Report cards are useful assessment tools and have been widely used to inspire and endorse changes. They have paved the way to new legislation, improved longitudinal data collection systems, established new professional partnerships, and inspired reforms on community-wide and national scales. With the abundance of report cards available, it is beneficial to compare reporting styles and critique data collection methods and dissemination strategies across the board.

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A scenario planning exercise focused on climate change, land use, and moose in the Northeast U.S. is being undertaken by the Wildlife Conservation Society, North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Northeast Climate Science Center (U.S. Geological Survey), and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Phase 1 of the scenario planning process involves the identification of key features and drivers within the focus system.

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While moose have documented thermal tolerances and habitat requirements, uncertainties remain regarding the pathways through which climate change might affect the species and the nature and timing of its response, presenting an opportunity to proactively consider the implications for the management and conservation of this species into the future from a multi-state perspective.

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The CEIA project describes a broad framework for developing a comprehensive impact assessment that accounts for current and anticipated pressures on the ecosystem. The framework consists of five steps:

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This project analyzed existing aquatic sediments, plants, and animals collected throughout the watershed to pinpoint key sources of nitrogen. As submerged aquatic vegetation has disappeared in regions heavily impacted by land-use activities, macroalgae and oysters were deployed and incubated in situ to help trace the origin of nitrogen inputs by identifying, delineating and mapping the relative influence of the varied urban and agricultural land uses in the watershed.

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This is a 12-page Executive Summary of the Catoctin Mountain Park Natural Resources Condition Assessment.

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This is a 12-page Executive Summary of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park Natural Resources Condition Assessment.

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This is a 12-page Executive Summary of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Natural Resources Condition Assessment.

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Harpers Ferry National Historical Park provides a wealth of natural resource values, including riparian habitats, floodplains, agricultural fields, geologic exposures, rare limestone glades, developed areas, and upland forests. These resources were assessed using the Vital Signs framework. Overall, the natural resoures in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park are in degraded condition and are under threat from surrounding land use, regionally poor air quality, and overpopulation of deer.

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Catoctin Mountain Park provides a wealth of natural resource values, largely resulting from the maintenance of forest and wetland habitats. These resources were assessed using the Vital Signs framework. Overall, the natural resoures in Catoctin Mountain Park are in moderate condition but are under threat from surrounding land use, regionally poor air quality, and overpopulation of deer.

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