Practical Conservation

“USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) Director Jim Reaves today announced that gardeners, foresters, landowners and others concerned about nonnative invasive plants in the South can now request free copies of “A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests“. The long-awaited book is an update of the very popular “Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control“, published by the Station in 2003.”

Conservation Maven points out a great article about what works and what doesn’t when restoring native prairie.

MSUCares has a updated guide for Supplemental Wildlife Food Planting in the Southeast.

Lee et al. (2009) examined the impact of fall and spring harvests on biomass yield in switchgrass and other potential bioenergy grasses.  There was little drop-off in biomass yield in spring harvests compared to fall for switchgrass, and big bluestem actually produced slightly more in spring.  This is great news for wildlife conservation.  Spring biomass harvests would preserve valuable winter cover for birds and other critters, and more closely mimic natural disturbance regimes.  And, still provide a profitable biofuel crop.  Now that’s what we mean by practical conservation

My colleagues just completed a multi-state northern bobwhite research initiative. The final report was just published by NRCS and is available online.  It summarizes a suite of research projects that will improve conservation on farms. A quote from the Foreward should pique your interest – “You will find clear, concise recommendations and the kind of conservation practices to use on your farm or recommend to others for quail restoration. Much of the bobwhite’s needs are supported by farm bill programs approved by Congress and administered by USDA NRCS.” – L. Pete Heard

Southern Forests Network has compiled some great resources about identifying and managing invasive species HERE.  The resources include:

Invasive Plants Field and Reference Guide: An Ecological Perspective of Plant Invaders of Forests and Woodlands gives a scientific synthesis of what is known about the behavior of such species in managed, disturbed, and pristine forested systems in addition to key information for accurate identification.

Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog thinks that landscape agro-ecology – the study of agriculture and its biodiversity beyond the field scale – is coming of age.  I agree with them.

Missouri Extension has published a great guide for installing field borders (herbaceous strips of vegetation replacing crops at field edges) entitled Field borders for agronomic, economic and wildlife benefits.   The document illustrates some important principles of corridor design that we focus on in my course, but that are not incorporated (intentionally!) into farm plans nearly enough.  The document is b/w, but color versions of the pictures can be viewed on the html version HERE.

I have added the following updates to the Grassland Management Manuals page:

Converting Common Bermudagrass to NWSG.  (Barnes and Washburn) from www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Handling the Tall Fescue Problem from the Southeast Quail Study group via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Fescue Eradication by the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Native Warm-season Perennial Grasses for Forage in Kentucky by the UK Cooperative Extension Service via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Establishing Native Warm Season Grasses via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Native Warm Season Grasses for Wildlife via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Warm Season Grasses from Penn State Univeristy via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Warm Season Grasses and Wildlife from Penn State Univeristy via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Restoring Native Grasslands by Texas Cooperative Extension via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

More pollinator resources from the Xerces Society have been added to the Pollinator Manuals page.   The updates are listed below.

Pollinators in Natural Areas: A Primer on Habitat Management.

Pollinator-friendly Parks. How to enhance parks, gardens and other greenspaces for native pollinator insects.

Making Room for Native Pollinators: How to Create Habitat for Pollinator Insects on Golf Courses.