Biodiversity Conservation
Webinar 20 November 2019
Gretchen Stevens, Hudsonia Ltd.
Learning objectives
1. What is biodiversity and why does it matter?
2. Biodiversity resources of conservation concern 3. Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation 4. Regulations that can help protect biodiversity 5. How a CAC can influence local biodiversity conservation
Biodiversity Conservation
What is biodiversity?
Laura T Heady © 2014
Chris Graham
Chris Graham © 2014
Kristen B Travis
Chris Graham
Chris Graham
Chris Graham Chris Graham
What is biodiversity?
Laura T Heady © 2014
Chris Graham
Chris Graham © 2014
Kristen B Travis
Chris Graham The variety of life in all its forms,
and
the interactions between living organisms and their environment.
Chris Graham
Chris Graham Chris Graham
The term biodiversity encompasses diversity at all scales,
from landscapes and ecosystems, to biological communities, to species of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and to the genes that distinguish one species from another
Chris Graham
What is biodiversity?
oxygen production
soil formation
water & air purification
climate moderation
carbon sequestration
pollination
Biodiversity is fundamental to the ecosystems that sustain life on earth and are responsible for many basic services that make our world habitable:
Why is biodiversity important?
Chris Graham
food resources
other harvestable resources (wood, fiber, medicines)
control of diseases for humans, livestock, and plants
the scenic beauty of our landscapes
…and for secondary ecological services such as:
…and countless other benefits that cannot be replicated or replaced by human engineering and technology.
Chris Graham
Why is native biodiversity important?
Ecosystems with their full complement of native species and processes are best able to withstand both “normal” environmental stresses and catastrophic events, such as diseases, droughts, floods, fires, and climate change.
Protecting native biodiversity is a means of preserving the resilience of ecosystems.
Chris Graham
Why is native biodiversity important?
“Native biodiversity:” — the organisms and communities
that have developed here together over thousands of years.
What is biodiversity?
Chris Graham
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
Chris Graham
Kristen B Travis
water resources
Laura T Heady
biological resources
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
Chris Graham
“Habitats” are useful surrogates for biodiversity.
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
The place where a plant or animal or biological community occurs.
What is a habitat?
Habitats are defined by biological and non-biological features, such as:
vegetation
bedrock
soils
water depth, velocity, chemistry
exposure to sun, wind, waves
human land uses
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
“Ecologically significant habitats” are of greatest importance for
supporting our ecosystems. Hereafter in this webinar, the term “habitat” refers to “ecologically significant habitat.”
Examples of common habitats: deciduous forest conifer forest shrubland meadow marsh stream
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
They include high quality examples of common habitats, such as those mentioned in the last slide…
What are “ecologically significant habitats”?
Chris Graham Laura T Heady
Laura T Heady
calcareous ledge
rocky barren
cool ravine
kettle shrub pool
circumneutral bog lake
fen
acidic bog
For habitat descriptions, see: Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor Hudsonia’s Habitat Fact Sheets, and NYNHP’s Ecological Communities of New York State .
…and they also include uncommon and rare habitats such as:
Erik Kiviat
Erik Kiviat
Chris Graham
What are “ecologically significant habitats”?
See the Habitats of the Hudson Valley webinar* for more information about habitats and conservation.
*Introduction to Habitats of the Hudson Valley webinar https://meetny.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/meetny/recording/play/c9c255a36bd74f41a4220df2c602a5bc
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
Both common and rare native species
of plants and animals are important to
intact ecosystems, but rare species
and rare habitats are often in the
greatest danger of disappearing from
our landscapes.
Kathleen A. Schmidt © 2001 wood turtle northern copperhead
US Geological Survey
Karner blue
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
eastern spadefoot toad
timber rattlesnake
Nava Tabak
northern metalmark
Loss of rare species often indicates a
degraded environment, and can alert us
to needs for protection and restoration.
Rare species and rare communities
deserve special attention when setting
priorities for conservation.
Biodiversity resources of conservation concern
Ingrid B Haeckel
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Clean and abundant groundwater
and surface water are important for
supporting high quality aquatic,
wetland, and upland habitats.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Infiltration of water to the soils is essential to maintaining quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Impervious surfaces (roads,
driveways, roofs) promote
rapid runoff of rainwater and
snowmelt, and prevent water
from seeping into the soils.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Hurunui District Council, NZ
Impervious surfaces (roads,
driveways, roofs) promote
rapid runoff of rainwater and
snowmelt, and prevent water
from seeping into the soils.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Land development often leads to depletion and degradation of groundwater, streams, and ponds.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Above: Dry hickory-oak forest.
