Conservation Focal Areas Version 1.0, Pinelands Landscape Region, Edition 20171030 (Envr_hab_cfa_pinelands)

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Fish Wildlife (DFW)

Publication_Date: 20171030

Title:

Conservation Focal Areas Version 1.0, Pinelands Landscape Region, Edition 20171030 (Envr_hab_cfa_pinelands)

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

P.O. Box 420 401 East State Street 1st floor , Trenton, NJ, 08625, US

Publisher:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Information Technology (DOIT), Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (BGIS)

Other_Citation_Details:

The NJDEP may distribute GIS data in a variety of formats, such as the ESRI shapefile and/or various versions of the file geodatabase format. The data also may be available for viewing on various profiles of the NJ GeoWeb online mapping application.

Online_Linkage: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/listall.html>

Online_Linkage: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/geowebsplash.htm>

Description:

Abstract:

Conservation Focal Areas are key geographic areas for the conservation of wildlife in New Jersey. These are the portions of the landscape regions that are of particular conservation interest to the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and its conservation partners because they have important habitats and species assemblages, and represent the best opportunities for protecting, restoring, and sustaining New Jersey's wildlife diversity. They also include important opportunities for habitat connectivity, a critical factor in increasing resilience in a changing landscape. DFW will use CFAs to further identify geographically-based threats to New Jersey’s wildlife habitats and develop actions that will address those threats. In addition, DFW will regularly review and improve CFA maps as new data become available and as new insights are shared by the public and conservation partners.

Purpose:

To address broader scale planning needs, the Division of Fish and Wildlife, with input from partners, identified Conservation Focal Areas (CFAs) in New Jersey. CFAs are specific areas of New Jersey’s geography that feature some of the state’s highest value habitats and present important opportunities for effective conservation action. They will allow for the consideration of threats and actions from a geographic perspective that will benefit key wildlife habitats generally and, in turn, virtually all Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Further, CFAs include important opportunities for habitat connectivity, a critical factor in increasing resilience in a changing landscape. With their rich mix of important habitats and diverse species assemblages, CFAs are designed to represent some of the best opportunities for protecting, restoring, and sustaining New Jersey’s wildlife diversity.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 20171030

Currentness_Reference: Publication Date

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.649146

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.881785

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.358459

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.791766

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword: biota

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: EPA GIS Keyword Thesaurus

Theme_Keyword: Conservation

Theme_Keyword: Ecosystem

Theme_Keyword: Natural Resources

Theme_Keyword: Ecology

Theme_Keyword: Exposure

Theme_Keyword: NJDEPTrentonMetadata

Theme_Keyword: Water

Theme_Keyword: Marine

Theme_Keyword: Landscape

Theme_Keyword: Environment

Theme_Keyword: public

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: New Jersey

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

This data set is a product of New Jersey's Wildlife Action Plan. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Data Distribution Agreement. The data provided herein are distributed subject to the following conditions and restrictions: NJDEP assumes no responsibility to maintain them in any manner or form and disclaims any duty or obligation to either maintain availability of or to update the data.
Terms of Agreement
1. All data is provided, as is, without any representation or warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory including, but not limited to, the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability or fitness for a particular use, freedom from computer virus nor are any such warranties to be implied with respect to the digital data layers furnished hereunder. User is responsible for understanding the accuracy limitations of all digital data layers provided herein, as documented in the accompanying cross-reference files (see SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION). Any reproduction or manipulation of the above data must ensure that the coordinate reference system remains intact.
2. Digital data received from the NJDEP may not be reproduced or redistributed without all the metadata provided.
3. Any maps, publications, reports, or other documents produced as a result of this project that utilize this digital data will credit the NJDEP's Geographic Information System (GIS) as the source of the data with the following credit/disclaimer: "This (map/publication/report) was developed using New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Geographic Information System digital data, but this secondary product has not been verified by NJDEP and is not state-authorized or endorsed."
4. NJDEP makes no warranty that digital data are free of Copyright or Trademark claims or other restrictions or limitations on free use or display. Making a copy of this data may be subject to the copyright of trademark laws.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP).

