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Home , Habitat conservation, Wildlife conservation, Wildlife management

FOR-74

A Guide to Urban Conservation Planning Thomas G. Barnes, Extension Specialist Lowell Adams, National Institute for Urban Wildlife

entuckians value their and Kother natural for aes- Guidelines for Considering Wildlife in the Urban Development thetic, recreational, and economic Process significance, so over the past several Promote that will have the , cover, , and living space that decades they have become increasingly all wildlife require by following these guidelines: concerned about the loss of wildlife • Before development, maximize open space and make an effort to protect the habitat and greenspace. Urban and most valuable wildlife habitat by placing buildings on less important portions suburban development is one of the of the site. Choosing cluster development, which is flexible, can help. leading causes of this loss: A recent • Provide water, and design control impoundments to benefit wildlife. study indicated that every day in • Use native that have value for wildlife as well as aesthetic appeal. Kentucky more than 100 acres of rural • Provide bird-feeding stations and nest boxes for cavity-nesting birds like is being converted to urban house wrens and ducks. development. • Educate residents about , using, for example, informa- Because concern for loss of tion packets or a trail through open space. greenspace is not new, we have for • Ensure a commitment to managing urban wildlife habitats. some time created attractive urban greenspace environments with our parks and backyards. These The publication can also be useful to A is a large area com- greenspaces have been created not so the average homeowner in understand- posed of (the plants, much for wildlife habitats as for people ing the complex issues involved in animals, other living organisms, and to enjoy, but the potential for wildlife landscape planning and wildlife their physical surroundings). Land- habitat exists in these scattered and to the average citizen scapes often contain patches of both patches. who wants to more fully participate in development and wildlife An effective planning strategy is community planning that addresses habitat, and they vary considerably in needed to create and link these isolated these issues. size, shape, and structure. Another way patches. The goal is more than just to For both professionals and the of looking at a landscape is as a mosaic connect parcels—it is to develop land general public, the publication will of patches across which organisms in a way that allows for the natural introduce ways to minimize the adverse move, settle, reproduce, and die. distribution of our urban wildlife impact of residential development that A landscape consists of three main . Although complete and easily has already taken place. components: a matrix, patches, and applied answers are not yet available, corridors (Figure 1). much has already been learned, and a Landscape consensus is emerging among landscape Figure 1. Landscape components. ecologists. To understand basic landscape ecology and relate its concepts to urban This publication is designed for the matrix planner, landscape architect, urban , it is necessary to government regulator, policy maker, define some terms and discuss their road corridor and concerned citizen. It introduces importance. Landscape ecology is the study of landscape ecology concepts and looks farm (patch) at how geographic information systems the structure, function, and change of the landscape over large areas. It is an corridor (GIS) technology can be used to stream develop and monitor local land-use interdisciplinary science that studies the homes and businesses interrelationship among human society policy to maintain wildlife habitat and greenspaces. and our living space and the natural processes within that living space. matrix

