9. Data and Information Issues: Communication Is the Key
177
9.6.1 Model Development: Calibration/Verification
The SEF incorporates the first uniform National Land Cover Data (NLCD)
set to be developed at a 30-m resolution for the entire United States
(Vogelmann et al. 1998). The original ecological greenways model for the
state of Florida was done at a resolution of 147 m. The SEF model was
developed for USEPA Region 4 (eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) at a
90-m resolution with a reintegration of the original land cover at 30 m.
Fifteen additional data layers, such as significant ecological areas, important
habitats for focal species, federally and state-managed lands, priority ecological communities, wetlands, roadless areas, floodplains, and important
aquatic systems at regional and statewide scales were used to identify areas
of potential conservation. Upland and riparian landscape linkages were
then incorporated at a regional scale to integrate the larger areas of ecological significance into a regional network. Hubs with areas greater than
5000 acres were linked through an ecological-cost surface. The connecting
pathway among the hubs represents the lowest ecological cost in going from
one hub to the next.
9.6.2 Validation/Prediction
The validation of the model and GIS data layers has been primarily by peer
review of the model and inputs from various workshops and presentations.
The output of the model predicts where major landscape linkages could be
protected or preserved to maintain the optimal connectivity between existing natural areas in the southeastern United States.
The SEF represents the area in the southeastern United States that preserves the best available land for a connected, large-scale ecosystem. The
inherent ecological processes that would be preserved within this network
provide a basis for watershed protection, biodiversity and wildlife conservation, wetlands mitigation, land-use planning, road right-of-way planning,
wellhead protection, and many similar activities. The final ecological framework provides a basic regional landscape and natural resource planning tool
(Durbrow et al. 2001).
The SEF only has value if it is used in natural resource planning and other
efforts to protect greenspace and natural systems. These decisions are often
at a local scale, such as county or watershed. Currently, efforts are under
way to engage various federal, state, and local partners, both governmental
and nongovernmental, to integrate the data and information developed
in this project for resource management and protection efforts. For many
planning efforts, the multitude of data layers could be of little use without
a skilled GIS analyst to incorporate the data into the existing planning. So
resource decision makers can use the data and information more efficiently,
a simple GIS browser is being developed that will allow any user or
177
9.6.1 Model Development: Calibration/Verification
The SEF incorporates the first uniform National Land Cover Data (NLCD)
set to be developed at a 30-m resolution for the entire United States
(Vogelmann et al. 1998). The original ecological greenways model for the
state of Florida was done at a resolution of 147 m. The SEF model was
developed for USEPA Region 4 (eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) at a
90-m resolution with a reintegration of the original land cover at 30 m.
Fifteen additional data layers, such as significant ecological areas, important
habitats for focal species, federally and state-managed lands, priority ecological communities, wetlands, roadless areas, floodplains, and important
aquatic systems at regional and statewide scales were used to identify areas
of potential conservation. Upland and riparian landscape linkages were
then incorporated at a regional scale to integrate the larger areas of ecological significance into a regional network. Hubs with areas greater than
5000 acres were linked through an ecological-cost surface. The connecting
pathway among the hubs represents the lowest ecological cost in going from
one hub to the next.
9.6.2 Validation/Prediction
The validation of the model and GIS data layers has been primarily by peer
review of the model and inputs from various workshops and presentations.
The output of the model predicts where major landscape linkages could be
protected or preserved to maintain the optimal connectivity between existing natural areas in the southeastern United States.
The SEF represents the area in the southeastern United States that preserves the best available land for a connected, large-scale ecosystem. The
inherent ecological processes that would be preserved within this network
provide a basis for watershed protection, biodiversity and wildlife conservation, wetlands mitigation, land-use planning, road right-of-way planning,
wellhead protection, and many similar activities. The final ecological framework provides a basic regional landscape and natural resource planning tool
(Durbrow et al. 2001).
The SEF only has value if it is used in natural resource planning and other
efforts to protect greenspace and natural systems. These decisions are often
at a local scale, such as county or watershed. Currently, efforts are under
way to engage various federal, state, and local partners, both governmental
and nongovernmental, to integrate the data and information developed
in this project for resource management and protection efforts. For many
planning efforts, the multitude of data layers could be of little use without
a skilled GIS analyst to incorporate the data into the existing planning. So
resource decision makers can use the data and information more efficiently,
a simple GIS browser is being developed that will allow any user or