Contact_Person: Patrick Woerner

Contact_Position: GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 1 Eldridge Road

City: Upper Freehold Township, Robbinsville

State_or_Province: NJ

Postal_Code: 08691

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 609-259-6967

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 609-259-8155

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Patrick.Woerner@dep.nj.gov

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.3.1.4959

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)

Publication_Date: 20150217

Title: NJDEP 2012 Land Use/Land Cover Update

Edition: 20150217

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Trenton, NJ

Publisher: NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)

Online_Linkage: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/lulc12.html>

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

ESRI's Summary Statistics tool was run to ensure no inappropriate or duplicate records. Frequencies were run on all fields for Null or inappropriate values.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Tests for integrity have been performed. ESRI's Repair Geometry was run on this feature class, no errors were encountered.

Completeness_Report: Repair Geometry was run on data to ensure topological accuracy.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Data of different scales and accurracies were converted to a 30' grid. Features mapped from digital imagery having a ground accuracy of +/- four feet.

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Phase 1 Process Summary: Compiled ~40 inputs spanning terrestrial, freshwater aquatic and marine environments from state and regional sources Performed conversion, re-scaling and reclassification so that each input was standardized into 30’ cells Categorized data into five geodatabases: Ecological Condition, Conservation Infrastructure, Fish and Wildlife Habitats, Biodiversity, and Negative Influences Assigned relative importance (weights) to each input

Process_Date: 20170503

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Phase 2 Process Summary: Performed weighted co-occurrence analysis that combines inputs to identify areas where several different qualities are present (“resource-rich” areas). Stratified by Landscape Regions (calculated percentile ranks relative to each region) in order to have even distribution of areas between regions

Process_Date: 20170504

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Phase 3 Process Summary: Extracted percentile > 70 in each Landscape Region Applied minimum size criteria to identify core areas Applied connectivity rules to select key connections between high value areas Ran basic generalization/simplification processes to provide protective buffers and smooth boundaries of areas Utilized Nature’s Network (<http://naturesnetwork.org/>) data on terrestrial and aquatic cores as guide to add in areas not captured Erased all areas coded as “urban” in 2012 land-use/land-cover Applied minimum size criteria to all contiguous areas

Process_Date: 20170505

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Complete chain

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 6

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Envr_hab_cfa_pinelands

Entity_Type_Definition: Conservation Focal Areas - Pinelands

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: OBJECTID

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CFA_ID (Alias: Conservation Focal Area ID)

Attribute_Definition: Unique ID assigned to each Conservation Focal Area

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Unique numeric ID assigned to each Conservation Focal Area

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CFA_Name (Alias: Conservation Focal Area)

