Last updated: July 18, 2012 The Maryland-Delaware-New Jersey Gap
Analysis Project (MDN-GAP) The goal of Gap Analysis is to keep
common species common by identifying those species and plant
communities that are not adequately represented on existing
conservation lands. By identifying their habitats, Gap Analysis
gives land managers, planners, scientists, and policy makers the
information they need to make better-informed decisions when
identifying priority areas for conservation. Gap Analysis came
out of the realization that a species-by-species approach to
conservation is not effective because it does not address the
continual loss and fragmentation of natural landscapes. Only by
protecting regions already rich in habitat can we adequately
protect the animal species that inhabit them. Important habitat
types identified by this analysis include: The most prominent
rare species hotspots that are unprotected include: