Summary of Conservation Best Practices December, 2012 Executive Summary and Introduction Executive Summary There are two items that this summary The two case studies included in this Conservation is one tool of an overall highlights and that are the most applicable summary highlight the concept of creating green infrastructure regional strategy. to the RPSD. They are: conservation connections. The Arlington This Summary of Conservation Best Wetlands case study highlights a success Practices is a concise review of recent 1. Conservation and green infrastructure story of acquiring and restoring wetlands trends in conservation and green strategies should focus on creating in the American Bottoms as part of a infrastructure, lessons learned from connections. connected system. The Community HeartLands Conservancy’s work in Conservation Corridors case study conservation, and a look at case studies 2. Conservation and green infrastructure highlights obstacles and perception issues regarding conservation and green strategies will vary based on scale and associated with creating corridors and infrastructure. Finally, recommendations context. There is not a “one size fits all” linkages in existing developed areas. for conservation and green infrastructure approach. will be discussed with an emphasis on the Through two rounds of community process for developing a green planning area meetings as part of the infrastructure / conservation strategy RPSD, attendees have strongly expressed plan. their desire to have open space, clean water, clean air, connections to nature, This Summary of Conservation Best and solutions for localized stormwater Practices is not intended to be an all flooding. Regional and community inclusive guide of conservation and green investments in conservation through a infrastructure. Documenting all successful strategy of a regional green infrastructure examples of conservation within the St. network will begin to address the needs Louis region would require binders of heard during the community planning information. Instead, this summary is meetings. intended to be a concise review of conservation and green infrastructure most applicable to the St. Louis Regional If one picture could capture the essence of Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD). conservation strategies, the diagram above would be it. As the RPSD considers sustainability strategies at a regional and community scale, the concept of cores, hubs, and corridors for conservation must be included. Summary of Conservation Best Practices 1 of 20 Executive Summary and Introduction Table of Contents Sustainability Approach Disclaimer • Executive Summary and Introduction The Summary of Conservation Best The work that provided the basis of this • Lessons Learned Practices focuses on the triple bottom line publication was supported by funding • Recent Trends and Initiatives of sustainability: under an award with the U.S. Department • Case Studies of Housing and Urban Development • Recommendations Social: Green infrastructure and through East-West Gateway Council of • Conservation Templates conservation practices create a framework Governments. The substance and findings • References for community connections. of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely Environmental: Green infrastructure and responsible for the accuracy of the Goals and Objectives conservation are the heart and soul of statements and interpretations contained The scope of Activity 4, Task 7(e) was to environmental strategies. in this publication. Such interpretations do “Lead local land use and land conservation not necessarily reflect the views of the planning efforts with citizens and local Economics: Conservation and green Government or East-West Gateway. governments.” HeartLands Conservancy’s infrastructure not only provide quality of individual statement of work included a, life benefits, but a whole spectrum of “Concise summary of conservation best ecosystem services including: reduced practices”. In addition, conservation best stormwater and flooding, improved air practices would be included as part of the and water quality, reduced energy cost, Environmental Best Practices Committee and maintenance savings. toolkit. Planning Process Methodology The process of the best practices includes lessons learned from HeartLands Conservancy’s long history of conservation efforts in the region, discussions and initiatives with communities and stakeholders as part of the RPSD process the last 18 months, and current trends and reports from other conservation and green infrastructure work in the region and the Midwest. Summary of Conservation Best Practices 2 of 20 Lessons Learned Lessons Learned Realization of More Significant Conservation Goals Could be Achieved Since 2001 HeartLands Conservancy has Resources with Focused Efforts and Small worked with both landowners and New projects and relationships uncover Percentage Changes in Funding community leaders to protect over 5,000 additional resources and opportunities. Allocation acres of open space within southwestern This uncovering is a good thing. Strategies Small changes in funding can make huge Illinois. Efforts include placing and plans for conservation and green impacts for overall conservation efforts. conservation easements on a number of infrastructure should be a living plan and For example, the Illinois Wildlife Action properties, as well as acquiring a number not static. Plan (see Recent Initiatives and Trends) of properties, some of which are owned by has seven statewide level campaigns for HeartLands Conservancy, and some of Policy versus Individual Acquisition conservation. Relatively small changes in which have been transferred to either More land can be preserved through funding allocations would greatly increase state or federal agencies, or local units of policy than individual acquisitions and the ability to accomplish the goals of each government for long-term ownership and easements, but current policies are not in campaign. management. The following are “lessons place. (See Recommendations for list of learned” regarding conservation and green policies.) Conservation not a Perceived Priority infrastructure from the experience of The St. Louis region has grown significantly HeartLands Conservancy and partners. Stewardship is as Important as over the last five decades in terms of land Protection use, but not corresponding population Process Driven Protection through land acquisition or growth. However, even with this growth, Solutions for conservation and green easements is only the first step in long except for certain areas of the region infrastructure are not “one size fits all”. term conservation. Stewardship is just as (Meramec, Confluence, Kaskaskia, Bluffs, Solutions will vary based on context, scale, important as protection. Stewardship can etc), conservation has not been perceived and location. The most important aspect vary based on the context and use of the as a priority. of finding solutions is the process. A land, but examples include restoration, process using multi-disciplinary teams, the removal of invasive species, timber stand latest technology and data, and a management, water management, trail transparent public/stakeholder engaged development, and overall site approach will be the most effective. maintenance. Also, the level of stewardship can change over time. For example, a piece of land requiring restoration would require more oversight and maintenance during the first few years of restoration than once established. Summary of Conservation Best Practices 3 of 20 Lessons Learned Retraining the Public on True Wetland Systems Ecological Systems (Uplands, Riparian • Floodplain Forest Corridors, etc) • Swamp Forest What is commonly perceived by the public • Marsh as a “natural” habitat is usually not. In • Wet Prairie reality, the large quantities of invasive species in the St. Louis region have altered Positives and Negatives of Partnering the public’s knowledge of ecological While partnering is generally considered systems. For example, bush honeysuckle positive for conservation, there are is so prevalent that it is usually considered sometimes negatives to partnering. The as a “naturalized” area. For successful most frequent negative is the restoration efforts in the future, there will organizational capacity of a partner. need to be education and awareness of While some partners may have good true ecological systems such as upland and intentions, lack of staff, resources, or lowland woods, savannahs, wetlands, knowledge can make partnering difficult. prairies, and riparian corridors. One of the best sources for ecological communities is the USGA ‘Landscape Restoration Handbook’ which references Braun 1950, Nelson 1980, Solecki 1980, and Styermark 1963. Typical ecological communities in the St. Louis region include: Upland Systems • Oak-Hickory Forest • Oak-Pine Forest • Western Mesophytic Forest • Oak Barrens • Bluestem Prairie • Glade Summary of Conservation Best Practices 4 of 20 Recent Trends and Initiatives Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Resources staff, and business leader to infrastructure. New highways, The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan is a discuss statewide strategies for interchanges, utilities, buildings and other statewide initiative by the Illinois conservation with a goal of creating traditional grey infrastructure are Department of Natural Resources to interconnected land and water at a associated with creating economic create a statewide conservation