Attribute_Definition: Name of Conservation Focal Area

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Northern Pinelands Fringe CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Northern Pinelands Fringe CFA is composed of wetland and upland forest and wetland corridors associated with the Manasquan River and Metedeconk River drainages. While the forest structure tends to be more deciduous in nature than the core pinelands, the area does share many similarities with the true pine barrens to the south. Significant portions of the CFA are preserved in Allaire State Park, Turkey Swamp Park, and other county and municipal holdings. However, some properties in the southern section of this CFA are privately held and may face imminent development. The CFA continues to support the northernmost occurrences of some important pinelands or coastal plain species such as northern pine snake, pine barrens treefrog, and swamp pink. It also represents important core areas at risk of fragmentation from remaining pinelands ecosystems to the south.
The habitats in this CFA are generally smaller in size and more amorphous in shape than others in the Pinelands Landscape Region. As a result, these habitats tend to have smaller core areas that are more susceptible to adverse impacts from adjacent edge effect influences. While many of the habitats within this CFA are preserved under state and county ownership and benefit from associated management efforts, there are also privately owned areas that receive no direct state or county stewardship.
This CFA encompasses 1% of the Pinelands Landscape Region at 4,053 hectares including 4,021 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 33 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Core Pinelands Area CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Core Pinelands Area CFA consists of the expansive pine and pine/oak forests, forested wetlands, and largely intact stream corridors that make up the Pinelands Protection Area. Extensive tracts are preserved as state parks, forests, wildlife management areas, or in county, municipal, and nonprofit preserves. Development in most remaining lands is carefully planned by the Pinelands Commission. As such, the area remains the state’s largest, most intact forest ecosystem. The Core Pinelands Area CFA encompasses the majority of the Mullica River watershed, making the watershed one of the most pristine and best protected in the state. Portions of the Barnegat and Rancocas watersheds are also represented. The area’s ecology is driven primarily by the sandy, highly permeable, and nutrient poor coastal plain soils. Fire ecology has been a historically significant driver of plant and animal communities in the CFA, though with development and the associated need for fire suppression and management, this critical factor is likely forever altered. The Core Pinelands Area CFA is well known for its unique and diverse faunal communities, including many pine-barrens specialists that warranted specific grouping as Focal SGCN, such as the “Pine Barrens Snakes” and the “Pine Barrens Moths.”
Habitats within this CFA are generally considered to be of high quality in comparison to other areas of the state. Very large core areas of forest, extensive public ownership, management, and limited adjacent development have maintained highly functioning natural communities. While the CFA experiences very little development pressure, the sandy soils and generally high water table make many areas susceptible to disturbance from agriculture, groundwater withdrawal, sand and gravel mining, and impacts from controlled or uncontrolled fire and illegal on- and off-road vehicular recreation. The slow conversion of forest types due to the past few decades of fire suppression and wildfire management is a long-term concern regarding habitat quality within this CFA.
This CFA encompasses 36% of the Pinelands Landscape Region at 164,798 hectares including 160,794 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 4,004 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Federal/Military Facilities CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of largely undisturbed forests, wetland forests, and riparian corridors that exist on the federal properties comprising the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the Warren Grove Gunnery Range. The large intact ecosystems on these installations, historically sheltered from traditional residential, recreational, and commercial development pressures, receive additional benefit from site-specific Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans. While management under these plans only applies to federally listed species, state species of concern often receive umbrella protection or thrive under the routine management of anthropogenic conditions on the installations.
The habitats are generally of very high quality within the natural communities and ecosystems. While facility site improvements and expansions do sometimes occur, the habitats within this CFA are largely protected from the rampant development that might otherwise occur and the illegal intrusion of vehicles and collectors. They are also managed to protect federally listed species.
This CFA encompasses 2% of the Pinelands Landscape Region at 10,729 hectares including 10,570 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 159 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Great Egg Harbor Watershed CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Draining to the Great Egg Harbor, this CFA area is of great importance to the maintenance of water quality for the abundant fishery resources throughout the watershed, as well as the fauna that forage and nest in it. The area has an active watershed association, and nonprofit involvement and stewardship could offer meaningful opportunities for action implementation throughout the CFA. This CFA is a mix of preserved and private lands, though it appears that even the private lands are largely built out or are likely constrained by wetlands and floodplains.
The habitats in this CFA are generally of high quality as there is a good core of abundant wetlands and watercourses that are protected and buffered by state regulations. It is also difficult for the public to enter this core area. The edges of the CFA abut many developed areas and experience typical edge effects including nonpoint pollution, the use of off-road vehicles, and the introduction of invasive plant species.
This CFA encompasses 5% of the Pinelands Landscape Region at 22,351 hectares including 21,777 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 574 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Upper Inner Coastal Plain Delaware River (Pinelands) CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Several very small headwater tributaries to the Delaware River originate in this CFA but immediately enter the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region’s Upper Inner Coastal Plain Delaware River CFA. As the habitats within these CFA’s are functionally equivalent, please see the habitat description and condition information in the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region’s Upper Inner Coastal Plain Delaware River CFA.
This CFA encompasses 0.02% of the Pinelands Landscape Region at 74 hectares including 73 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 1 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Upper Maurice River Watershed (Pinelands) CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of the northeastern headwaters of the Maurice River watershed, and has historically been mapped within the Pinelands Landscape Region. It includes a riparian network made up by Little Ease Run and Scotland Run, along with their associated wetlands and forests. A significant portion of the CFA is preserved in the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area and Gloucester County’s Scotland Run Park. There are also portions of the CFA that are privately held and susceptible to development. The CFA is in many ways functionally equivalent to the Delaware Bay Landscape Region’s Lower Maurice River Watershed CFA. Please refer to that section for additional information on the CFA’s habitat types, conditions, and values.
This CFA encompasses 0.3% of the Pinelands Landscape Region at 1,519 hectares including 1,446 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 74 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: VERSION