The matrix, the dominant component in the landscape, is the most extensive Habitat Conservation Plans: A New Tool for Protecting and connected landscape element. ? A patch, a surface of the landscape Added in 1982 to the federal Endangered Species Act, habitat conservation that looks different from its surround- plans are an attempt to protect threatened and endangered species from ings (the matrix), may arise from encroaching development. natural factors such as type or A habitat conservation plan allows some development of a habitat critical to human-induced factors such as housing the survival of a species or group of species. At the same time, the plan better development. protects the remaining habitat—through formal creation of habitat reserves, for Wildlife habitat patches are basically example. A number of such plans exist in the , but it is too early to islands in a sea of homes and busi- tell how well they will work. A steering committee for the plan is usually set up nesses. Small patches are typically too first, representing developers, the environmental community, government small or too isolated to provide resident officials, and state and federal agencies. Frequently, a technical or wildlife with the basic necessities of biological committee is also set up. Finally, a consultant is hired to collect : food, water, and cover. needed data. What is a corridor, and what is its Following these guidelines can help assure that a habitat conservation plan value to wildlife? A corridor is a is successful: landscape linkage that unites patches. 1. Include representatives of all affected stakeholder groups in the process. Natural and human-designed corridors 2. Compile the best possible base of biological and scientific information. can connect two or more patches of 3. Integrate the habitat conservation plan into local and regional long-range habitat. Maintaining or creating planning. corridors in order to link patches can 4. Develop an equitable, long-term funding program that spreads the financial increase use of wildlife habitats, burden of habitat conservation over groups that will benefit (e.g., developers, provide avenues for dispersal and general public, property owners). migration, facilitate gene flow between 5. Protect multiple species and broader patterns of diversity rather than focus- populations, and increase likelihood the ing on single species protection. patches will be inhabited. 6. Seek ways of combining habitat conservation with other community goals, A path followed by a or stream such as establishment of public recreation , open space, and water is an example of a natural habitat quality protection. corridor—strips of vegetation along ______streams are especially important to Source: Beatley (1994). migrating wildlife. Roads (both rural and urban), windbreaks, and railroad rights-of-way can also function as corridors, but unfortunately, these human-made With , con- Wildlife Best Adapted to corridors are often avenues by which tiguous habitat is broken or sliced into Urban Settings in Edge and exotic plants invade natural ecosystems. smaller pieces (or patches) by housing Interior Habitats To be most effective, a corridor must and industrial development, intensive Edge habitat, which can be up to be wide enough to provide food, water, , roads, and other human several hundred feet wide, benefits only and shelter for an animal as it moves activities. certain kinds of edge species wildlife— through the corridor. Edge habitats—outer zones that opossums, raccoons, deer, skunks, differ from patch interior—are in- cowbirds, red-tailed hawks, white-tailed creased by fragmentation, and because deer, and northern cardinals—often at How Does Patch Size and the smaller patches provide relatively the expense of interior habitat species. Shape Affect Wildlife? more edge habitats, they promote edge Most wildlife species inhabiting edges The size of a habitat patch affects species at the expense of interior are considered habitat generalists. the kinds and numbers of animals wildlife species. Interior habitat is the area inside a within it. The species profile within a Imagine a woodland patch of 16 patch that is removed from an edge patch at least partly depends on how we acres divided into four smaller patches habitat or can be viewed as the patch’s reduce and enlarge habitats as a and then divided further into 16 one- core—that is, the area unaffected by its consequence of designing and building acre patches. The amount of edge edge. Interior habitats are necessary for on the landscape. increases dramatically, while the certain interior species like bobcats, amount of interior habitat decreases wood thrushes, bobolinks, and oven- until finally, the patch is all edge. birds.

2 These interior habitats provide Research studies point out how Figure 2. Patch size and shape considerations are important when planning insulation from edge effects such as important patch size is for wildlife. for wildlife. Large circular patches are best noise, wind, solar radiation, and in- Tilghman found that habitat size was the for wildlife and are even better when creased predation. An interior habitat most critical factor in determining which connected by a corridor (adapted from begins to develop approximately 150 bird species will be found in urban Soule 1991). feet from the edge of the patch, although environments. Vizyova demonstrated Better Worse habitats for some species may need to be that the relative isolation of the habitat, up to 1,800 feet from the edge. as well as the size, influences mamma- A lian populations in urban woodlots. A local example illustrates this point Effect of Landscape Size: further: the Lexington Cemetery What Is the Smallest Habitat consists of more than 100 acres of Patch Wildlife Requires? B mature trees with several large ponds, Many animals require a variety of and it reports 42 common or abundant habitat patches in close proximity to resident birds using the area. The meet their daily and seasonal needs. A cemetery bird list also includes 41 C deer may bed down beneath the canopy migratory birds that might be seen in of an oak, seek cover from predators April or May and September through within the thickets of riparian willows, November. On the other hand, in a drink from a nearby stream, and leave typical quarter-acre yard in a Lexington D the shelter of the trees to forage in subdivision, one might observe 12 to 15 adjacent grassland. This variety of resident bird species and five to 10 vegetation types forms a patchwork migratory songbirds. quilt across the landscape. The size, vegetation diversity, and of 250 to 12,000 acres: A interconnectedness of patches that make landscape of interconnected patches of Figure 3. Large patches provide habitat for 250 to 12,000 acres begins to be large interior wildlife species. Fragmentation up the landscape determine the popula- shown in B and C decreases the amount of tion size and kinds of animals found enough to support populations of interior habitat and increases the amount of within it (Figures 2, 3, and 4). medium-size animals such as coyotes, edge (adapted from Soule 1991). bobcats, and hawks. At this size, the Landscape-size categories (less than AB C 250 acres, 250 to 12,000 acres, and region may encompass the variety of more than 12,000 acres) have been habitats these animals need to live and developed based on interviews with reproduce.

