Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
021 <br /> GRITERIA 'FOR SELECTING NATURAL AREAS <br /> FOR CONSERVATION ACTION <br /> PRIORITY PHYSICAL LAYOUT <br /> H Size (area) <br /> H Shape (re : minimization of edge effects —could be quantified as ratio of edge to interior area) <br /> H (Slope / elevation / orientation topography) — might make it more or less susceptible to development ; might have <br /> some special or unique feature (things that might make a group willing to contribute to its <br /> protection)Topography : slope/elevation/orientation - - <br /> M Proximity / geographic relation connectivity : proximity/geographic relation to other natural areas <br /> M Does it contribute to a Wildlife corridor (water & land, or just land) ? <br /> L Position in watershed (distance from source re : water quality) <br /> L Geographic evenness (by watershed?) <br /> L Does it have body of water? <br /> PRIORITY BIOLOGICAL VALUE <br /> H Biodiversity — species richness <br /> H Integrity (needs clarification of definition, but things like crossing by roads , power lines , selective logging in <br /> recent history, other signs of degradation) <br /> M Number of rare species/ State listed (Natural Heritage) , species of conservation concern <br /> M Ecosystem distinctness (state/regional/country) : need to develop means to judge this) <br /> M Presence of invasive exotic plant species (how many species , how severely infested) <br /> L Ecosystem representation : Should we preserve some of all types ? (beta diversity) contribution to even <br /> representation <br /> of the diversity of Orange County ' s ecosystems , preserve some of all types <br /> L Importance for bird breeding sites <br /> PRIORITY INTACTNESS <br /> H Degree of threat (proximity to urban area, proximity to development — residential or industrial, proximity to roads <br /> and planned roads , proposed development, on the market, said to be about to go on the market, threat of logging <br /> M Other forms of pollution or proximity to — dump sites , underground tanks , hog farms , etc . <br /> L Noise <br /> L Distance from artificial light sources <br /> PRIORITY HUMAN VALUES <br /> H Scenic value (to be used judiciously) <br /> M Potential for recreational use <br /> M Presence of historical/archeological sites/significance <br /> L Proximity to population centers/users <br /> L North county vs south county (both as human and spatial issue) <br /> L Presence of species/resources of economic value (is there anything other than timber?) <br /> PRIORITY OTHER <br /> Meeting multi, multiple biological/conservation criteria across lines <br /> Availability of second funding source <br />