The Practice and Potential of Ecosystem-Based Management Applying lessons from land use and coastal management in Maine hosted by The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Maine Coastal Program, Maine Sea Grant,the University of New England, and the Ecosystem-based Management Tools Network

1. Beginning with Habitat A Community-based Ecosystem Management Tool

2. Beginning with Habitat A Community-based Ecosystem Management Tool

3. What is Beginning with Habitat (BwH)? Purpose: To provide comprehensive data related to plant and wildlife habitat and tools and technical assistance to assist with the implementation of a local approach to habitat and open space conservation. BwH is… A non-regulatory landscape based approach to sustaining natural systems and achieving meaningful conservation and of all native species on a developing landscape.

4. The Process 3. Develop a Conservation Blueprint Goal: Preserve habitat and habitat functions for all species of plants and animals native to your community 1. Inventory and Identify What is Important 2. Design a Landscape

5. The Process 1. Maintain aquatic system functions 2. Protect rare, threatened, and endangered plant and animal habitats and rare and exemplary natural communities 3. Minimize fragmentation of large blocks and maintain connections between blocks Eighty to 95% of all Maine’s terrestrial vertebrate species would likely be present if these areas can be preserved.

7. A Three-legged Stool Model Comprehensive Data Tools and Tech. Assistance Incentives for Action Functional Habitat

10. http:// www.beginningwithhabitat.org/toolbox/about_toolbox.html Intent : to provide habitat friendly approaches to developing common town planning tools

20. www.beginningwithhabitat.org Bethany Atkins Beginning with Habitat 284 State Street 41 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 207-287-5878 [email_address] Contact Us