specialists who research wildlife habitat Landscapes greater than 12,000 size requirements and landscape acres: Landscapes of this size begin to

ecology concepts in the eastern United protect integrity and func- interior habitat edge habitat States and southern California. tion. These large areas not only supply

Landscapes of less than 250 acres: a multiplicity of diverse habitat types Landscapes of this size may support for large mammals and birds, they also only a certain set of species and may provide habitat for a full range of small not be large enough to include a and medium-size animals. Figure 4. A patch’s size and shape affect diversity of habitat patches. Smaller, The shape of a habitat patch affects the amount of habitat available for interior wildlife much as its size does, since it wildlife species. Large areas are better than less-mobile animals may be able to small areas, and circle-shaped areas are survive because their home-range influences the relative amounts of edge better than square-shaped or rectangle- requirements are small; however, and interior habitats. As a patch is shaped ones (adapted from Forman 1981). reshaped from circular to linear survival of medium-size animals is Size compromised over time, and large (Figures 4 and 5), the distance from the animals can be rare or transient. interior to the edge decreases, as it does Furthermore, when development when a patch becomes smaller. For edge activities isolate small areas of a example, a long, thin patch caters wildlife habitat of this size, loss of a almost exclusively to edge species small medium large because it provides little or no interior species from an area becomes a real Shape possibility due to small population size habitat. In contrast, a round patch of and the effect of random events. equal area may provide interior habitat

for some species. more interior habitat less interior habitat

3 Figure 5. Conservation buffers that have computer buzzword that experts and • farmland classifications—primary, little or no development adjacent to streams or other significant natural areas help university researchers throw about at secondary, etc. protect wildlife habitat from development meetings, creating the impression that • physical information— (adapted from Shaw, Burns, and Stenberg, GIS technology is beyond the typical slope, contour, elevation, aspect Univ. of Arizona). professional land-resource manager or • rare and endangered species—nest- landowner. Not so! ing sites, range, etc. higher density area Simply put, a GIS is composed of • soil types computer hardware, software (pro- • vegetation types

uffer quail wash grams), and data. It enables you to • urbanized regions. vation b conservationconser buffer manipulate maps in much the same way

