PRIORITY GRASSLANDS INITIATIVE Methodology for Identifying Priority Grasslands September 2007 Building a Scientific Framework and Rationale for Sustainable Conservation and Stewardship Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia 954A Laval Crescent Kamloops, BC V2C 5P5 Phone: (250) 374-5787 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.bcgrasslands.org Cover photo: Prickly-pear cactus by Richard Doucette Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia i Table of Contents Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................................................ii Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1 Methodology Overview...............................................................................................................................2 Methodology Stages ....................................................................................................................................5 Stage 1: Initial GIS Data Gathering, Preparation and Analysis................................................................ 5 Stage 2: Expert Input .............................................................................................................................. 10 Stage 3: Assessment of Recreational