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The Bighorn Habitat Assessment Tool: A Method to Quantify Conservation Value on Landscapes Impacted by Mining

Author

Listed:
  • Dayan J. Anderson

    (Department of Environmental Studies, Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT 05764, USA
    Department of Mining Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA)

  • Vernon C. Bleich

    (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA)

  • Jeffrey T. Villepique

    (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ontario, CA 91764, USA)

Abstract

We present a methodology to assess the conservation value of mitigation lands for desert bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis nelsoni ) within landscapes impacted by historic and ongoing industrial uses. The Bighorn Habitat Assessment Tool (BHAT) was developed to support the adaptive management of the Cushenbury population of bighorn sheep located on the north slope of the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California, USA. We use a novel formulation of conservation value integrating the results of resource selection function analysis and reclamation credits, reflecting the degree to which degraded habitat is enhanced to benefit wild sheep. Our method seeks to balance conservation objectives simultaneously with the economic development of a working mine landscape. Specifically, the BHAT can be used to (a) establish a habitat reserve providing maximum benefit to the unique requirements of bighorn sheep; (b) incentivize voluntary action by industry to ensure mining activities are compatible with conservation; (c) allow for the evaluation of multiple mine planning and resource management alternatives; and (d) ensure that future compensatory mitigation actions for mining activity are grounded in the best available science. Our methodology is transferrable to the management of other wild sheep populations occupying mine-influenced landscapes for which sufficient data are available to complete resource selection analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Dayan J. Anderson & Vernon C. Bleich & Jeffrey T. Villepique, 2022. "The Bighorn Habitat Assessment Tool: A Method to Quantify Conservation Value on Landscapes Impacted by Mining," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:4:p:552-:d:789993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter C. Howard & Paolo Viskanic & Tim R. B. Davenport & Fred W. Kigenyi & Michael Baltzer & Chris J. Dickinson & Jeremiah S. Lwanga & Roger A. Matthews & Andrew Balmford, 1998. "Complementarity and the use of indicator groups for reserve selection in Uganda," Nature, Nature, vol. 394(6692), pages 472-475, July.
    2. John A. Litvaitis & Jeffery L. Larkin & Darin J. McNeil & Don Keirstead & Bridgett Costanzo, 2021. "Addressing the Early-Successional Habitat Needs of At-Risk Species on Privately Owned Lands in the Eastern United States," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Holly E Copeland & Amy Pocewicz & David E Naugle & Tim Griffiths & Doug Keinath & Jeffrey Evans & James Platt, 2013. "Measuring the Effectiveness of Conservation: A Novel Framework to Quantify the Benefits of Sage-Grouse Conservation Policy and Easements in Wyoming," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-14, June.
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