A few weeks ago I had a friend ask me, "I want to own land and manage it to save the world. How can I do that?" As I thought of all the possible ways land could be managed to mitigate habitat destruction, increase local food supply or assure flora that will strive in a changing climate, one thread came to me as the most important element in land management. I replied, "Manage with thought." I deeply believe that it is a lack of planning and forethought that helped degrade the productivity of a great many acres coast to coast and it will be planning for the future that will help solve the challenges facing land management today. I will keep this post on what I know best, managing land for the benefit of wildlife.
My first suggestion to is to make land ownership work for your needs. Management should be lasting in terms of economic, environmental and social commitment. If a landowner cannot maintain the land on these three fronts then any changes made to the property are unlikely to have any lasting benefit.
Next up, understanding the property as it fits into the landscape. Almost any wildlife species will need more space than the average landowner can provide. Therefore, it is important to find a role each property can play in providing food, water and habitat to the local fauna. If the surrounding properties are fulfilling one or two of these requirements, it could be of greater benefit to have the property fill the third. Food plots, ponds or modifying vegetation cover are all possible ways to do that.
The structure and layout of these resources should also be a consideration. Feathered edges which are soft borders transitioning from forest to shrubs to pastures or farmland allow many animals to have cover from predation. Consider vegetation at different heights as well. Grass, shrubs, understory trees and canopy trees all provide different niches and resources to wildlife species. The ability of the wildlife to get to the food, cover and water provided is also important. Placing these resources within a reasonable distance, 200 yards for a rough average, makes sure all the pieces fit together to create usable habitat.
Finally, work on some small projects that help increase the utility of the land to wildlife. I cannot emphasize this enough: stick with native vegetation. Exotic plants might have one advantage or another but they are rarely worth the potential harm they can cause or as well adapted to the climate and soil as native plants. Piles are another good thing for wildlife. Rock piles or brush piles can provide habitat for a wide host of wildlife. Also, leave standing dead trees. The life of the tree is not over when it dies. A dead tree can provide a home to woodpeckers and flying squirrels. There are many cost share programs to help landowners increase the usefulness of their land to wildlife. Contact your state’s conservation department for help accessing these funds.
(modified from Working Trees for Wildlife by USDA in partnership with the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service.)
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