Below: Young hardwood forest with heavy Japanese barberry invasion.
C. Graham © 2018
C. Graham © 2018
Undisturbed vegetation and
soils facilitate infiltration of
precipitation to the soils.
Chris Graham
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Forests help to maintain stream
flow volumes, temperatures,
water quality, bank stability, and
habitat quality, and maintain
quality and quantity of
groundwater supplies.
Chris Graham
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Jonathan Kays, Univ. of Maryland Cooperative Extension
Jonathan Kays, Univ. of Maryland Cooperative Extension
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
buffer zone
Buffer Zones
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Pesticides, fertilizers, and road salt can harm waterways and
groundwater.
Minimizing or avoiding their
use altogether will help to
protect people, pets, plants,
and wildlife.
Road salt washes off roads , parking lots, and driveways, and
contaminates soils, groundwater, streams, and ponds.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Salt is highly toxic to plants and
animals (including humans),
and does not flush out of a
system. It remains in the soil,
groundwater, and sediments
of ponds and lakes.
Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Broad connectivity of habitats
allows safe movement between
habitat areas for plants and animals.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Kristen B Travis
Wildlife need to move across the landscape to fulfill their needs for shelter, resting, foraging, rehydrating, breeding, overwintering, and dispersal. Roads, parking lots, driveways, walls, and yards pose significant hazards and barriers to safe migrations.
The spotted turtle uses many kinds of wetlands to meet its needs for
summer and winter habitats.
The turtles are exposed to great hazards
as they move between habitats in a
developed landscape.
Chris Graham
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
spotted turtle
woodland pool (foraging, basking)
upland meadow (nesting, travel)
hardwood swamp (resting, basking, foraging, overwintering)
upland hardwood forest (resting, foraging, travel)
Preserving intact, unfragmented habitat complexes helps to protect local populations of vulnerable wildlife.
Chris Graham
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
spotted turtle
Roads, driveways, walls, vertical-sided curbs, fences, pitfalls
(deep, steep-sided holes such as soil test-pits, window wells,
and swimming pools) create hazards and barriers to wildlife
movement.
Cori M Rose © 2014 G Guerrero-Murphy © 2012
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Broad zones of undisturbed soils and vegetation
around sensitive natural areas help to buffer those areas
from effects of human activities,
provide additional habitat,
and allow important natural
processes to continue.
ForestWander
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Habitat patches in large, broad configurations are preferable to small,
narrow, or isolated patches.
Large, broad habitat patches serve
area-sensitive wildlife, and those
that require the special conditions
found in deep habitat interiors.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
fisher
large & broad habitat patch
contiguous habitat developed area
Aerial view of a deciduous forest, with a road, driveways, and houses along the western edge of the image.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
large & broad habitat patch
contiguous habitat developed area
Aerial view of a deciduous forest, with a road, driveways, and houses along the western edge of the image.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
scarlet tanager black-throated blue warbler
Aerial view of a deciduous forest (and a meadow), with a road, driveways, lawns, and houses .
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
small and narrow habitat patches
houses, yards, & driveways
small, narrow habitat patches
contiguous habitat
Protect habitat areas in large and broad patches instead of small and narrow patches
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Aerial view of residential development in deciduous forest
Avoid or minimize habitat fragmentation
Sprawling driveways and houses reaching into the forest interior disrupt the forest habitat for area-sensitive and edge-sensitive wildlife.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Avoid or minimize habitat fragmentation
Aerial view of driveway and residence in former agricultural field.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Avoid or minimize habitat fragmentation
Aerial view of driveway and residence in former agricultural field.
Fragmentation of large meadows can similarly disrupt the meadow habitats for area-sensitive and edge-sensitive wildlife.
grasshopper sparrow
bobolink
Avoid or minimize habitat fragmentation
Instead, locating new houses near roads and other development helps to minimize fragmentation of large habitat areas.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Another kind of habitat fragmentation: Narrow and suspended
culverts act as barriers to
upstream and downstream
movement of stream
organisms.
This is a wide-spread form of
stream habitat fragmentation.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Instead, the culvert should be
wider than the stream bed,
and the culvert bottom
should be buried in the
stream substrate, or use an
open-arch culvert, as shown.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/49066.html
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Minimize impervious surfaces (e.g., pavement, roofs).
Prevent rapid runoff of surface water from developed areas.
Promote onsite infiltration of rainwater and snowmelt.
Establish and maintain broad buffer zones along streams and around wetlands, lakes, and ponds.
Restore and maintain forest cover wherever possible in floodplains and throughout the watersheds of streams and ponds.
