How is the Information Organized?

Interest in the different materials developed as part of Michigan's Wildlife Action Plan will vary substantially between audiences. Therefore, the following guidance will help direct users to materials that will be most useful to them.

Lake Basins & Ecoregions
These pages describe the ecological frameworks used in the action plan and provide further information about each individual Great Lake basin and terrestrial ecoregion. Additionally, priorities identified at the lake basin/ecoregion scale are included.

Coarse Filter: Landscape Features
These pages provide information and assessments from a habitat perspective at a more local scale. The action plan's primarly organization units, landscape features, are described. A summary assessment is provided for each aquatic landscape feature within each lake basin and for each terrestrial landscape feature within each ecoregion. Each of these assessments includes the following information: description, general condition, associated species of greatest conservation need, associated threats, associated natural communities, and conservation needs.

Fine Filter: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
These pages provide information and assessments from a wildlife species perspective. A full set of species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) in Michigan is identified and sub-sets of SGCN are provided by taxanomic group, lake basin and ecoregion. A brief summary for each of these species provides information on distribution, abundance, habitat use, conservation threats, gaps in knowledge, and other issues of importance to conservation of these species in Michigan.

Threats to Wildlife & Habitat
These pages provide information and assessments from a threats perspective. The threats framework used within the action plan is described, as are the processes used to identify threat associations with landscape features and SGCN and to identify conservation needs to address threats. Additionally, priority threats and priority conservation needs are identified at multiple scales.

Statewide Assessments
Statewide assessments of threats to and conservation needs of wildlife and their habitats are provided. Priority threats to wildlife in Michigan are identified, as are conservation needs to address each threat. Additional priority issues are also described, as are statewide research, monitoring and adaptive management needs. Finally, statewide priority conservation needs are identified.