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

[Lewis_Gorman at fws.gov]

Paul et. al.,
Do you think that state legislation could speed the progress based on 
successful projects that some states have already enacted?
Lew




"Fuhrmann, Paul" <PFuhrmann at ene.com> 
Sent by: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
08/31/2006 10:24 PM

To
<native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org>
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Subject
Re: [PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again






Great dialogue on resource management and lack of along roadways.   Many 
on this list serve are aware of new, innovative vegetation management 
practices and techniques, if not practicing them.   For a number of 
reasons, transportation corridor vegetation management programs are 
designed without much consideration of ecological associations.  The 
impact on flora and faunal relationships within parallel or transected 
wildlife travel corridors is often sacrificed in the name of “safety and 
liability”.  Defensible or not, perceived or real s afety and liability 
issues trump natural resource protection/management practices in managed 
landscapes.  As Bonnie noted, 'trees and automobile collisions ' have 
dominated planning and operations.  (usually a bad thing when lawyers and 
vegetation mix) 
 
This scenario seems to be slowly changing for the better.  The linear 
nature of highway systems has visibly exacerbated the spread of many 
invasive plant species.    Public acceptance of the threat of invasives 
and links to  transportation corridors, urban land management, development 
is relatively recent.    Loss of biodiversity/habitat is a strong argument 
for control and management of invasive plant communities.  This developing 
consensus is significant and should be aligned with the benefits of energy 
conservation to promote applied landscape ecology in general.  In this 
case, the design of alternative, native species plant communities and 
innovative management regimes for transportation right of ways can also 
control the spread of invasives.   I'm seeing encouraging signs from 
environmental and operations managers in New York State DOT Regions 2 and 
5 in collaborations with private sector, universities and NGOs such as the 
Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program.    FHA and some state DOTs have 
taken the lead in promotion of (ecological) roadside vegetation management 
that addresses safety and biodiversity.  Implementation won't occur 
overnight nor will the liability arguments be resolved any time soon. What 
"we" can do is get more of this work on the ground in the form of d 
emonstration projects, field trials, project briefs and good case studies. 
 The next step is to integrate the best into operational programs.  I also 
believe that most all transportation professionals want to do best they 
can with the resources at their disposal.  Biologists and ecologists need 
to develop these new tools and help integrate them into the system. 
 
Paul R. Fuhrmann
ecology and environment, inc.
368 Pleasantview Drive
Lancaster, New York 14086
Tel.  716 6848060 ext. 2876
Fax. 716 684 0844
www.ene.com 
 

From: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org 
[mailto:native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of 
Harper-Lore, Bonnie
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 11:34 AM
To: Renee Scagnelli; native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org; 
native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: Re: [PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again
 
I have worked with roadside issues for almost 20 years.  IF your New 
Jersey State DOT District or perhaps County (is not cooperating....which 
they are more and more prone to do)......you could do what some states 
have done in the 80's to protect exotic pheasants (ironic in retrospect).
 
The States of Michigan, Minnesota and I think Wisconsin, have legislated 
mowing periords to allow nesting birds to fledge before mowing begins.
Why not do the same for your rare orchids and gentians?  Mowing of rural 
roadsides is allowed only between June 15 and September 15, except for one 
swath for
visibility and pull-off purposes............Be creative, but do talk to 
whichever authority that does the mowing first.  They want to do the right 
thing too!!!  They just might be hung up on an old agricultural approach 
to roadside management and know the weeds, but not the rich diversity of 
natives in the area.
 
Good luck to you,  Bonnie
 
P.S.  I am a technical resource for all 50 State Highway agencies and 
teach roadside management to them and counties across the U.S.
 
Bonnie L. Harper-Lore
Restoration Ecologist
Office of Environment, HEPN-30
Federal Highway Administration
360 Jackson Street, Ste. 500
St. Paul, MN  55101
651-291-6104
 
 
 

From: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org 
[mailto:native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of 
Renee Scagnelli
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 8:16 AM
To: native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org; 
native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: Re: [PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again
Timing of mowing is critical in our area (NJ Pine barrens)---we've lost a 
number of populations of native orchids and pine barrens gentians, etc. 
because mowing was too early in the season; otoh, complete cessation of 
mowing allows for succession which again can be problematic for some of 
our rarer plants that don't don't handle competition well (Schwalbea 
americana, for instance).

Renee Scagnelli
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 

Visit NJ Pines and Down Jersey

Join our NJ Pines & Down Jersey Forums

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Yahoo! Small 
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