Gap
analysis of the vegetation of the Intermountain Semi-Desert Ecoregion
David M. Stoms, Frank W. Davis, Ken L. Driese, Kelly M. Cassidy,
and Michael P. Murray
Great
Basin Naturalist 58: 199-216.
A
conservation gap analysis was conducted for the Intermountain
Semi-Desert ecoregion to assess the representation of land-cover
types within areas managed primarily for biodiversity objectives.
Mapped distributions of plant communities were summarized by land
management status categories. The total amount of land permanently
protected in the ecoregion is less than 4% and most types that
are characteristic of the region have less than 10%. Of 48 land-cover
types, 20 were found to be particularly vulnerable to potential
loss or degradation, because of low level of representation in
biodiversity management areas and the impact of expected land
use activities. The gap analysis data and findings will be useful
in providing a regional perspective in project impact assessment
and future conservation planning within this ecoregion.