Using The Maps
There are many ways your town can use the wildlife habitat data on these maps. You can use it for land use planning; for outreach and education; in local regulations; to inform and direct land protection initiatives; and to develop joint conservation strategies with neighboring towns.
Remember that to ensure a rich complement of plant and animal species in your town you need to find ways to protect and interweave wetland and riparian areas, high value habitats, and large habitat blocks. For starters, MDIFW encourages you to designate and enforce Shoreland Zoning to protect riparian habitats around waterbodies and watercourses in your community. Up to 80% of Maine's terrestrial vertebrate wildlife species use riparian areas sometime during their life cycle. Next focus your attention on conserving existing rural and undeveloped land. Begin with large blocks of agricultural or forested habitat that include high value plant and animal habitat. These areas usually have higher diversity than smaller areas and are important to certain wildlife species requiring larger areas of unfragmented habitat. If you are successful in conserving lands in all 3 habitat groups, you will be providing habitat for up to 80-95% of the native wildlife species in your town.
Please note that at the top of each map, in bright red ink, are the words "These maps are for planning purposes only." This means that the data lack the rigorous field delineation and analysis necessary for site specific zoning -- MDIFW cautions you against adopting land-use ordinances that target specific sites depicted on Map 2: High Value Plant and Animal Habitat. In addition, municipalities should consult with the Maine Natural Areas Program and/or the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before making permit decisions based upon Map 2: High Value Plant and Animal Habitat. Many of these animal sites are candidates for designation as Significant Wildlife Habitat under the Natural Resource Protection Act.
Where Essential Habitat has been designated, any proposed project that is wholly or partly within an Essential Habitat and is permitted, licensed, funded, or carried out by a state agency or municipal government requires approval from the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife for the proposed actions within the Essential Habitat. Rare and endangered plants are not regulated under state law, since plants belong to the landowner on whose property they grow. Wildlife, on the other hand, is held in the public trust for everyone to enjoy.
Following is a list of local strategies that should help you conserve open space in your community for plants, wildlife, and people. These strategies have been collected from towns that have already begun this work, from town planners, and from the State Planning Office. Good luck and please call any of the partnering organizations for additional help and guidance if you get stuck.
We realize that achieving our vision of an interconnected web of riparian habitats, high value habitats and large habitat blocks will take the involvement of interested citizens, land trust members, town planners, planning boards, conservation commission members, landscape designers, homebuilders, developers, and others.
Using the Maps to Conserve Habitat
Water Resources and Riparian Habitat
Conserve the wetlands and land around lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and the coast since up to 80% of Maine's terrestrial vertebrate animals use these areas for a part of their life cycle. Consider this the "backbone" of the plan.
High Value Plant and Animal Habitat
Conserve and direct development away from the most important and sensitive habitats. Data on this map includes locations of exemplary natural communities, rare plants, habitat for threatened and endangered species, species of special concern, Significant Wildlife Habitat, and habitat for federal trust species.
Undeveloped Habitat Blocks
Strive to maintain at least several 250-500 acre blocks of undeveloped land and, where they still exist, at least some 500-1000 and 1000+ blocks of habitat. Towns should work together with neighboring towns to conserve 5000 - 10,000 acre blocks of habitat in their region. Only in such blocks of land will many species find the home ranges they need to breed, travel, and protect themselves.
Building a Landscape (Using Maps 1-3)
To ensure a rich complement of plant and animal species in your town you need to find ways to protect and interweave wetland and riparian areas, high value plant and animal habitats, and large habitat blocks. There are many ways your town can use the plant and wildlife habitat data on these maps. You can use it for land use planning; for outreach and education; in local regulations; to inform and direct land protection initiatives; and to develop joint conservation strategies with neighboring towns.
