Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS) is a powerful tool designed to guide conservation efforts by assessing and mapping the ecological integrity of various natural communities, such as forests, shrub swamps, and headwater streams.
The CAPS approach begins with detailed mapping of both developed and undeveloped land, followed by the evaluation of landscape-based metrics. These metrics are integrated into models that produce an Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI) for every point in the landscape, offering a comprehensive view of habitat conditions. CAPS also enables scenario analysis, allowing users to compare the ecological impacts of development projects or the benefits of habitat management and restoration efforts.
CAPS is being developed by a core team of scientists at the UMass Amherst Department of Environmental Conservation, including one of our Data Core team members who is an active contributor.