GIS technology will affect every natural area a database enables you to manipulate resource professional, landowner, and uffer numbers or words so you can collect, vation b land manager in the near future, even conserconservation buffer store, and analyze spatial information those who do not own and operate a about topographical features such as higher density area GIS. Planners even now can take forests, soil, water, buildings, and roads. advantage of GIS technology and Special thematic maps can be created landscape ecology concepts to: quickly with GIS, containing only the necessary data. But the real power of • Make maps that demonstrate existing GIS is in spatial analysis. Because the environmental conditions to decision Using Technology to Help maps are represented digitally and can makers in a meaningful manner Manage Urban Landscapes be manipulated, each simple thematic • Identify and demonstrate the spatial Natural resources professionals have map can be altered, copied, and com- relationships between habitat bound- always recognized the need for spatial bined with others to produce new, very aries, natural and created habitat fea- information and have spent substantial specialized spatial information about an tures, and development time and money to acquire spatial area of interest. Maps can be created to • Model comparisons between natural representations, which are stored on answer a single question about a resources and zoning or general plan paper maps. area. For example, the query “location of designations Those general-purpose maps do not, all forest land less than 1 mile from any • Identify areas where habitats can be however, provide all the spatial data road or motorized trail that is also within connected or restored. needed for planning, because paper 200 feet of water and has a slope of less maps have limitations. Unless data is than 10 percent” can be completed easily Conservation Goals for Urban condensed, paper maps cannot repre- within minutes on a GIS, but might take Sites sent a great amount of detail on one days with paper maps. sheet. Data must be condensed, or A GIS, like any computer database, Planners, builders, developers, multiple maps—specialized, thematic has the capability to gather, store, landscape architects, biologists, and maps of vegetation, , or other manipulate, and output data. A GIS, ecologists should work together to forest features—must be printed. however, also allows the user to model conserve wildlife, habitats, and signifi- Paper maps are also costly to and visualize data. With a GIS, land-use cant natural areas. A broad conservation produce and distribute, and, because planners can look at layers of informa- strategy for urban and urbanizing areas they are static representations, it is very tion, such as vegetation type, patch size should strive to maintain diversity in expensive to change scale, add or delete and shape, stream corridors, roads, and regional species while also accommo- data, or modify representation. zoning designations, and explore their dating human needs and desires. Given these problems, the fact that spatial relationships across a landscape. Regional planning should focus on natural resources managers use paper GIS data layers that may be useful to preserving and incorporating, in a maps as much as they do shows the planners include: continuous, open-space network, value of spatial information. But unique habitats and those habitats • trees—species, canopy cover, and geographic information systems (GIS) limited to the region (Figure 6). A area (or ecological community) technology can make spatial data more patchwork of different habitat types and • roads—primary, secondary, and ter- accessible than paper maps. Because those under development may well tiary GIS automates cartographic and spatial maximize richness of local species, but • hydrography—, streams, lakes, analysis functions, it also makes the perhaps at the expense of species and reservoirs, etc. manipulation process less costly and wildlife communities most in need of • census data—boundary lines and time consuming. protection at the regional level. If tabular data Anyone in forestry, natural re- habitat patches become too small, many • wetlands—description of ecological sources, or any related land-manage- species will be lost. taxa in a form useful to resource ment profession has heard about GIS. managers To many, GIS is another high-tech

4 Figure 6. This flow diagram illustrates basic wildlife planning procedures at the regional level (adapted from Leedy, Adams, Jones, and Dove, National Institute for Urban Wildlife).

Step 1 Identify habitats and their relative value.

Step 2 Step 4 Step 5 Identify habitats of Analyze adjacent Develop continuous threatened and land uses. open space/wildlife endangered species. corridor system.

Step 3 Identify areas of important wildlife .

