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<br /> <br /> <br />as core areas for the protection of the full range of biological diversity. Some of <br />these areas are best considered as candidates for special area designations, others <br />as sites within a landscape that should be managed to include the maintenance of <br />the site's integrity. <br />A basic premise in the' landscape management approach starts with the <br />delineation of core protected areas that can be represented by special designations. <br />~Nhere possible, these should be connected through comdors and appropriately <br />buffered. Buffer areas should include the ecological processes supporting the <br />cliversiry of the core area. Such is the basis of the development of preliminary <br />conservation planning boundaries. <br />METHODS <br />The Natural Heritage staff conducted a natural heritage inventory in four <br />stages: <br />].. Gather euistinQ information. Information was accumulated from a variety of <br />sources at the Rocky Flats Envirorunental Technology Site and through <br />previously published and unpublished information. This included the <br />gathering of maps, reviewing the BCD and manual Natural Heritage data (see <br />table 2), and consulting experts including Rocky Flats personnel. The high <br />quality research results of EG&G and their subcontractors were critical to <br />being able to accurately assess the conservation priorities of the area. <br />:!. Perform field verification and determine preliminary conservation boundaries. <br />Ground surveys were conducted to rank occurrences of elements in terms of <br />quality, condition, viability, and defensibility to put into perspective the state <br />and range wide significance of the element. Preliminary conservation <br />boundaries were identified for each natural heritage resource. <br />:S. ASSiQn Biodiversity Ranks B-ranks The site is assigned a B-rank based on <br />the rarity, occurrence rank, and management and protection urgency of each <br />element as it relates to the protection of biological diversity. <br />4. Comoile the results and re are a final r~ort• As work was completed, <br />Natural Heritage staff scientists reviewed the information gathered. Based <br />on a review of all natural heritage resources present, the staff prioritised the <br />elements in terms of thew significance and the threats facing them, developed <br />and mapped preliminary conservation planning boundaries, and drafted <br />protection and management recommendations. <br />