List of 18: Elements of a Wildlands Network Vision (important in understanding the scope)

from Julie Smithson <propertyrights@earthlink.net>

Jul 23, 2007

(Note: This is critical reading. Anyone thinking that "cooperative conservation" and "private conservation" are innocuous must read this. Conservation easements play into this, hand in glove. Please, share this with folks you know that need to know the truth. So do buffer zones (key words are "buffer" and "zones," the latter which is a form of zoning, a police power. Property owners are referred to condescendingly as landowners. There is a huge difference. It is the same difference as the definitions of "property" and "land." There is a very good reason why I work so hard on the definitions. Without them, you have a puzzle without the border pieces. Your property rights, i.e., your freedom, are wrapped up in knowing what things mean. Such schemes are designed to paralyze the intellect and twang the emotions. There is danger in this. Emotions often cloud the red flags that warn intellect to beware. Rural private property (and/or the ability to utilize that property), as well as access to federal/public/state land, is targeted to be erased, by whatever means the "experts" deem necessary.)

Elements of a Wildlands Network Vision – The list of eighteen "Elements of a Wildlands Network Vision," Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project, in alphabetical order:

Cataloging Compatible Conservation Initiatives – In any region where a Wildlands Network Design effort is underway, there are many other complementary conservation efforts going on as well, which are incorporated in the Wildlands Network Vision. –Fifteenth.

Compatible-Use Lands – In addition to core wild areas and wildlife linkages, public and private lands managed for compatible resource and recreational use are a key part of wildlands networks and provide habitat and dispersal connectivity for a wide variety of species. –Ninth.

Conservation Action – A Wildlands Network Vision is an abstract exercise unless an implementation plan is conceptualized simultaneously. Wildlands Network Design and planning for implementation must proceed on parallel tracks at the same time and with constant feedback. – Fourteenth.

Conservation on Private Lands – Private lands, voluntarily managed for conservation by landowners, play a key role in wildlands networks. –Eighth.

Continental Vision – The Southern Rockies Wildlands Network Vision is part of a continental vision for a North American wildlands network based on four MegaLinkages http://www.restoretherockies.org/vision.html proposed by The Wildlands Project. – Eighteenth.

Economic Incentives – Wildlands Network Visions propose economic incentives that promote human interaction with the land that conserves, rather than destroys, wild Nature. – Sixteenth.

Expert Design – The initial Wildlands Network Design is mapped based on expert opinion. – Third.

Expert Review – Critical, ongoing review of Wildlands Network Visions by scientists and conservation groups is an important way of ensuring accuracy and effectiveness. – Seventeenth.

Fieldwork – On-the-ground fieldwork is necessary for inventorying road systems, potential wilderness boundaries, ecological conditions, focal species presence, barriers to wildlife movement, and special elements to improve the accuracy of the wildlands network design. – Sixth.

Focal Species Management Recommendations – Management recommendations for focal species are a key part of Wildlands Network Visions. – Thirteenth.

Focal Species Modeling – The initial Wildlands Network Design is tested and revised by computer modeling techniques that include SITES, PATCH, and Least Cost Path Analysis. – Fifth.

Healing the Wounds Goal-Setting – Ecological restoration is now recognized as essential in conservation. Wildlands networks approach restoration through healing the wounds goal setting. – Second.

Linkages to other Wildlands Networks – Connectivity within a wildlands network is a fundamental part of Wildlands Network Design, but connectivity to adjacent wildlands networks is also important for wide-ranging species and ecological processes. – Tenth.

Rewilding – Wildlands networks are explicitly based on the scientific approach of rewilding, which emphasizes large core wild areas, functional connectivity across the landscape, and the vital role of keystone species and processes, especially large carnivores. – First.

Specific Units – Wildlands networks are built from many individual units of land, including federal, state, county, tribal, and private, [which] are specifically proposed or recognized as cores, linkages, and compatible-use lands. – Eleventh.

Three-track Approach – Wildlands networks are designed by a three-track approach of ecosystem representation, special elements, and focal species planning. A wildlands network strives to represent all ecosystems, and to identify and protect rare species occurrences and other sites of high biodiversity values in core wild areas. Wildlands networks are also based on the habitat needs of focal species-organisms used in planning and managing protected areas because their requirements for survival represent factors important to maintaining ecologically healthy conditions. – Fourth.

