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Make Room for Wildlife on Private Lands
November 2017
Heidi Kretser, Ph. D.Wildlife Conservation Society – Deputy Director, Conservation and Communities
Cornell University - Associate Adjunct Professor
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Outline
• Why plan for wildlife?
• How can we influence the planning process to benefit wildlife?
• What can we improve in conservation ordinances?
• How do we engage local communities in the process?
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Low-density development
Low density residential development, large lot sizes, away from towns
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But, we have so much open space…why plan for wildlife?
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Private lands harbor important habitats
Alpine
Boreal Upland Forest
Cliff and Talus
Glade and Savannah
Outcrop and Summit Scrub
Central Hardwood Swamp
Central Oak-Pine
Northeastern Floodplain Forest
Ruderal Shrubland and Grassland
Agriculture, Developed
Glennon and Curran 2013, AJES 19:36-46
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Lessons from WCS Research
• Size of the impact >>> physical footprint
• Changes can be very fast
• Changes show consistency across taxa and systems
• Most prevalent pattern simplification
Biotic Homogenization
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Northern NY
Southwest MT
Growth & development can be accommodated without negative effects on wildlife 38.1% 49.6%
I support development restrictions that benefit wildlife 71.1% 68.6%
Local government should have guidelines for promoting dev. that will not harm wildlife 80.0% 79.2%
I would support changes to land use regulations if it would benefit wildlife 54.3% 49.7%
Why plan for wildlife? People support actions that benefit wildlife
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People support actions that benefit wildlife - State of the Art Example
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Bobcat Way
People
Paradise
Convenience
Commons
Human HavenPoor
Excuse
Prairie
Minimal Effort
Meadows
Outdated Oasis
Feeble Try Fields
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Purchase Parcel
Review Title
Consult Regulations
Hire Consultant
Submit Proposal
Public Hearing
Receive Approval
Build
Where can we influence the process to benefit wildlife?
ACMELANDSCAPE AND ENGINEERING, INC.
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Purchase Parcel
Review Title
Consult Regulations
Hire Consultant
Submit Proposal
Public Hearing
Receive Approval
Build
Where can we influence the process to benefit wildlife?
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Do you mean to tell me that this development is going to change life on earth as we know it?
Where can we influence the process to benefit wildlife?
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Purchase Parcel
Review Title
Consult Regulations
Hire Consultant
Submit Proposal
Public Hearing
Receive Approval
Build • State Enabling Legislation• Model Tool Language• County or Municipal Comprehensive Plans• Land-Use Regulations & Zoning Ordinances
Where can we influence the process to benefit wildlife?
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An approach to the design, construction, and stewardship of a development that achieves functional protection for natural resources while also providing social and economic benefits
to human communities.
What needs to change? Example: Conservation development (CD)
3-4% of new residential development, 25% of privately-conserved lands
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CD in the U.S.
• ~29-32% of local land use regulations (Reed et al. 2014; Reed & Kretser In prep)
64%
52%
38%
29% 27%23% 22% 21%
18% 17%
6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
WA CO UT MT AZ ID WY CA NV OR NM
21% 21%
58%68%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
NY VT NH ME
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0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1951-1960
1961-1970
1971-1980
1981-1990
1991-2000
2001-2010
Nu
mb
er
of
cou
nti
es,
to
wn
s
Western counties
Northeastern towns
Increasing rate of adoption
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NORTHEAST WEST
Mean percent of site area required to be protected 41% < 58%
Site analysis for ecological features required 18% > 13%
Site analysis for ecological features required prior to
development area design
11% > 5%
Design of conservation area requires consultation
with an ecological expert or plan
21% > 10%
Percent of required consultations = planning board 70% n/a
Regional differences in CD ordinancesnortheastern towns vs. western counties
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1) Adoption increasing –opportunity to guide new ordinances & revisions
2) Existing CD relatively weak -need for biological expertise
3) What needs to change from a biological perspective?
What needs to change? - Opportunities for wildlife
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What needs to change?
Biological recommendations for residential design & stewardship ordinances (Workshop 1)
• ParticipantsLeading experts on the effects of residential land-use on biological communities
• Goal Generate science-based recommendations for how residential design and stewardship guidelines could be improved to protect native wildlife species and habitats on private lands
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What needs to change? Integration of wildlife science
• Biological Consultation
• Ecological Site Analysis
• Clustering
• Open Space
• Sustainable Construction
• Stewardship and Education
Draft report available
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What needs to change?
Improve ordinances by integrating biological recommendations(Workshop 2)
• ParticipantsResearchers, planners, and consultants from universities, regional planning agencies, and technical support organizations in NY, VT, NH and ME.
• Goal Review existing land-use planning tools and collaboratively generate suggested revisions and improvements to enhance wildlife conservation opportunities on private lands.
