Ecological Inventory and Monitoring
The Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP), in cooperation with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), has completed coarse filter natural resource assessments in a number of "biophysical regions" throughout the state of Maine. These assessments aim to identify new locations of rare plants, rare animals, and exemplary natural communities through a three stage process:
- landscape analysis
- landowner identification
- field inventory
The landscape analysis process helps us identify sites with the greatest potential for supporting rare plants, rare animals, and exemplary natural communities. Landowner information is collected for each of the sites selected through landscape analysis and permission is requested to do surveys. Only after landowner permission has been obtained are field surveys conducted. After surveys are completed, landowners are provided with the results along with management suggestions when appropriate. Results from inventory efforts are added to MNAP’s Biotics database where they are used to help landowners and other conservation organizations in an effort to bring about improved management and/or protection of significant natural areas. The information is also used to determine the relative degree of rarity of species and habitat types throughout the state.
For more information on natural resource assessments including how they are conducted, what areas of the state have been completed, and what’s in store for the future download our Ecological Inventory and Monitoring Detail document [MS Word][HTML]).
