The Piedmont Ecoregion stretches from south central Maryland to east central Alabama over 680 miles through portions of 6 states (Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia, & Maryland) and covers 42,343,801 acres (Map A). It is situated between the Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley areas to the west and the Coastal Plain to the east and south. Low hills and metamorphic rock dominate the area with occasional monadnocks in the western portion of the ecoregion. Dominated by both deciduous and evergreen forests there are also some native grasslands. Most streams drain to the south and east onto the Coastal Plain. It is a highly fragmented landscape long used by humans for agricultural and industrial purposes. Due to its broad climactic range, varied topography, and unique geologic history, the Piedmont is important for terrestrial and freshwater aquatic species.  Given increasing pressures on critical habitats, a tremendous need exists for a comprehensive approach to conserve the ecoregion’s most important biodiversity elements. As such, this draft plan details information about conservation measures necessary for sustaining the long-term biological integrity of the Piedmont.

Data: http://east.tnc.org/assessment/52/