Attribute_Definition: Number used to track version

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Version 1.0

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: REGION_ID

Attribute_Definition: Unique ID for each Landscape Region

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Unique ID for each Landscape Region

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: REGION

Attribute_Definition: The Landscape Region name of the polygon

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Coastal

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Atlantic Coastal Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Delaware Bay

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Delaware Bay Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Piedmont Plains

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Piedmont/Plains Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Pinelands

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Pinelands Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Skylands

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Skylands Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Marine

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Marine Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: HECTARES

Attribute_Definition: hectares of feature

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ACRES

Attribute_Definition: acres of feature

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape_Length

Attribute_Definition: Length of feature in internal units.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape_Area

Attribute_Definition: Area of feature in internal units squared.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Delineating Conservation Focal Areas
The DFW enlisted internal and external stakeholders to inform the selection of GIS data and the method of analysis employed to delineate Conservation Focal Areas (CFAs). A wide variety of GIS data addressing biodiversity and habitat quality, connectivity, rarity and/or impairment within terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, and marine environs were found to be available at statewide and regional scales. To provide a regional context, the Department utilized a variety of conservation planning data compiled by the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NALCC). Relevant regional data developed by NALCC partners included TNC’s Geospatial Condition Analysis and UMass’s Northeast Index of Ecological Integrity. These and other regional datasets served to complement the host of publicly available conservation-relevant state and local data in New Jersey. As applicable, a number of unpublished or derivative datasets were also utilized in developing CFAs.
The DFW decided to employ a weighted co-occurrence analysis that combines many independent datasets with different metrics to identify areas of high resource value. With some additional spatial optimization techniques, this approach allowed for the identification of specific geographic areas of agreement across a diverse set of geospatial data and metrics. These areas will be the focus of the DFW’s assessment of threats and actions affecting New Jersey’s wildlife habitats, and will identify locations where conservation actions can be carried out to benefit high priority fish and wildlife resources throughout the state.
General GIS Method – Phase 1 Once specific datasets were identified as having significant relevance to the CFA mapping objectives, data was acquired and necessary conversion and standardization processes were carried out in preparation for conducting a co-occurrence analysis. Where necessary, data were rescaled to New Jersey and reclassified into 30’ grid cells. Inputs were then organized by three environments (terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, and marine) and into five categories (ecological condition, conservation infrastructure, fish and wildlife habitats, biodiversity, and negative influences). For each input, metrics were reviewed by DFW biologists and converted into a standard weighting system which normalized all datasets to address the objectives of the CFA mapping process. Accordingly, weights were assigned following a standardized five tier scale (“5” being the highest value and “1” being the lowest) based upon factors which included (but were not limited to): the relevance of the data layer to our CFA mapping objectives, the degree to which the "regional" datasets addressed habitat values or conditions that were specific to New Jersey, and the original range of the source dataset values. The exception to the positive five tier scale included negative weights that ranged from -10 to -1 and a “restricted” category that excluded an area from being mapped as a CFA regardless of its intersection with one or more resource elements with positive values. Additionally, as the final mapping effort was based upon the “additive mapping” of valued habitats, the proportion to which any one dataset addressed a specific mapping objective needed to be factored in (i.e., if several datasets existed that were correlated with one specific issue, individual dataset weights were reduced to address confounding influences).
Phase 1 Process Summary: Compiled ~40 inputs spanning terrestrial, freshwater aquatic and marine environments from state and regional sources Performed conversion, re-scaling and reclassification so that each input was standardized into 30’ cells Categorized data into five geodatabases: Ecological Condition, Conservation Infrastructure, Fish and Wildlife Habitats, Biodiversity, and Negative Influences Assigned relative importance (weights) to each input
General GIS Method – Phase 2 Once inputs were reclassified according to assigned weights into 30’ grid cells, a (weighted) co- occurrence analysis was performed that calculated the sum of all inputs. The resultant grid was then stratified by Landscape Region and rescaled by calculating percentile values for each cell relative to every other cell within the region. Cells were reclassified according to percentile ranks. For example, percentile values 0.90-1.00 were classified as the 90th percentile, 0.80-0.89 were classified as the 80th percentile and so forth.
Phase 2 Process Summary: Performed weighted co-occurrence analysis that combines inputs to identify areas where several different qualities are present (“resource-rich” areas). Stratified by Landscape Regions (calculated percentile ranks relative to each region) in order to have even distribution of areas between regions
General GIS Method – Phase 3 Areas that represented the top 70 percent of the data within each region were extracted and converted to vector data made up of contiguous polygons. Terrestrial areas smaller than 3.14 acres were removed from the result (there was no size threshold applied to aquatic areas). The remaining polygons served as core areas from which geoprocessing routines were applied to identify key connections (e.g., riparian corridors) and proximate areas within the 50th percentile or above. Identified areas were combined/dissolved with the core areas and generalization routines were run to create protective buffers and smooth boundaries of resultant contiguous polygons. Nature’s Network (<http://naturesnetwork.org/>) data on terrestrial, wetland and aquatic cores developed during the process of creating CFAs was used as a guide to incorporate some additional areas that were not captured in the initial CFA delineation. Lastly, urban areas were erased from the result and a minimum size threshold of 3.14 acres was applied to all contiguous areas.
Phase 3 Process Summary: Extracted percentile > 70 in each Landscape Region Applied minimum size criteria to identify core areas Applied connectivity rules to select key connections between high value areas Ran basic generalization/simplification processes to provide protective buffers and smooth boundaries of areas Utilized Nature’s Network (<http://naturesnetwork.org/>) data on terrestrial and aquatic cores as guide to add in areas not captured Erased all areas coded as “urban” in 2012 land-use/land-cover Applied minimum size criteria to all contiguous areas
A graphic that depicts the Conservation Focal Area development process is available at: <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/wap/pdf/cons_focal_areas.pdf>

