Intact Habitat Cores (Midwest Conservation Blueprint 2026 Indicator)

Definition This indicator identifies large, unfragmented patches of habitat within the Midwest Landscape. It prioritizes areas based on quality and protection status of habitat cores. Pixels can take the following values: 1 – "Good" intact habitat core score 2 – "Better" intact habitat core score 3 – "Best" intact habitat core score, plus GAP 1-2 protected lands Selection This indicator was chosen as a targetable, important feature of the MLI goals that will be used to track conditions over time and prioritize areas for conservation. Indicators were defined through elicitation and prioritization exercises with federal and state participants. Criteria for the indicators includes 1) actionable, 2) measurable, 3) relevant to multiple groups across the region, and/or 4) representative of other social and/or environmental values. Input Data & Mapping Steps This indicator originates from the Esri Green Infrastructure Intact Habitat Cores Layer and the Protected Areas Database. To create this layer, MLI partners, members, and staff completed the following mapping steps: projected all input data to NAD83 (2011) UTM Zone 15N, merged all state-level habitat core layers into a single, regional layer, deleted identical polygons, converted the layer to a 30m raster using the core score as the case field, and reclassified the resulting raster into the following classes: 1 – Good core (score of 1.6-3.31), 2 – Better core (score of 3.32-4.12), 3 – Best core (score of 4.13-4.5). We selected all polygons with a GAP status of 1 or 2 from the Protected Areas database, converted the selected polygons to a 30m raster, and mosaiced this raster with the Intact Habitat Cores raster. Finally, highly altered areas were removed using our Highly Altered Areas Mask. For full mapping details, please refer to the Midwest Conservation Blueprint Development Process. For a complete download of all Blueprint input and output data, visit the Midwest Conservation Blueprint 2026 Data Download.## 定义 本指标用于识别中西部景观内连片的大型未碎片化栖息地斑块，并依据栖息地核心区的质量与保护状态进行优先级排序。像元可采用以下取值： 1 – 「优质」完整栖息地核心区评分 2 – 「优良」完整栖息地核心区评分 3 – 「最佳」完整栖息地核心区评分，且对应GAP 1-2类保护地 ## 指标遴选 本指标被选为中西部景观保护计划（MLI）目标中具备可靶向性的重要特征，将用于长期追踪栖息地现状并为保护工作划定优先级区域。该指标通过与联邦及州级参与方开展的征询与优先级排序工作制定完成。指标的遴选标准包括：1）具备可操作性；2）可量化；3）与区域内多利益相关群体相关；及/或4）可代表其他社会及/或环境价值。 ## 输入数据与制图步骤 本指标的数据源自Esri绿基础设施完整栖息地核心图层与保护区数据库（Protected Areas Database）。为制作本图层，MLI的合作方、成员及工作人员完成了如下制图流程：将所有输入数据投影至NAD83（2011）UTM 15N分区；将所有州级栖息地核心图层合并为单一区域图层；删除重复多边形；以核心区评分为字段值，将图层转换为30米分辨率栅格；并将生成的栅格重分类为以下类别：1 – 优质核心区（评分区间1.6-3.31），2 – 优良核心区（评分区间3.32-4.12），3 – 最佳核心区（评分区间4.13-4.5）。随后，我们从保护区数据库中筛选出GAP状态为1或2的所有多边形，将其转换为30米分辨率栅格，并将该栅格与完整栖息地核心区栅格进行镶嵌。最终，通过「高度干扰区域掩膜」移除了受人类活动高度干扰的区域。如需完整制图细节，请参考《中西部保护蓝图开发流程》。如需完整下载所有蓝图输入与输出数据，请访问「2026年中西部保护蓝图数据下载页面」。