At this step the practitioner should refine the maps which were created in Step 1. The practitioner should incorporate resource agency feedback and identify the most functionally intact components of each habitat network. Information gleaned from resource agency coordination during this step is key to forming the framework and assumptions for future impacts analysis and mitigation decision making. Completion of this step before the alternatives analysis is necessary since this information will support the determination of critical areas to avoid impacts and opportunities for minimization and compensation of potential impacts.
A toolkit of free software and accompanying instructions for developing, identifying, and assessing habitat linkages is available on-line at www.corridordesign.org. This information has been used in the development of conservation plans for the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project. Reviewing and drawing upon the experience of the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project website (http://restoretherockies.wordpress.com) is highly recommended.
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