How much forest and shrub cover each 160-acre planning cell holds, in four tiers, from the 2024 USDA Cropland Data Layer. Woodland is habitat, shade and a store of carbon.

Intact interior forest, away from the edges where fields, roads and buildings press in. Many woodland species need this deep cover, and small or broken-up patches cannot provide it.

Grassland and pasture in each planning cell, in four tiers, from the 2024 USDA Cropland Data Layer. Open grassland is scarce habitat for birds and pollinators.

Land that is already protected: DNR-managed public land and conservation easements, in four tiers by protected acreage. Protecting land next to it builds larger connected areas.

Wetland acreage in each planning cell, from the National Wetlands Inventory update completed by Ducks Unlimited in 2025, in four tiers. Wetlands filter water, store floodwater and shelter wildlife.

How much of each planning cell lies in the mapped floodplain, from FEMA flood hazard data, in four tiers. Floodplain left natural holds floodwater back and supports river habitat.

Natural cover (forest, grassland and wetland) within 100 metres of streams mapped from LiDAR, in four tiers. Vegetated stream banks keep soil and runoff out of the water.

The land in a ring around each wetland: natural cover scores high, developed land and row crops low. A healthy buffer shields a wetland from runoff and disturbance.

Routes wildlife can use to move between habitat areas, modelled across the planning grid and refined by expert review. Scored 1 to 4, from outside any corridor to inside a high-quality one.

Tree canopy above 25% cover within towns and on farmland, in four tiers. These trees carry habitat through landscapes that are otherwise open or built up.

The estimated price per acre of vacant land, modelled from sale listings. Where land costs more, protecting it is harder.

Land that changed to urban or built use between 2001 and 2021, from national land cover records. Recent conversion is a sign of development pressure nearby.

Parcels suited to utility-scale solar development. Solar farms compete with conservation for the same open land.

How dense the road network is, with wider buffers around highways and interstates. Roads split habitat apart and are barriers to wildlife movement.

How densely buildings stand, from building footprints. More housing means more pressure to develop and less room for habitat.