Description
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview for the update of ESAs in the province of Alberta. ESAs represent places in Alberta that are vital to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity, soil, water, or other natural processes, at multiple spatial scales. They are identified as areas containing rare or unique elements in the province, or areas that include elements that may require special management consideration due to their conservation needs. As applied to resource management systems in Alberta, ESA mapping is a strategic conservation tool that is useful to the development of landuse planning and policy. Identifying these areas using scientifically rigourous, defendable, and relevant methodology is the first step toward the successful integration of ecological values into provincial land-use planning and management. It enables decision makers to rapidly progress through the planning process where informed trade-offs can be discussed, priorities set and clear...