Stewardship is an important principle in the management of natural areas, promoting long-term solutions to conservation management. Existing literature suggests the importance of understanding both the social and ecological environment when creating sustainable management plans that include restoration efforts. In particular, rare natural communities and vulnerable habitats elicit restoration. A terrestrial example, Oak Openings, a rare habitat similar to Oak Savannas, are important for conservation. Additional natural community types plus Aquatic Waterways combine with potential Oak Openings locations to create an integrated landscape.
This project addresses the following research questions: 1) What social and environmental factors influence the management of natural areas? 2) What are characteristics of successful restoration strategies, in particular, those concerning Oak Openings, Oak Savannas, and Aquatic Waterways? 3) What is an effective process for generating land management plans, and what degree of importance does stewardship have in management?
To answer these questions, the background research covered the topics of site history, stewardship, relevant natural communities, conservation management and plans, invasive species, species conservation, climate change, water quality, and urban environments. Social context information was collected through focus groups. Site conditions were evaluated through qualitative plant and ornithological surveys. In addition, an examination of case studies took place. The sites of potential Oak Openings restorations were determined through client meetings, data inspection, and site evaluations. Lastly, iterative generation of a land management plan to inform future decisions occurred through regular meetings with the client.
Results/Conclusions
Potential Oak Openings locations depend on proximity to conducive natural communities. Oak Openings and Oak Savannas support significant levels of biodiversity. Products resulting from similar Oak Savanna restorations can be incorporated into other efforts concerning Aquatic Waterways as evidenced by an watershed-scale restoration.
Further, this research identified themes pertinent to the social context with a specific focus on stewardship as a way to connect the community to natural areas. Examination of existing data indicated future research needs concerning the biotic community. Taken together, this social and environmental knowledge was integrated to produce a land management plan, with maps depicting future scenarios for the client properties and species of concern for monitoring.