AN INTRODUCTION TO MAINE GAP ANALYSIS

The Gap Analysis Concept

The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is a nation-wide effort that brings together the problem-solving capabilities of federal, state, and private scientists to tackle the difficult issues of land cover mapping, vertebrate habitat characterization, assessment, and biodiversity conservation at the state, regional, and national levels. The program seeks to facilitate cooperative development and use of information (for example, conservation lands in Maine were developed cooperatively).

The gap analysis process provides an overview of the distribution and conservation status of several components of biodiversity. In Maine, specific components of biodiversity include amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and woody plants. Digital map overlays in a Geographic Information System (GIS) are used to identify individual species, species-rich areas, and vegetation types that are unrepresented or under represented in existing management areas. Gap Analysis, by focusing on higher levels of biological organization, is likely to be both cheaper and more likely to succeed than conservation programs focused on single species or populations (Scott et al. 1993).

Biodiversity inventories can be visualized as "filters" designed to capture elements of biodiversity at various levels of organization. The filter concept has been applied by The Nature Conservancy, which has established Natural Heritage Programs in all 50 states, most of which are now operated by state government agencies. The Nature Conservancy employs a fine filter of rare species inventory and protection and a coarse filter of community inventory and protection (Noss 1987). It is postulated that 85-90% of species can be protected by the coarse filter, without having to inventory or plan reserves for those species individually. A fine filter is then applied to the remaining 15-10% of species to ensure their protection. Gap Analysis is a coarse filter method because it can be used to quickly and cheaply assess the other 85-95% of species.

Maine Gap Analysis Objectives

There are five major objectives of the Maine Gap Analysis project:

1) map actual land cover using a classification that combines Alliance level of Jennings (1993) for vegetative habitats, and Anderson (1976) for nonvegetative and highly disturbed environments;

2) map the predicted distribution of animals breeding within the state;

3) document, to the degree possible, the occurrence of natural land cover types that are inadequately represented (gaps) in areas managed in part to maintain biodiversity;

4) document the occurrence of animal species that are inadequately represented (gaps) in areas managed for biodiversity; and

5) ensure all project information is available to users.

 

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