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/waphome.htm>

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: State Plane Coordinate System 1983

State_Plane_Coordinate_System:

SPCS_Zone_Identifier: 2900

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Information Technology (DOIT), Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (BGIS)

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 401 East State Street

City: Trenton

State_or_Province: NJ

Postal_Code: 08625

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 609-777-0672

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 609-292-7900

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gisnet@dep.nj.gov

Contact_Instructions: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensphome.htm>

Distribution_Liability:

This data set is a product of New Jersey's Wildlife Action Plan. The State of New Jersey makes great effort to provide secure, accurate, and complete data and metadata. However, portions of the data and metadata may be incorrect or not current. Any errors or omissions should be reported for investigation. The State of New Jersey, its officers, employees or agents shall not be liable for damages or losses of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of data and metadata, including but not limited to, damages or losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy or timeliness of any such data and metadata, or damages incurred from the viewing, distributing, or copying of those materials. The data and metadata are provided "as is." No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to the data and metadata, or its hyperlinks to other Internet resources. The State disclaims any duty or obligation either to maintain availability of or to update the data and metadata.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name:

DEP distributes ESRI .SHP and/or GDB. Some data may be NJ GeoWeb "display only" layers.

Format_Version_Number: latest version

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/listall.html>

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/geowebsplash.htm>

Fees: none

Ordering_Instructions: none

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20170911

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP).

Contact_Person: Patrick Woerner

Contact_Position: GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

City: Upper Freehold Township, Robbinsville

State_or_Province: NJ

Postal_Code: 08691

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 609-259-6967

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 609-259-8155

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Patrick.Woerner@dep.nj.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time