Appendix 3
Reference Document 3-1
• displaying answer scales without the associated scores as a means of reducing reviewer bias for selecting answers based on a preferred score outcome, • calculating average scores for each metric that are then totaled within each evaluation category for each species, and • using a Bayesian style analysis of the relationship between a threat’s scope and severity. Members of the Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee (NWAC) were also asked to review and provide comments on the proposed ranking criteria. Responses were limited and comments were restricted to minor revisions, which were incorporated into the metrics. The final species evaluation methodology uses metrics developed by the Work Group and are described in this white paper report. The metrics were developed to be a robust measure of our understanding about the status, trends, and risks of species in the state. The metrics are used to evaluate all wildlife in the amphibian, bird, crayfish, freshwater fish, freshwater mussel, mammal, reptile, and snail taxa groups found in North Carolina. The evaluation results create ranking scores that are used to identify SGCN and other priority species. 2025 Updated Species Evaluation Process The 2025 SWAP Technical Team convened a Ranking Criteria Work Group to review the evaluation methodology and recommend any updates to improve the process. Overall, we want the evaluation process to be one that can be applied consistently when used by different people and that will facilitate an evaluation and comparison of extinction risks among all species within a taxa group. To accomplish this goal, the evaluation is divided into three review categories: Conservation Need, Knowledge Gap, and Management Concern. While the Conservation Need metrics consider the status of species both within the state and where they occur elsewhere, the Knowledge Gap and Management Concern metrics consider only the populations found in North Carolina. S PECIES R ANKING The ranking process is intended to be both transparent and collaborative, with partners representing numerous state and federal agencies, education and research organizations, and private citizens knowledgeable about the taxa contributing to the process. Teams of species experts and research scientists will evaluate the species they are knowledgeable about. Their knowledge may be directly related to their own work or indirectly related through access to current research data. A peer-review analysis of the ranking results will be conducted once the Taxa Teams have completed their reviews.
Each Taxa Team considered whether adjustments to the method for calculating the Conservation Concern ranking scores would be appropriate for the taxon. The Taxa Teams were
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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