of climate change impacts and develop recommended management actions for reducing and adapting to climate change for fish and wildlife
• Devise a web interface to deploy the draft DSS based on public and technical input

Deliverables (due date):
Phase I (5/11)

1. An inventory of GIS data for all applicable fish, wildlife, and plant occurrence and modeling data
2. A connectivity/linkage plan to produce a connectivity data layer for the project area in Phase 2
3. A transboundary compatible subset of focal species and land cover types for Beaverhead Mountains section and Arid Lands area
4. A transboundary compatible layer defining unfragmented habitats for Beaverhead Mountains section and the Arid Lands area
5. A climate change plan outlining steps and data necessary to produce a climate change assessment, data layers, adaptive management plan and management actions for the draft DSS
6. Summary of technical and public input on DSS development

Phase 2 (5/12):

1. Transboundary compatible datasets for all species of greatest conservation need and socially and commercially important species and habitats within the project area
2. Transboundary categorization of habitats; including wildlife linkage and crucial areas
3. Definitions, protocols, scales, and ranking models associated with project area
4. Draft of best practices and management recommendations for project area
5. Spatial representations of climate change impacts to wildlife and recommended management actions for reducing and adapting to climate change
6. A summary of public and technical input related to project efforts and a final report
7. A beta version of a mapping service and web page through which it can be deployed