Full ecoregional plan - Conservation Gateway

Table 12. A description of the eleven ELU groups in LNE-NPELU Group Description1 Very low to low elevation landforms, acidic sedimentary with shale and calcareous features, little granite2a Very low elevation landforms, granitic/sandy outwash plain2b Very low elevation landforms, granitic/sandy outwash plain3a Very low elevation landforms, acidic sedimentary/granitic, northern piedmont3b Very low elevation landforms, acidic sedimentary/granitic, northern piedmont4a Low to very low elevation landforms, sedimentary with some calcareous and granitic features4b Low to very low elevation landforms, sedimentary with some calcareous and granitic features5 Low to very low elevation landforms, granitic slopes, scattered sedimentary/ultramafic features6a Low to very low elevation landforms, sedimentary/granitic with little calcareous features6b Low to very low elevation landforms, sedimentary/granitic with little calcareous features7a Mid to low elevation landforms, sedimentary and granitic sites with minor calcareous features7b Mid to low elevation landforms, sedimentary and granitic sites with minor calcareous features8 High to low landforms elevation, primarily mid elevation, sedimentary/granitic with high elevation patches9 Diverse, very low to high elevation, sedimentary and calcareous features, little granite10 Mid elevation landforms, shale and sedimentary, little granite11 OutliersSummary of ResultsAt the January, 2000 meeting 95 of the 128 matrix forest occurrences were selected forthe portfolio. 25 occurrences were eliminated altogether based on new informationregarding their size, condition, or landscape context. 43 of the 95 were chosen as Tier 1occurrences for the portfolio and 52 were chosen as Tier 2 alternative matrix forestoccurrences that will be held in reserve (Map 15). Where a Tier 1 occurrence is no longerdeemed to be viable or its conservation feasible, an alternative matrix forest occurrencewithin the same ELU group may be substituted by the ecoregional planning team.Two or more Tier 1 matrix forest occurrences were selected within each ELU groupexcept in Group 10 where only one was chosen. At least two Tier 1 occurrences wereselected in each subregion except the Reading Prong where no matrix forest occurrenceswere selected. An analysis of Tier 1 matrix forest occurrences designated as 10-yearAction Sites (n = 25) reveals that two subregions are without any occurrences and theremainder are largely grouped into just two others (n = 21). Table 13 offers a breakdownof Tier 1 matrix forest occurrences and 10-year Action Sites by Subregion.The 43 Tier 1 matrix forest occurrences selected nearly doubles the minimumconservation goal of 22. In part, this was necessary to capture the range of environmentalvariability present in the region. However, some Tier 1 matrix forest occurrences wereselected because TNC already has a presence within the occurrence area, would like tohave a presence in the occurrence area, or the occurrence is situated adjacent to anotherblock selected as a Tier 1 preferred occurrence. Though these decisions are moreprogrammatic in nature, it was the will of the matrix forest selection team to accept all ofthe proposed Tier 1 occurrences.All 11 matrix-forming forest community types are presumed to be captured in Tier 1occurrences, though a lack of information on these associations distribution and a lack ofinventory to support this analysis make this analysis suspect and in need of additionalMATRIX-RESULTS-4