Unit Classification and Management Guidelines – Wildlands networks have consistent, detailed management recommendations and guidelines for the different land unit classifications proposed. – Twelfth.

Wilderness Areas as Cores – Wildlands networks are anchored by a core system of Wilderness Areas on public lands. – Seventh of the 18 "Elements of a Wildlands Network Vision," Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project (The Wildlands Project) http://www.restoretherockies.org/elements.html 

See map: http://www.restoretherockies.org/media/maps/fig1_1.jpg 

Also:http://www.twp.org Elements of a Wildlands Network Vision –

The list of eighteen "Elements of a Wildlands Network Vision," Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project, in order:

Rewilding – Wildlands networks are explicitly based on the scientific approach of rewilding, which emphasizes large core wild areas, functional connectivity across the landscape, and the vital role of keystone species and processes, especially large carnivores. – First.

Healing the Wounds Goal-Setting – Ecological restoration is now recognized as essential in conservation. Wildlands networks approach restoration through healing the wounds goal setting. – Second.

Expert Design – The initial Wildlands Network Design is mapped based on expert opinion . – Third.

Three-track Approach – Wildlands networks are designed by a three-track approach of ecosystem representation, special elements, and focal species planning. A wildlands network strives to represent all ecosystems, and to identify and protect rare species occurrences and other sites of high biodiversity values in core wild areas. Wildlands networks are also based on the habitat needs of focal species-organisms used in planning and managing protected areas because their requirements for survival represent factors important to maintaining ecologically healthy conditions. – Fourth.

Focal Species Modeling – The initial Wildlands Network Design is tested and revised by computer modeling techniques that include SITES, PATCH, and Least Cost Path Analysis. – Fifth.

Fieldwork – On-the-ground fieldwork is necessary for inventorying road systems, potential wilderness boundaries, ecological conditions, focal species presence, barriers to wildlife movement, and special elements to improve the accuracy of the wildlands network design. – Sixth.

Wilderness Areas as Cores – Wildlands networks are anchored by a core system of Wilderness Areas on public lands. – Seventh.

Conservation on Private Lands – Private lands, voluntarily managed for conservation by landowners, play a key role in wildlands networks. – Eighth.

Compatible-Use Lands – In addition to core wild areas and wildlife linkages, public and private lands managed for compatible resource and recreational use are a key part of wildlands networks and provide habitat and dispersal connectivity for a wide variety of species. – Ninth.

Linkages to other Wildlands Networks – Connectivity within a wildlands network is a fundamental part of Wildlands Network Design, but connectivity to adjacent wildlands networks is also important for wide-ranging species and ecological processes. – Tenth.

Specific Units – Wildlands networks are built from many individual units of land, including federal, state, county, tribal, and private, [which] are specifically proposed or recognized as cores, linkages, and compatible-use lands. – Eleventh.

Unit Classification and Management Guidelines – Wildlands networks have consistent, detailed management recommendations and guidelines for the different land unit classifications proposed. – Twelfth.

Focal Species Management Recommendations – Management recommendations for focal species are a key part of Wildlands Network Visions. – Thirteenth.

Conservation Action – A Wildlands Network Vision is an abstract exercise unless an implementation plan is conceptualized simultaneously. Wildlands Network Design and planning for implementation must proceed on parallel tracks at the same time and with constant feedback. – Fourteenth.

Cataloging Compatible Conservation Initiatives – In any region where a Wildlands Network Design effort is underway, there are many other complementary conservation efforts going on as well, which are incorporated in the Wildlands Network Vision. – Fifteenth.

Economic Incentives – Wildlands Network Visions propose economic incentives that promote human interaction with the land that conserves, rather than destroys, wild Nature. – Sixteenth.

Expert Review – Critical, ongoing review of Wildlands Network Visions by scientists and conservation groups is an important way of ensuring accuracy and effectiveness. – Seventeenth. 

Continental Vision – The Southern Rockies Wildlands Network Vision is part of a continental vision for a North American wildlands network based on four MegaLinkages http://www.restoretherockies.org/vision.html proposed by The Wildlands Project. – Eighteenth of the 18 "Elements of a Wildlands Network Vision," Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project (The Wildlands Project)

http://www.restoretherockies.org/elements.html 

See map: http://www.restoretherockies.org/media/maps/fig1_1.jpg

 Also:http://www.twp.org