Projects
Identifying & Assessing Habitat
We work with conservation partners to identify and assess habitat values for:
- Atlantic salmon and other diadromous (searun) fish,
- migratory birds (particularly waterbirds), and
- federally threatened and endangered species.
Biologists/GIS specialists on our staff use computer mapping and database management skills to:
- compile existing biological information,
- help fill information gaps by seeking available information from others, conducting habitat surveys and developing restoration inventories, and
- create databases and GIS maps that identify high priority conservation sites.
Once habitat information has been compiled, our staff works with partners interested in habitat protection and restoration to:
- interpret and share GIS databases and maps,
- examine the landscape context of potential projects,
- recommend habitat protection and restoration priorities with greatest value, based on habitat value, economic feasibility, community support and other factors, and
- explore the value of the maps and data in supporting fundraising initiatives and community outreach.
Gulf of Maine Coastal Program has played a lead role in completing five major habitat assessment and mapping projects that continue to support successful on-the-ground conservation habitat conservation initiatives, including:
- Gulf of Maine Watershed Habitat Analysis
- Maine Atlantic Salmon
- Statewide Distribution of Diadromous Fish
- Maine Coastal Seabird, Wading Bird and Eagle Nesting Islands
- Restoration opportunities in Scarborough Marsh, Maine's largest salt marsh
