Ronda Headland, Community Conservation Planner Missouri Department of Conservation September 8, 2012

Tips for being a

good steward

of fish, forest,

and wildlife

resources at

Your Home

TIP #1. Purchase wood harvested from a

certified sustainably managed forest

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. Landowners and companies that sell timber or forest products seek certification as a way to verify to consumers that they have practiced forestry consistent with FSC standards.

TIP #2. Protect existing trees during

construction or home maintenance

Photo by Ronda Headland, MDC

http://www.mortonarb.org/research/treeroots.html

Tree roots typically grow horizontally out from the trunk…and well past the drip line of the branches.

Photo by Ronda Headland, MDC

Trees fatally damaged during construction may not appear dead for a couple of years.

TIP #3. Combat thermal loading of aquatic

habitats (streams, lakes and groundwater)

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/roofing/hot-time-summer-in-the-city.aspx

Credit: courtesy Accel Roofing Products

Light-colored roofing material Living wall (structural retaining wall with built-in pockets for growing plants)

Photo by Ronda Headland, MDC

Light-colored porous concrete parking lot

Light-colored concrete sidewalk

Slide courtesy of Tom Liptan, ASLA

http://greenroofblocks.com/ http://www.greencircleshoppingcenter.com/

http://swtdesign.com/

TIP #4. Reduce light pollution for nocturnal

wildlife and migrating birds

http://www.trianglealumni.org/mcrol/

TIP #5. Reduce bird collisions

with buildings

http://www.nycaudubon.org/pdf/BirdSafeBuildingGuidelines.pdf

“Architects and their clients can use all the recycled material they want, they can save all the energy they want, but if their building is still killing birds, it’s not green to me.”

Dr. Daniel Klem Muhlenberg College

Audubon, 2008

CAUSES OF BIRD COLLISIONS • REFLECTIONS • TRANSPARENCY • PASSAGE EFFECT • BEACON EFFECT + URBAN GLOW

FACTORS AFFECTING BIRD COLLISIONS • BUILDING ORIENTATION + MASSING FEATURES • LIGHTING, WEATHER CONDITIONS • MIGRATION • PROXIMITY TO STOPOVER LOCATIONS + FEEDING GROUNDS • GLASS COVERAGE + GLAZING CHARACTERISTICS • BUILDING HEIGHT

images copyright NYCity Audubon

TIP #6. Use water conservation

and efficiency techniques

Photo by Ronda Headland, MDC Cistern at an elementary school in Prairie Crossing, IL

Tip #7. Prevent sediment

erosion

Photo by Ronda Headland, MDC

Image courtesy of Josh Marx, Soils for Salmon Presentation, Solid Waste Division King County DNR

• Soil is a complex, living organism

• Native soil is important for supporting the local web of life

• Imported soil may contain undesirable weed seeds

Tip #8. Manage rainwater with low-impact

development techniques

LID techniques: • Reduce the amount (volume) of rain that drains off your lot; • Reduce the rate (velocity) at which rain drains away; and • Improve water quality by filtering runoff through plant foliage,

soil, sand, or gravel to remove pollutants.

http://appliedeco.com/Index.cfm

For pervious parking to function…

Slide courtesy of Larry Coffman and the Low Impact Development Center

Slide courtesy of Larry Coffman and the Low Impact Development Center

…the water must be able to drain somewhere.

http://swtdesign.com/

Bioswale

Photo by Ronda Headland, MDC

Rain Garden

TIP #9. Use native plants that are suited

for the micro-climate of your site

http://swtdesign.com/

TIP #10. Throw pet

waste in the trash

TIP #11. Discourage nuisance wildlife from

visiting or taking up residence at your home

• Keep lids on outdoor trash containers • Do not leave pet food where it is

accessible to wildlife, i.e. outside or in a garage with open doors

• Do not mow up to the edge of detention basins or ponds. Instead, buffer them with native plants that are suited for these sites (see next slide)

http://swtdesign.com/

Enjoy your ecologically functional home!

Rain Barrel

Rain Garden

Pond Buffered, Not Mowed

Tree Preservation Bird-friendly Windows

http://appliedeco.com/Index.cfm