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The result should be a list of potential priority conservation areas based on ecological riteria. I u derli e pote tial e ause the last step i ludes the a al sis of pra ti al
constraints such as financial issues and concerns with authorities and stakeholders.
The identification of priority areas will save time and permit the focus to be directly on those areas with high biodiversity potential and biodiversity importance. A more detailed
investigation of habitat features and biodiversity will be followed up by field work.
The identification of priority areas will save time and permit the focus to be directly on those areas with high biodiversity potential and biodiversity importance. A more detailed
investigation of habitat features and biodiversity will be followed up by field work.
S
TEP
3: S
PECIAL FEATURES FUNCTIONS
Identify and rank those areas with special functions for conservation within the
landscape context, such as extent of contiguous forest cover, stepping stones, wildlife corridors, contiguous habitats and habitat mosaics. If available you can also include
additional information such as presence of rare species.
S
TEP
4: P
RACTICAL FINANCIAL DIMENSION
Add a practical and financial dimension to the list. Consider accessibility and feasibility of
field work and coordination with local institutions. Take into account the willingness to cooperate with institutions, authorities and local communities as a substitute for
probability of management and conservation success. Be aware of landownership classes and state forest classes. Contiguous, intact forest ecosystems with no existing
conservation management concept should be assigned a higher priority than, for example, existing protected areas like national parks. Consideration of the different
forest classifications can already serve as a first step towards an analysis if there appears to be a correlation between a specific forest management class and areas with high
potential for biodiversity. This could reveal factors for good management applications and identify issues that might hinder effective management.
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4.2. Validation of locations in the field and establishment of a diversity
inventory baseline
After the identification of the focal areas, field work is necessary not only for data collection but also to verify the habitat type and specify the definition and criteria of each forest or
habitat type. A thorough description of environmental factors such as topography and soil consistency and a description of forest stand variables such as mosaic patchiness, the
uniformity of an old growth forest, the horizontal and vertical dimensions need to be performed.
4.2.1. Why is a baseline inventory important for biodiversity assessments?
A baseline inventory is an inventory of species present at the time of the data collection. It records flora and fauna and habitat elements as well as disturbances that pose a threat to
the habitat and the species. The inventory enables comprehensive conservation planning and habitat management. The information obtained from the inventory will serve as a
foundation for later management decisions, and will be the standard when analyzing the effectiveness of management processes Salleh Manokaran 1995. Resources of special
