Using NatureServe Information
to Assess Conservation Practice
Effects on At-Risk Species
Summary Findings
NatureServe conducted a pilot project to
determine if existing datasets could be
used to assess effects of conservation
practices on at-risk species.
• Natural Heritage species-occurrence
data and geospatial models for pre-
dicting species distribution hold prom-
ise for assessing the effects of conser-
vation practices on at-risk species.
• Lack of comprehensive geospatial
digital data on conservation practice
application hinders quantification of
practice effects on wildlife.
• If Missouri pilot project data can be
shown to apply to practice-to-species
relationships nationwide, 89 percent
of conservation practices nationwide
have positive, neutral, or mixed ef-
fects on most terrestrial wildlife and
79 percent have expected positive or
neutral effects on most aquatic biota.
CEAP Science Note
June 2007
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Background
Conservation practices and programs are
increasing focus on addressing the needs
of declining and at-risk fish and wildlife
species. Many of these species, espe-
cially those listed as “threatened” or
“endangered,” have severely restricted
ranges. The habitat requirements and
rarity of occurrence of these species pre-
sent special challenges in quantifying
how and where conservation practices
affect them. To explore the opportuni-
ties to address these challenges, NRCS
engaged NatureServe to conduct a pilot
project in Missouri.
NatureServe conducted this pilot project
to develop and evaluate methods for
assessing benefits of conservation prac-
tices to at-risk fish and wildlife species
and habitats. The primary objective was
to use NatureServe data and other data
sources to demonstrate processes for
documenting the effect of implemented
conservation practices on at-risk species.
A secondary objective was to look for
ways to inform future conservation pro-
gram e