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ToolTowns with tool
(n=90)Conservation Development 72 (80%)
Overlay District 62 (69%)
Subdivision Design Standards and/or Review Criteria
38 (42%)
Environmental Analysis 27 (30%)
Density Bonus 18 (20%)
Transfer/Purchase of Development Rights
9 (10%)
Sustainable Design Certification
5 (6%)
Payment for Ecosystem Services
0
What needs to change? Focus on ordinances
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What needs to change? Focus on ordinances
ToolTowns with tool
(n=90)Conservation Development 72 (80%)
Overlay District 62 (69%)
Subdivision Design Standards and/or Review Criteria
38 (42%)
Environmental Analysis 27 (30%)
Density Bonus 18 (20%)
Transfer/Purchase of Development Rights
9 (10%)
Sustainable Design Certification
5 (6%)
Payment for Ecosystem Services
0
Common property
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Participatory process to make recommendations1) Start with model ordinances and local examples
Conservation Development Examples
An approach to the design, construction, and
stewardship of a development that achieves functional
protection of natural resources, while also providing
social and economic benefits to human communities.
Homes in CD subdivisions are built on smaller lots and
clustered together, allowing for a substantial portion of
the property (typically >50%) to be permanently
protected for conservation purposes.
Newry, ME
Elmore, VT
Model, NH
Dublin, NH
Peterboro, NH
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Conservation Development Examples
An approach to the design, construction, and
stewardship of a development that achieves functional
protection of natural resources, while also providing
social and economic benefits to human communities.
Homes in CD subdivisions are built on smaller lots and
clustered together, allowing for a substantial portion of
the property (typically >50%) to be permanently
protected for conservation purposes.
Newry, ME
Elmore, VT
Model, NH
Dublin, NH
Peterboro, NH
1) Start with model ordinances and local examples
2) Identify elements to keep, drop, or add
Participatory process to make recommendations
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Conservation Development Examples
An approach to the design, construction, and
stewardship of a development that achieves functional
protection of natural resources, while also providing
social and economic benefits to human communities.
Homes in CD subdivisions are built on smaller lots and
clustered together, allowing for a substantial portion of
the property (typically >50%) to be permanently
protected for conservation purposes.
Newry, ME
Elmore, VT
Model, NH
Dublin, NH
Peterboro, NH
1) Start with model ordinances and local examples
2) Identify elements to keep, drop, or add
3) Collaboratively develop composite models
Participatory process to make recommendations
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Compile information– but that’s just the beginning
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How do we engage? Collaborative conservation action
(adapted from Lauber et al. 2014)
Social Foundation
Enabling Processes
Necessary Resources
Action Conservation Outcome
Social, Conceptual, and Technical Learning
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“Strong” ordinances
(a) Purpose includes objective(s) related to wildlife, habitat, species, or connectivity conservation
(b) Includes quantitative requirement for land protection (>= 50% of site area)
(c) Requires ecological site analysis
(d) Requires management plan for open space
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How do we engage? Emerging themes
Motivations: 1) Development threat or protect rural character
2) State statutes or required code updates/a revision process resulted in stronger ordinances, but top-down less likely to be implemented unless:
Capacity (e.g., individuals or outside experts) AND
Dialogue (e.g., among the municipality, the public & the developer)
“One of the things that the town…does well is that they sit down with you early on in the process, with their plans, to discuss how you’re fitting into the town …it’s a good approach because…it drives you to think a little more outside of the property lines…by having their open space plan and sitting down with you early on, makes you consider linkages, natural open space, pathways and that sort of thing.”
~Eastern Town with Typical Ordinance
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What conditions facilitate adoption and implementation of CD?
(adapted from Lauber et al. 2014)
Social Foundation
Enabling Processes
Necessary Resources
Action Conservation Outcome
Social, Conceptual, and Technical Learning
Motivation
Capacity: Model Regulations & Consultants
State Statutes Updates, Increasing Development, Rural Character,
Economic Benefits, Wildlife
ANSWER: Motivation and Capacity with productive Dialogue
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L. Karasin
How do we engage? A road map for action
• Improve model ordinances
• Train the trainers/consultants
• Work where ordinances exist
• Connect with a motivation
• Community engagement
Community Values Mapping
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Photo: Leslie Karasin
CVM: Identify important values
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CVM: Spatial display of values
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CVM: Cultural values
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CVM: Tools contribute to the planning process
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Engagement leads to action
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How to engage? Build a community of practice
• Recognize many forms of engagement
• Facilitate productive dialogue
• Commit long–term
• Integrate current science
“[The workshop] helped stimulate some thinking that is invaluable in dealing with the project we have underway. It really helped me better understand what the problems and opportunities are… it was a paradigm shift that I think will help us make much better progress.”
~Maine land-use planner
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This is not the end!
• Wildlife need private lands
• Simply having open space isn’t enough
• Land-use planning and community engagement offer important opportunities for private lands protection
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Dr. Michale Glennon, Dr. Sarah Reed, Dr. Liba Pejchar, Zoe Smith, Leslie Karasin, National Science Foundation Grant No. 1060505Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, Northeastern States Research Cooperative, Northern NY Audubon, NYS Biodiversity Research Institute, Multi-state SWG program, Doris Duke Foundation, North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Adirondack Park Agency, Tug Hill Commission, Two Countries One Forest, Hudson River Estuary Program, Staying Connected Initiative, Center for Collaborative Conservation, Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation, National Association of Realtors, School of Global Environmental Sustainability, Society for Conservation Biology, USDA Forest Service, many field and research assistants
L. Master
L. Master
Acknowledgements – Together we can do better!
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Thank [email protected]
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