Frequently Asked Questions

What is CAPS?

CAPS is an acronym for Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System, a computer model that was created by researchers at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. CAPS produces a map of the ecological integrity of lands and waters across relatively large geographic areas.

Mass Audubon ran this model for the entire state based on data from 1971, 1985, 1999, and 2005. As a result, we can see the loss in ecological value over this time period. The model takes into account factors such as: habitat loss, domestic predators (cats and dogs) edge predators, such as raccoons, skunks, and cowbirds, invasive plants, and fragmentation of the landscape. Visit the UMASS CAPS website for more information.

What is ecological integrity?

Ecological integrity is the ability of an area to support plants and animals and the natural processes necessary to sustain them over the long term. By conserving intact areas of high ecological integrity, we can conserve most (but not necessarily all) species and ecological processes.

What is the index of ecological integrity (IEI)?

The number, between 0 and 1, that is generated by the CAPS analysis. It reflects the ability of an area to support plants and animals and the natural processes necessary to sustain them over the long term. An area with a score of zero has no value and a score of 1 represents an area of pristine ecological function.

What is the difference between a direct and indirect impact of development?

The direct impact of development is the loss of ecological integrity that results from the footprint of development. The “footprint” is the home or building, the driveway, and the area in the immediate vicinity of the building. The CAPS model sets the value to zero directly under the footprint. The indirect impact of development is the loss of ecological integrity in the natural areas surrounding development that we can measure from one time period to the next. The indirect impact is less visible and is the result of factors, such as invasive species; edge predators, such as cowbirds, skunks, and raccoons; domestic predators, such as cats and dogs; and habitat fragmentation.

For instance, if an acre of forest had a perfect score of 1 in 1971 and its score was then decreased to 0.5 in 2005, yet remained forested, the indirect impacts of development would be 0.5 IEI-acres. A “real-world” example of an indirect impact would be the disappearance of an interior forest dwelling species, such as the Scarlet Tanager, from an area of forest after several homes and roads/driveways were developed in the area.

Why did the rate of development drop from 40 acres a day to 22 acres a day?

The historical data on building permits issued in Massachusetts (US Census Bureau), indicates that the housing boom in the 1980s (1981–1988) was much larger than the housing bubble that we just experienced (2003–early 2006).

Since that period in the 1980s, and after the recession in the early 1990s, the number of housing permits were still slightly higher in the period from 1992–1999 than they were subsequently. With this data as a reminder of the 1980s and 1990s, a significant decrease in land use development makes sense.

What is the BioMap, a BioMap Core, or BioMap Supporting Natural Landscape?

BioMap is a map, produced by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program in 2001, of habitat for all the terrestrial native species of Massachusetts.

BioMap Cores are the terrestrial areas that are important habitat for biodiversity in Massachusetts.

BioMap Supporting Natural Landscapes are areas that are important to the biodiversity of Massachusetts, that buffer endangered species habitat, and that provide habitat to more common species.

What is Living Waters, Living Waters Core, and Living Waters Critical Supporting Watersheds?

The Living Waters project is a map, produced by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program in 2003, of habitat for freshwater aquatic native species of Massachusetts.

Living Waters Core Habitat are the lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams that are important habitat for freshwater biodiversity in Massachusetts.

Living Waters Supporting Natural Watershed are the watersheds that have immediate hydrologic connection to Living Waters Core Habitat.

When was the Environmental bond bill passed? What is it?

The Environmental Bond Bill, or E-bond, was passed in August of 2008. It is a law that will provide $1.7 billion in capital funds for vital state environmental programs through 2013.  Highlights from the Environmental Bond include:

• $50 million a year for state land protection programs;
• Badly needed funding for Department of Conservation and Recreation’s state and urban parks, which have a $1.7 billion backlog of essential repairs and improvements;
• A new state income tax credit for landowners who voluntarily gift qualifying land to a municipality, the state, or a nonprofit conservation organization;
• Capital funding to protect and restore freshwater, coastal, and marine resources including community drinking water supplies, natural habitat for wildlife, and dam removal and repair; and
• Funding for state environmental agencies to prepare for and manage climate change impacts that are already causing habitat destruction, water quality degradation and other problems