Maintain buffer zones around sensitive areas.
Minimize applications of pesticides and fertilizers.
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Maintain broad connectivity between habitats across the landscape.
Preserve intact habitat complexes wherever possible.
Preserve habitat patches in broad configurations.
Avoid or minimize habitat fragmentation.
Maintain and restore broad buffer zones of undisturbed soils and vegetation around sensitive upland and wetland habitats.
Minimize hazards and barriers to wildlife movements
Principles and measures for biodiversity conservation
Ingrid B Haeckel
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
Federal Clean Water Act
Federal Endangered Species Act
New York State Environmental Conservation Law
Local legislation
The FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT regulates activities in:
wetlands of all sizes that are connected to perennial streams
or large water bodies perennial streams and certain intermittent streams with
regular seasonal flow
The federal program is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), in consultation with the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Fish and Wildlife Service as needed. Where jurisdiction over a particular wetland or stream is unclear, the ACOE makes the jurisdictional determination on a case-by-case basis. The federal wetland regulatory program is in flux in 2019, so the extent of federal jurisdiction
of streams may change.
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
The NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW regulates activities in:
all tidal wetlands on the Tidal Wetlands Inventory Map
wetlands of 12.4 acres and larger on the Freshwater Wetlands map
a few smaller wetlands “of unusual local importance” on the Freshwater Wetlands map
a 100-ft “adjacent area” around jurisdictional wetlands
In addition, under Article 15 of the ECL the DEC classifies selected streams, lakes, and ponds according to their “best usage.” Disturbing the bed or banks of a classified stream requires a state permit. The NYS program is administered by the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation.
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
Municipalities may adopt local legislation to protect small streams and
small, isolated wetlands that do not fall under state or federal jurisdiction.
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
The FEDERAL ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT* provides some protection to plants and animals that are formally listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as “Endangered” or “Threatened.” Only a few of these species occur in New York State. Some examples are the bog turtle, Indiana bat, shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons, piping plover, Karner blue (butterfly), and northern monkshood.
* Code of Federal Regulations 50 CFR 17
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
US Geological Survey
Karner blue
** ECL Part 193.3 and section 9-1503.
The NYS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW (ECL):
prohibits killing, harassing, transporting, possessing, or selling any animal species listed in the ECL as “endangered” or “threatened”* prohibits picking, removing, or damaging listed “Protected Native Plants” without the consent of the owner.**
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
* ECL Title 5, Section 11-0535.
Federally-listed “endangered” and “threatened” animals receive significant regulatory protections from the federal government, but listed plants are protected only if they are involved in federal projects or those needing federal approvals, or in interstate or international trade.
NYS-listed “endangered” and “threatened” animals and their habitat areas receive significant regulatory protection from New York State;
NYS-listed “Protected Native Plants” receive some regulatory protection only if the landowner wishes to protect them.
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
Rare Species & Other Species of Conservation Concern
NYS Endangered
NYS Threatened
NYS Species of Special Concern
NYS Species of Greatest Conservation Need
NY Natural Heritage Program S1, S2, and S3 species
Hudson River Valley Priority Bird List (Audubon)
Regional lists of rare & vulnerable species
Only these animals receive some legal protection from the state.
Rare Species & Other Species of Conservation Concern
NYS Endangered
NYS Threatened
NYS Species of Special Concern
NYS Species of Greatest Conservation Need
NY Natural Heritage Program S1, S2, and S3 species
Hudson River Valley Priority Bird List (Audubon)
Regional lists of rare & vulnerable species
Only these animals receive some legal protection from the state.
But all of these animals are of conservation concern
Do rare species occur on this site?
Andy Reinmann
How to find out…
Do rare species occur on this site?
Step 1: NYNHP Inquiry
Submit an inquiry to the New York Natural Heritage
Program (inquiry instructions are on the NYNHP website).
Their letter response will list any known
occurrences of state-listed or NYNHP-listed rare species in their database.
BUT…
…most sites have never been surveyed for rare species, so the absence of records in the NYNHP database does not indicate the absence of rare species on the site.
A Four-Step Process
Step 2: Habitat Assessment
Request that a habitat assessment be conducted by one or
more qualified biologists knowledgeable about the habitat requirements of species of conservation concern.
If no suitable habitats are present on or near the site, then you may conclude that rare species are unlikely to occur on the site.
If one or more suitable habitats is present for species of concern , then proceed to Step 3.
Do rare species occur on this site?
