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There is a current need to update the GIS layers showing forest cover of different types , : and document changes from 1988 photos . The goal would be to assess rate of deforestation, to document increases in forest fragmentation, to note intactness of inventoried. sites , and to locate areas of increased or qualitatively changed forest cover . E . Ground-truthin � Ground- level verification of the results from aerial surveys is important ; observations on forest quality and species composition, where land is accessible , is also vital to maintaining an accurate picture of County biological resources . One way to obtain this information would be to work with local hiking groups , scout troops , , and birding and butterfly groups , under the guidance of the ERCD Land Resources Conservation Manager , F . Development of a county plan for biological resource protection and acquisition . Although Orange County has an avowed commitment to environmental protection, there does not seem to be a comprehensive plan in place to prioritize and preserve biological resources as they are identified . The following actions are recommended : 1 . Complete a Natural Areas element of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2 . Refine the enclosed prioritization of natural areas that are candidates for protection using the criteria developed by the BRC for the Lands Legacy Program . 3 . Re - examine and fortify County policy tools for land protection . These include zoning (or overlay zoning) , fee - simple purchase by the county or purchase by a conservancy working with the county. Other alternatives that have been used elsewhere and could be explored are purchase of development rights , conservation easements , and independent arrangements with landowners . 4 . Compile information on existing outside funding sources for land acquisition, beyond such sources as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund . Mobilizing the ERCD to have full knowledge of available outside funding sources can allow increased land protection with less direct County funding . As many of these funds are matching funds , we encourage the Board of Commissioners to allocate adequate funds for land acquisition, particularly over the next decade as land development accelerates . 5 . Allocate County funding for land acquisition . An initial step should be to define what funds are available for natural area acquisition from the Parks and Recreation Bond Funds and to make explicit which natural areas acquired with these funds would be used for recreational purposes . Another possible step could be to raise funds through a bond issue specifically earmarked for acquisition of biological resources . If voter 11