Bring Back the Birds: An or more strategically located ma- scattered openings and some Action Plan ture tracts to serve as stopover form of water in or adjacent to the Neotropical, or New World, migra- points for migrating songbirds. . Such microhabitats pro- tory birds breed in North America • Retain vegetational diversity to vide nesting and feeding sites for and winter in , the Caribbean, the extent feasible. a variety of birds. Patches of and Central and South America. • In smaller tracts (even down to pines or hemlocks and wetland These birds include warblers, swifts, five acres or less), maintain the areas within the woods can also hummingbirds, tanagers, shorebirds, maximum contiguous woodland increase the number of birds in and thrushes. Neotropical migratory with the least amount of edge. the area. birds are declining in population, • Use management units ap- • Whenever possible, keep to a primarily because of a loss of proaching the shape of a square, minimum any building within 270 habitats in which to breed or winter. since that shape is more effective feet of the woodlands. Partners in Flight is a coordinated in preserving forest-interior birds • Limit the scope of trail systems. international effort of concerned than is a long, narrow one—es- Instead of a fine network of trails people who want to find solutions to pecially when managed tracts are throughout the woods, maintain a the problem of the declining popula- small. few well-marked trails for human tions of neotropical migratory birds. • If wooded fragments must be iso- access to particular portions of The aim of Partners in Flight is to lated from the forest proper, re- the woods. determine the status and underlying tain a connecting corridor—along • Retain, insofar as possible, some causes for the population declines, a stream, for example. If a forest of the predevelopment woodlots. maintain stable populations, and use tract has already been separated, Planted trees, no matter how ma- habitat restoration and enhance- consider planting a corridor to re- ture or abundant, apparently do ment to reverse the decline. To learn connect it. not replace natural forest stands more, contact Partners in Flight, • When possible, retain large as a habitat for insectivorous National and Wildlife Founda- woodlands. More than 62.5 acres birds. tion, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW is necessary to maintain a high • Maximize the patch size of woody Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036. diversity of bird species and pro- vegetation (the crown volume of Landowners can, however, take vide urban dwellers the opportu- trees and shrubs). Breeding bird some immediate steps to retain nity to see a wide variety of birds species are more likely to in- these forest-interior bird species: typical of more rural forests of the crease in richness from this one • Plan cooperatively with adjacent region. practice than from any other landowners so maximum • Maintain natural vegetation in the management action. repopulation potential can be shrub layer to provide an in- • Plant trees, shrubs, and other achieved for those species re- creased number of niches for an vegetation of known food or cover quiring extensive mature or increased number of bird species. value to birds. nearly mature forest. • Retain woodlands with a variety • In areas where mature forest is of microhabitats, such as small, limited, consider preserving one

5 For the most part, focus in the past Figure 7. A potential design for a multiple-use module (MUM) or an urban wildlife reserve should have connecting corridor(s) and buffer zones to provide wildlife habitat and other has been on numbers of species rather benefits (adapted from Harris and Noss, Univ. of Florida). than species composition. Diamond

Core Reserve (1976), in discussing human-dominated yyyzzz • minimal management activity landscapes, addressed this point: “The • scientific nature study question is not which system • wildlife sanctuary contains more total species, but which

Buffer Zone 1 [system] contains more species that • more intensive management • wildlife observation blinds yyyzzz{{{|||

would be doomed to in the • nature trails absence of refuges.” • • children's play areas Natural resources are not distributed randomly throughout a landscape. Buffer Zone 2 Every landscape, whether pristine or • low-density housing developed, has nodes of unusually high yyyzzz{{{|||

Increased Urban conservation value that span the entire Development range of biological hierarchy, not only particular physical habitats. For example, such nodes would include a

