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Portfolio Status: Definitions and Codes:

Every occurrence of each ecosystem was assigned a final portfolio status and given a portfolio code based on the definitions given below. Only those examples termed critical occurrences were considered to be included in the portfolio and only those examples were used to calculate progress towards ecoregional goals.

1) Critical occurrence: an occurrence crucial to the conservation of biodiversity in the eocoregion. The occurrence met all screening criteria for size, landscape quality and verification. Critical occurrences are the only type counted towards meeting portfolio goals.

2) Candidate occurrence: an occurrence that met the size and landscape context criteria but was not corroborated or verified by an expert or ground inventory point. These occurrences were not considered part of the portfolio or used to meet goals. They are a priority for further inventory work to verify their condition and importance.

3) Supporting occurrence: an occurrence that is below the screening criteria for size or landscape context or has poor condition as verified by a third party. These occurrences are not considered part of the portfolio although they may contribute towards biodiversity in the ecoregion.

Ecosystem Criteria Summary

Summits and hilltops: 30 acres, LCI2<20

Cliffs and steep slopes: 25 acres, LCI2<20

Bowls, hollows and ravines (Coves): 25 acres, LCI2<20

Freshwater wetlands 50 acres, LCI2<20

Riparian and floodplains communities 100acres, LCI2<20

Coastal shores and wetlands:

Beach: 20 acres, LCI2<30

Rocky shore/Cliff: 10 aces, LCI2<30

Salt marsh: 60 acres, LCI2<30

Tidal flat: 100 acres, LCI2<30

Coastal bog: 75 acres, LCI2<30

Technical Definitions

Candidate = Larger than the size criteria and below LCI 20 (30 for coastal)

Provisional Candidate= Larger than the size criteria and above 20 but below 50 LCI

Supporting = Smaller than the size criteria and any LCI or any size but greater than 50 LCI

Critical = Candidate and provisional candidate occurrences that had their significance corroborated and verified with appropriate ground inventory information (EO point) or expert knowledge.

Protected = Term applied if 50% or greater of the occurrence area was found on land with

a GAP status 1 or 2.



Identifying the critical occurrences was a relatively straightforward process except for those occurrences in the zone of indecision, the grey area where borderline occurrences were sorted through on a case-by-case basis with more subjectivity than at the two ends (Table 4). Adjustments to the final selection of occurrences were made via expert caveats based on knowledge of the site. Expert opinion generally overrode the assigned category and this came into play for approximately 5-10% of the selected critical occurrences.

IV. Results: Our results suggest that about 29% of the ecoregion is critical for maintaining biodiversity of ecosystems in region (Table 5). Of that 27% was focused on matrix-forming forest and 2% on patch-forming ecosystems. When examined from the perspective of ecosystem types our results suggest that from 9% to 44 % (average 24%) of all possible examples were selected depending on the ecosystem type. Detailed results are included in each ecosystem chapter. Below are summaries and examples for all of the ecosystem types and a few illustrative species targets.