Definitions:
Conservation: Conservation, as it pertains to wildlife and wildlands, broadly refers to the preservation and management of biodiversity and natural resources. When a species or ecosystem is identified as a conservation priority wildlife managers invest resources to mitigate population decline or stabilize and improve habitat degradation/loss.
Crucial Habitat: Preservation of crucial ranges ensures the long-term viability of populations and include areas that are important for overwintering, reproduction, connectivity, and support a high diversity of species. To minimize impact and degradation to crucial habitat, wildlife managers place stipulations on development activities and human use in these areas.
Enhancement Habitat Priority Areas: These areas possess a realistic potential to address wildlife habitat issues and to improve, enhance, or restore wildlife habitats. These areas may overlap with crucial areas or be distinct from them. Enhancement areas are based on habitat issues: e.g., loss of aspen communities, habitat fragmentation, development, loss of connectivity, water quality effects, water quantity limitations, beetle killed conifer, lack of fish passage, loss of fish to diversions, degraded habitat, etc.
Mapping data provided by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Indian paintbrush with mountain backdrop. Moosejaw Bravo Photography.
Rain clouds with Heart Mountain in distance. Moosejaw Bravo Photography.
