Appendix 3
Reference Document 3-1
R ANKING S CORES Taxa Team members and peer-reviewers select the appropriate response for each metric as part of the ranking process. Responses are entered into an organized, relational database developed for the WRC’s Portal Access to Wildlife Systems (PAWS) web site which is available to reviewers through a secured internet portal. Each metric’s answer scale represents empirical responses that reflect the best available knowledge for a species and is used to calculate numeric ranking scores. Averaged scores and cumulative totals are calculated by the PAWS database for each of the review categories. Taxa Teams will use the Conservation Concern and Knowledge Gap scores in the species prioritization process to identify SGCN. Ranking scores from all three review categories will be used to recommend priority species.
The steps involved in completing the species ranking and scoring process are described below.
1. Each Taxa Team member will review the ranking criteria metrics and evaluate species for which they are knowledgeable. Team member’s evaluation selections will be entered into the PAWS Wildlife Action Plan database. 2. The metric responses for each Taxa Team member will be compiled in a preliminary report automatically generated by the PAWS database. Taxa Teams will meet to review responses and for each species where a metric response varies, team members will collaboratively determine whether calculation of an average score based on the range of responses is appropriate or if a single response should be designated. 3. Final ranking scores will be automatically calculated by the PAWS database using the final results of the Taxa Team review. 4. The Taxa Teams will review ranking scores from each of the three review categories and recommend minimum scores for a species to be considered a priority species. Conservation Concern threshold scores will be used to designate SGCN. 5. Peer-reviewers will be asked to review the metric responses and recommendations for SGCN and priority species. Peer-reviewers may submit recommendations to modify the ranking evaluations; modifications must be supported with appropriate citations or references to substantiating research. 6. Taxa Team members will evaluate all recommendations submitted by peer-reviewers to determine merit of the responses. Each Taxa Team will collaboratively determine whether to incorporate recommended changes and modify a species ranking or to retain the original ranking recommendation. 7. Final ranking recommendations made by the Taxa Teams will be published in the SWAP as a list of SGCN and priority species. The final metric responses and ranking criteria scores will be made available in spreadsheet format for public access through a website download.
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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