Start Date
2-5-2018 11:30 AM
End Date
2-5-2018 11:40 AM
Abstract
The Oak Prairie Work Group’s Oregon white oak map is nearly complete. All areas within the >2,800-square mile Intertwine Alliance Regional Conservation Strategy (RCS) boundary will be finished by June 30, 2018. We will describe the mapping process and show the results. Purpose: This work fulfills a high priority RCS goal. The results will be used to update RCS habitat maps; prioritize important oak habitat and connectivity areas; and support effective, collaborative habitat protection, stewardship and education. Methods: In 2012 we collected field samples of oak habitat to help develop a potential remote sensing model approach. From 2013-2015 Metro used thousands of oak tree locations collected by >180 community scientists, plus points collected via aerial photographs, to refine model iterations. Despite our best efforts, models substantially overestimated the amount of oak, partially due to the hundreds of tree species present in urban areas. We needed more accurate information. We became skilled at identifying oak trees from aerials by checking every oak point collected by community scientists. In 2015 we abandoned remote sensing efforts and began to systematically hand-map oak trees using aerial photos. Results: Approximately 10% of all mapped oaks are in protected areas. The results show clear spatial patterns in oak distribution, including large patches and potential wildlife connectivity pathways in both urban and rural areas. Many fall outside of RCS “high value habitat” areas modeled in 2012, which lacked oak data at the time. We will freely share the data and are currently developing data viewing tools.
Subjects
GIS / modeling, Habitat assessment, Habitat restoration
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/25635
Rights
© Copyright the author(s)
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Mapping Oak within the RCS Bundary
The Oak Prairie Work Group’s Oregon white oak map is nearly complete. All areas within the >2,800-square mile Intertwine Alliance Regional Conservation Strategy (RCS) boundary will be finished by June 30, 2018. We will describe the mapping process and show the results. Purpose: This work fulfills a high priority RCS goal. The results will be used to update RCS habitat maps; prioritize important oak habitat and connectivity areas; and support effective, collaborative habitat protection, stewardship and education. Methods: In 2012 we collected field samples of oak habitat to help develop a potential remote sensing model approach. From 2013-2015 Metro used thousands of oak tree locations collected by >180 community scientists, plus points collected via aerial photographs, to refine model iterations. Despite our best efforts, models substantially overestimated the amount of oak, partially due to the hundreds of tree species present in urban areas. We needed more accurate information. We became skilled at identifying oak trees from aerials by checking every oak point collected by community scientists. In 2015 we abandoned remote sensing efforts and began to systematically hand-map oak trees using aerial photos. Results: Approximately 10% of all mapped oaks are in protected areas. The results show clear spatial patterns in oak distribution, including large patches and potential wildlife connectivity pathways in both urban and rural areas. Many fall outside of RCS “high value habitat” areas modeled in 2012, which lacked oak data at the time. We will freely share the data and are currently developing data viewing tools.