champion tree, a population of running yyyzzz{{{|||

buffalo clover, an undrained swamp, a county park, or a national forest. These Integrating Human nodes should receive top priority for Preferences protection, but to function in perpetuity, With wildlife use, it is important to sites must be buffered, interconnected yyyzzz{{{|||integrate human preferences and use of by corridors, and permitted to interact urban reserves and corridors. with surrounding natural habitats. Communities need to develop Little research has dealt with Professionals and community groups conservation strategies that emphasize: balancing these uses, although some concerned about landscape conserva- interesting work has been conducted on • Comprehensive planning for threat- tion should examine existing patterns of how children (ages 6 to 10) relate to ened elements or nodes of diversity high-quality nodes for potential travel wildlife and wildlife habitats in urban- • Integration of nodes into networks of corridors and dispersal barriers. They suburban areas. Children are among the protected and buffer areas could then develop those patterns into most frequent users of the neighbor- • Integration of conservation and de- conservation plans that minimize hood open space. They play close to velopment planning for long-term artificial barriers and maximize corridor home and among their favorite areas environmental quality. connectivity. For example, the Ken- are “wild lands” and vacant lots. They tucky chapter of The Nature Conser- Planning efforts in Great Britain, for place high value on outdoor places for vancy and the Kentucky State Nature example, have resulted in a wildlife play that allow personal investigation Preserves Commission have begun conservation program for metropolitan and manipulation of materials. protecting the Kentucky River Pali- areas that includes protection of Large areas are not required, but sades and surrounding forest, which established sites, secure linkages wildlife habitats that work for children represents the only significant wild land between sites, and availability of should be centrally located in residen- remaining in central Kentucky. wildlife sites to everyone. tial developments and buffered by The multiple-use module (MUM) Planners need to establish the basic residences instead of roads. Both social has been proposed as a means to link framework in collaboration with and physical safety issues should together high-quality nodes of diversity neighboring authorities to ensure both a receive attention. (Figure 7). The core area of a MUM is wider context for site evaluation and Ideally, a variety of habitats is a node of diversity surrounded by a continuity of wildlife corridors. A desirable, including aquatic, forest, multiple-use buffer zone of appropriate whole-city approach would be ideal. field, and edge. One authority says: “If type, scale, and intensity of use. one were forced to choose a single Planners and developers must ask neighborhood open space that best suits themselves: What is the minimum size wildlife and kids simultaneously, it of buffers needed around patches and should be a greenbelt park along a corridors to minimize the impact of stream corridor with small patches or residential development? clumps of vegetation and pathways that accommodate bicycle travel. The closer to home, the better.” (Schicker 1987).

6 A major portion of all outdoor How to Include Wildlife tions to minimize impact on wildlife. activity for children may directly Habitat in Urban Planning The social value and potential value of involve wildlife (e.g., collecting, An urban wildlife conservation identified resources should be consid- observing, etc.). Unlike adults, who program should begin by attempting to ered at this stage of the planning usually like birds and mammals, minimize negative impacts from process. children are more interested in “creepy- development, which can be accom- Once the assessment has been crawly” varieties such as , plished by involving a qualified completed, the local governing body reptiles, and insects. ecologist/biologist early in the planning should have in place policies regarding These findings have important process. wildlife conservation, protection of implications about how to interest Biologists should determine habitat- natural areas, and development. These children in wildlife conservation at an types in the area to be developed, policies should be integrated, where early age. Schicker says that giving wildlife associated with those types, and appropriate, with other community or children a challenging and naturally relative value of different habitat-types county objectives to form a comprehen- beautiful place to grow up “can only to wildlife. In practice, it may be sive greenspace plan with well-defined make them better decision makers difficult to determine relative values of steps on how to accomplish wildlife about our environmental future.” various habitat-types. It may help to use conservation, including how to get the Without a doubt, public knowledge, databases for fish and wildlife and necessary commitments from leaders attitudes, and preferences regarding programs. Certainly, a who control needed resources. wildlife habitats are important contrib- of a threatened or Specific objectives of the plan uting factors to habitat conservation in endangered species should be highly should be to: the metropolitan environment. Some valued. Regionally limited or unique • Protect habitats of greatest value research has shown that good wildlife habitats also should rank highly, as • Minimize impact of development on habitats can be incorporated into should habitats that support large other sites through design modifica- residential open-space systems in a numbers of native species or exceptional tions, creation of a new habitat, or visually pleasing manner, which is best species diversity, such as wetlands. both accomplished through support of urban Efforts should be made to avoid • Integrate the plan where appropriate planners and managers and integration developing high-value habitats—the with rural conservation areas of good design concepts by landscape forests surrounding the Kentucky River, • Maximize the wildlife potential of architects and wildlife biologists. for example—by developing lower- land within local authority owner- In another study, 94 percent of value habitats, such as the undeveloped ship or control respondents to a citywide survey said agricultural crop fields in the same area. • Provide for public use and encour- that wetlands add to the beauty, Use of computerized fish and age local people to use the habitat diversity, and quality of the human wildlife information systems and network. However, not every site living environment. They also said it databases for natural heritage programs can sustain free and regular access, would be desirable to design and may make it easier to make decisions so controls may be necessary manage stormwater control basins for about habitat value. through site design, location of ac- fish and wildlife as well as for The Kentucky Department of Fish cess points, footpath networks, or, if and sediment control, if this were and Wildlife Resources and the Ken- needed, more rigorous methods. feasible technically and economically. tucky State Nature Preserves Commis- • Promote wildlife conservation in Residents of another city (in a third sion make available to the public general. study) appeared to be able to recognize through their databases information on: relative values of various habitats for Some innovative designs related to wildlife. However, they preferred that • distribution—where species are conservation strategy have been the not be close to found proposed, such as altering the shape of their own homes. There was some • abundance—whether species are en- building lots from rectangles to indication that the more residents knew dangered, rare, common, etc. triangles in order to more effectively about wildlife and its habitat, the more • habitat-type—types of wildlife asso- create large patches of vegetation on they preferred a natural landscape. If ciated with various habitats. private lots. residents knew still more, they could This type of information can be fed have even stronger conservation goals into a GIS to determine 1) where for remnant urban habitats. development may or may not be appropriate or 2) whether proposed developments need design modifica-

