Wildlife and Habitat Management
Wildlife and Habitat Management
Private lands comprise two-thirds of all land in the United States, which makes sound management of private land critical to wildlife conservation and to outdoor recreation. Including wildlife management goals in planning will certainly reap benefits to any property, and could include habitat improvement projects like vegetation treatments or stream restoration, a wildlife census that identifies potential revenue sources from wildlife viewing or hunting, or simply coordinating on wildlife management programs run by local wildlife agencies.
Why is it Valuable?
Wildlife conservation goals are far from mutually exclusive to other production goals for agriculture, recreation or financial profit. Integrative management that provides habitat for wildlife also provides forage for livestock as well as potential revenue sources from hunting, fishing or wildlife viewing. Healthy ecosystems that support wildlife also provide important ecosystem services to local communities like clean air, water, and landscape aesthetics. Healthy wildlife populations also provide recreational opportunities to people, and add value to private lands that are resistant to economic and social instability.
Management of Wildlife Habitat Includes:
Habitat assessments and mapping
Habitat improvement project planning and implementation
Field monitoring and wildlife censuses
Integration with other production goals
Coordination with local wildlife agencies and neighbors
