[PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again

[Renee Scagnelli]

I think it is extremely important to recognize that mowing is necessary in many cases--but that the frequency could be substantially reduced (yearly, every other year, or every 3 years, etc., depending on the target area and the associated plant species, etc), and that the mowing schedule needs to be sensitive to the maturation of seeds, plant rarity, etc.

In some places, complete cessation of mowing would be disastrous to the populations-- but yearly or every other year would be more than sufficient.

In our area, preserves held by one well known nature conservation organization have lost a number of rare plant species due to *lack* of mowing. Previous to their acquiring of the property one preserve in particular was mowed once a year, late season. Unfortunately, the lack of mowing has caused a once fabulous botanical preserve to lose a number of fabulous species.

In this area, late October/early November works well for areas that need to be mowed.

In fire prone areas, like the pine barrens, another factor in necessity of mowing is the height of grasses & vehicles pulling off roadside, and the potential for fire. (Or so I have been told. Doesn't seem to me to be enough to warrant mowing several times a year!)

Mowing doesn't seem to me to be as simple as should we mow or shouldn't we--at least not here. 

It seems to be a combination understanding of the desired outcome, the necessity of management for that outcome, and the frequency and timing of the mowing if mowing is necessary, plus any number of variables that a habitat. 

Some plants need disturbance in order to thrive--Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii, being a local example. On the other hand, though, too much disturbance will destroy the population.



Renee



Bill Stringer <bstrngr at CLEMSON.EDU> wrote:   I am regularly frustrated by the poor timing exercised by the folks in charge of mowing roadsides.  It seems when the blooming maxes, or the native grasses are peaking, or seeds are maturing, along come the mowers.

 This probably represents an opportunity for us conservation types to do good, by providing information and training about the best times and frequencies of mowing, and recognition of important native species.

 Thanx

 Bill Stringer
 Sometimes Roadside Weeper

 At 11:04 AM 8/31/2006, penny at pinenut.com wrote:
  I live in an area that is the second largest for beef production in the 
 U.S. Our native Ozark  biodiversity has been converted to monoculture fescue 
 in large sections of  this county. The fence rows and roadsides are the only 
 areas- frequently for miles -with  seed heads or berries. These are dirt 
 roads with very little traffic, yet over the last couple of weeks these were 
 all mowed.  The elderberries, summac and buckbrush are gone because of the 
 mowing and I wonder just how and where the birds, rabbits, racoons and deer 
 will find the food they need in addition to the pollinators.  Makes no sense 
 at all.

 Penny Frazier

 nal Message ----- 
 From: "mangodance" <bmn at iglou.com>
 To: <>
 Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:17 AM
 Subject: Re: [PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again

 
 > Lewis_Gorman at fws.gov wrote:
 >
 >>
 >> It's hard to believe that managing Interstate and limited access
 >> highways, clover leaves, etc. by merely not mowing them (except for
 >> safety requirements) would not be of overall advantage to all wildlife.
 >>  Is a study really required to determine an overall benefit?  Increased
 >> biodiversity alone should justify supporting a reduced mowing policy on
 >> highway lands.
 >> There must be millions of acres being mowed at great cost, petroleum
 >> energy use, and associated air pollution that would be significantly
 >> reduced by halting mowing, except as minimally required by federal
 >> highway safety specifications.
 >
 > I've been carping about not mowing for years (even before I got there).
 >  Mowing is basically a jobs program.  The contracting for mowing is as
 > ugly as any defense contracting.  The safety aspect is ridiculous.  They
 > tell me they're afraid people will go off road and hit a tree.
 > Apparently all the rock walls, drop-offs to creeks, and similar things
 > are not dangerous to people leaving the road.
 >
 > Additionally, if it was REALLY safety they were after, they wouldn't put
 > all that optimum deer browse next to the roads.
 >
 >
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 >
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 > Posts on this list reflect only the opinion of the individual who is 
 > posting the message; they are not official opinions or positions of the 
 > Plant Conservation Alliance.
 >
 >
 > 

 

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Renée (Brecht) Scagnelli
Associate Director
Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and its Tributaries 

  U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Volunteer Coordinator: Adopt-a-swamp pink population and Knieskerns monitoring program
 Vineland Environmental Commission
 South Jersey Bayshores Coalition
 Cumberland County Eagle Festival Committee 2006 (formerly Raptor Festival)
 Partnerships for NJ Plant Conservation 

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