7 Can Development Minimize Offer incentives to landowners who Plant or transplant additional native Impact to Wildlife? protect valuable wildlife habitats. plants in the developed landscape to Cluster development is another One potential incentive might be tax enhance or restore wildlife habitats. innovative design that may offer greater benefits for conservation easements. Revegetation techniques linking open flexibility than traditional development Another incentive might be allowing a spaces and providing vegetative diver- for maintaining some natural land landowner to increase density of sity are particularly effective in creating features and habitats. Lot sizes, setback housing units in an area of no particular corridors. Bodies of water with nearby requirements, and road rights-of-way wildlife value in exchange for not vegetative cover are more valuable than are typically reduced with cluster developing an area that is critical. ponds without plants, and, by revegeta- tion, degraded watercourses can also be development, and development is Resist temptation to allow subdivi- converted into hospitable sites for both grouped on portions of the site most sions or developments featuring lots wildlife and people. favorable to building. The remainder is of one to 10 acres. This range is the preserved as open space. Generally, worst type of zoning for wildlife and Minimize disturbances by people to clustering allows the same building natural resources. It significantly sensitive wildlife areas by creating density throughout a site, in contrast to fragments the landscape into small buffer zones of adjacent low-density traditional lot development. parcels, reduces vertical stratification housing. Although not a substitute for Other recommendations to ensure (thus eliminating forest layers), and careful planning, such zones create a the area’s natural resources: increases use of exotic plant landscap- gradual transition from a protected Protect critical habitats in public ing material in rural areas. All these natural area to a heavily developed one. factors can have significant impact on ownership by outright purchase of the Use cluster development or triangu- the remaining natural areas. land. Such areas are usually protected lar lots to protect more open space for multiple purposes, particularly Encourage developers to design for wildlife. Ideally, open space within riparian areas that are unsuitable for around sensitive natural site features, developments should be integrated with development but are valuable for using ecological principles to reduce corridors and reserves of open space recreation, flood control, and open impact on critical wildlife habitats. beyond the site’s boundaries. space. If critical areas cannot be These principles include disturbing as Protect wetlands and develop purchased outright, consider purchasing little natural vegetation as possible; stormwater control ponds. The Natural development rights to the properties to protecting natural vegetation when it is Resources Conservation Service can protect against future development and found in continuous corridors; and provide you information on how to protect habitat values. The landowner whenever possible, protecting riparian design a stormwater control pond. still owns the property under this (streamside) vegetation. An open space arrangement, but it has been reduced in system developed early in the planning its potential development value. process will ensure that the most valuable habitats are protected.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, C. Oran Little, Director of Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Lexington, and Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Copyright © 1999 for materials developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Publications are also available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ca.uky.edu. Issued 5-99, 1000 copies