Step 3: Habitat Conservation
If suitable habitats are present for plants or animals of conservation concern,
then the applicant may choose to:
assume that rare or sensitive species are present or may be present in the future, and design new land uses in ways that accommodate the species of concern;
OR
conduct a rare species survey to try to determine if the
species of concern are present. Rare species surveys can be expensive and time-consuming, and are often inconclusive.
Do rare species occur on this site?
Step 4: Rare Species Survey
Rare species surveys must be conducted by biologists who
specialize in the particular species (or groups of species) of concern.
Rare species surveys must be conducted in the season(s), time(s) of day, and weather conditions that will optimize
the chances for detecting and identifying the target species, and must use survey methods appropriate to the species and the environmental conditions.
Do rare species occur on this site?
Municipalities can adopt local legislation and non-regulatory measures to help protect species, habitats, and landscapes of conservation concern that are inadequately protected by other governmental entities.
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
Andy Reinmann
Examples of local measures Regulatory Adopt a municipal stormwater management ordinance with more
rigorous standards than those of the state.
Adopt a municipal wetland and watercourse ordinance that protects small and isolated wetlands and small streams.
Adopt subdivision regulations establishing basic standards for conservation designs, open space protection, set-backs from sensitive habitats, and other conservation measures.
Adopt review standards requiring that the needs of NYS Species of Greatest Conservation Need be considered for all land development projects requiring municipal approval.
Establish a Conservation Overlay Zone or a Critical Environmental Area for areas of special importance or sensitivity.
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
Examples of local measures (cont.)
Procedural
Request that land use applicants follow Habitat Assessment Guidelines before designing their project.
Require that municipal planning board and/or CAC members visit each site prior to planning board decisions on land development projects.
Require that municipal environmental reviews of land development projects consider onsite and offsite landscape connectivity.
Require that land use applicants refer to the local or county Natural Resource Inventory or Open Space Plan, if one exists, and design the project with consideration of important resources.
Regulations that Help to Protect Biodiversity
How can a CAC influence biodiversity conservation?
Chris Graham
Obtain training in biodiversity assessment and conservation.
Gather information about local biodiversity from publicly available sources, and provide information as needed to other town agencies.
Assist town agencies and committees with townwide planning efforts (such as Comprehensive Plan, Open Space Plan, farmland protection plan, etc.) by contributing concepts, information, and recommenda-tions related to natural resource conservation.
Develop a Natural Resources Inventory for your municipality.
(continued)
How can a Conservation Advisory Council influence biodiversity conservation?
Identify features of greatest conservation concern in your municipality, and educate other municipal agencies, land use applicants, and the public.
Assist the planning board with review of proposed land development projects.
Ask questions during environmental reviews, such as these:
Has a habitat assessment been conducted and, if so, are suitable habitats for rare plants or animals present?
Has the development been designed to maintain broad connectivity between onsite and offsite habitat areas?
Has the proposed stormwater management been reviewed by an independent engineer, and does it maintain pre-construction volumes and patterns of surface water runoff?
(continued)
How can a CAC influence biodiversity conservation? (cont.)
How can a CAC influence biodiversity conservation? (cont.)
Conduct research on conservation legislation and environmental review procedures1 that could be adopted by the municipality, and make recommendations to town agencies.
Propose establishment of Critical Environmental Areas,2 or a Conservation Overlay Zone;3 identify, describe, and prepare preliminary documentation.
Conduct literature research on topics of concern to the community, and disseminate findings to town agencies and the public.
1 A sample checklist for environmental reviews is at: https://hudsonia.org/resources/ 2 Critical Environmental Areas are explained at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6184.html 3 Conservation Overlay Zones are explained at: https://www.dos.ny.gov/lg/publications/Creating_the_Community_You_Want.pdf
Biodiversity Conservation
QUESTIONS?
Biodiversity Conservation LINKS
Conservation and Land Use Webinar Series: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5094.html Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards Habitats of the Hudson Valley Biodiversity Conservation Rarity Lists New York State Rare Animals: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7494.html New York State Rare Plants: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/29396.html NYS Species of Greatest Conservation Need: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9406.html NY Natural Heritage Program rarity ranks, animals & plants: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/rareanimal2017.pdf https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/2019rareplantlists.pdf
Habitat Assessment Guidelines https://hudsonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Habitat_Assessment_Guidelines_2013.pdf
Buffer zones around sensitive areas Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners: https://www.eli.org/research-report/conservation-thresholds-land-use-planners Planners Guide to Wetland Buffers: https://www.eli.org/research-report/planners-guide-wetland-buffers-local-governments
Biodiversity Conservation
Webinar 20 November 2019
Gretchen Stevens, Hudsonia Ltd.
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