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SPECIES ASSESSMENT DATABASE: PROCESS
The
Partners In Flight (PIF) Species Assessment Database is the repository for
biological information used and generated by the PIF Species Assessment
Process, a scientific methodology for analyzing, evaluating, and
categorizing information related to the conservation of birds. The PIF
Species Assessment Database is the most comprehensive North American bird
conservation database in existence. Rocky Bird Observatory, through grants
from numerous supporting agencies, foundations, and
institutions, manages this database for Partners In Flight.
The
PIF Species Assessment Process evaluates six factors relating to
biological vulnerability and two measures of area importance for each
North American bird species. It then and applies various combinations of
this information to generate either global or regional status assessments
of birds. The six biological vulnerability factors considered include
Population Size, Breeding Distribution, Non-breeding Distribution, Threats
to Breeding, Threats to Non-breeding, and Population Trend. These factors
are evaluated for each species at the global or continental scale to
produce an overall status assessment of each species. The two Threat
factors and Population Trend factors are also evaluated at regional
scales, and combined with selected global factors and the two measures of
area importance (Relative Density and Percent of Population) to produce
regional assessments, both for breeding and non-breeding seasons. Scores
for each of the factors (except for Percent of Population, which is not
scored but instead considered in its raw form) range from 1, to reflect
low concern or importance, to 5, to reflect the highest concern or
importance. An important aspect of the PIF Species Assessment Process is
that all scores are determined independently, i.e., knowledge of one
variable does not bias the scoring of another. Each score is based on the
best available science and is heavily reviewed by experts both within and
outside the PIF science committee.
In addition to the process briefly described above, the database
of species, areas, and assessment scores can be sorted, and sorts can be
nested using several variables at once. These various manipulations of
the assessment database can result in objective yet dynamic
priority-setting processes. More complete information on the PIF Assessment
process can be found in:
Any
user of the PIF Database should have a copy of this document on hand,
which clarifies all aspects of the database and the processes in
developing and using the species assessment scores.
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