To provide a major component in the development of the wildlife emement of the "1980 California Fish and Wildlife Plan," the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) mapped "Areas of Special Biological Importance" (ASBI) for each county in the state. Maps are intended to provide land managers, planners, and developers with an early warning so that potential adverse impacts on ASBI's from proposed land-use changes can be identified and subsequently reduced or avoided. ASBI's were described for terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in three categories: (1) key wildlife areas, (2) limited habitat, and (3) rare or endangered species habitat. DFG biologists indicated proposed ASBI's on 1:100.000 scale work maps and completed information sheets describing ASBI location, land ownership, other current designations (if any), species or habitat involved, and rationale for ASBI designation. Following screening of proposed ASBI's by DFG regional and state headquarters staff, ASBI's meeting designation criteria were transferred onto 1:250,000 maps for printing. Descriptive narrative of the resources of each ASBI was included on the face of the maps.
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