managing farmland and wildlife by allah dad khan

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MANAGING FARMLANDS MANAGING FARMLANDS

FOR WILDLIFEFOR WILDLIFE

BYBY

Allah Dad KhanAllah Dad Khan

IntroductionIntroduction

Rapid technological change in agriculture has dramatically affected farmland wildlifeRapid technological change in agriculture has dramatically affected farmland wildlife

Wildlife management is often tied to soil and water conservation effortsWildlife management is often tied to soil and water conservation efforts

A systems approach is necessary to successfully integrate wildlife conservation with A systems approach is necessary to successfully integrate wildlife conservation with agricultureagriculture

Challenges to Conserving Farmland WildlifeChallenges to Conserving Farmland Wildlife

► Divergent goals of wildlife conservation and agricultureDivergent goals of wildlife conservation and agriculture

► Changing farm conservation programsChanging farm conservation programs

► Lack of reliable knowledgeLack of reliable knowledge

► Communicating the importance of wildlife to ecosystem Communicating the importance of wildlife to ecosystem functionsfunctions

► Addressing positive and negative human-wildlife interactionsAddressing positive and negative human-wildlife interactions

► Facilitating access to private landsFacilitating access to private lands

Optimizing Farm Programs for WildlifeOptimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife

► Identify Target Species and Communities Identify Target Species and Communities

► Identify Physiographic CharacteristicsIdentify Physiographic Characteristics

► Recognize Issues of Spatial ScaleRecognize Issues of Spatial Scale

► Temporal FactorsTemporal Factors

► Planning and Coordinating Management PlansPlanning and Coordinating Management Plans

► Work with LandownersWork with Landowners

► Be Opportunistic and FlexibleBe Opportunistic and Flexible

Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife: Identify Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife: Identify Target Species and CommunitiesTarget Species and Communities

► Traditionally, programs have been ‘first-come, first-served’ and Traditionally, programs have been ‘first-come, first-served’ and driven by landowner interestdriven by landowner interest

► Programs are increasingly structured to achieve specific outcomesPrograms are increasingly structured to achieve specific outcomes Targeted geographies with acreage allocationsTargeted geographies with acreage allocations Higher standards for restored vegetationHigher standards for restored vegetation Minimum patch size, widthMinimum patch size, width

► Incentives often need to be changed to entice a restricted Incentives often need to be changed to entice a restricted landowner poollandowner pool State or private “enhancement” paymentsState or private “enhancement” payments Increased cost share paymentsIncreased cost share payments Sign-up and practice incentive paymentsSign-up and practice incentive payments

Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife:Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife:Identify Physiographic CharacteristicsIdentify Physiographic Characteristics

► What natural features define the region? What natural features define the region? ► What was natural vegetation prior to agriculture? What was natural vegetation prior to agriculture? ► What significant habitat features define the wildlife community, What significant habitat features define the wildlife community,

including forests, wetlands, riparian corridors, intensive grain including forests, wetlands, riparian corridors, intensive grain cropping, and livestock grazing?cropping, and livestock grazing?

► Are there remnant patches of natural vegetation or other Are there remnant patches of natural vegetation or other significant semi-permanent vegetation from which to start? significant semi-permanent vegetation from which to start?

► What life-history needs of target species are being fulfilled in What life-history needs of target species are being fulfilled in the existing agricultural matrix?the existing agricultural matrix?

► What life-history requisites are lacking?What life-history requisites are lacking?

Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife:Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife:Recognize Issues of Spatial and Temporal ScaleRecognize Issues of Spatial and Temporal Scale

► What can be done a the patch (field) scale to benefit wildlife? What can be done a the patch (field) scale to benefit wildlife?

► What limitations or opportunities do surrounding lands and What limitations or opportunities do surrounding lands and regional phenomena create?regional phenomena create?

► On what time-frame can habitat be created and when will a On what time-frame can habitat be created and when will a wildlife response be apparent?wildlife response be apparent?

► Does that time-frame match with the duration of a farm program?Does that time-frame match with the duration of a farm program?

Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife:Optimizing Farm Programs for Wildlife:Working With LandownersWorking With Landowners

► There is a direct relationship between effective interactions among biologists There is a direct relationship between effective interactions among biologists and landholders during the planning process and the subsequent success of the and landholders during the planning process and the subsequent success of the programprogram

► Learn what farm operators want: the goals of the landholder (not those of the Learn what farm operators want: the goals of the landholder (not those of the biologist) are likely to be applied and maintainedbiologist) are likely to be applied and maintained

► Follow-up is essential Follow-up is essential Diagnose and correct problems Diagnose and correct problems Opportunity to emphasize long-term maintenance of vegetationOpportunity to emphasize long-term maintenance of vegetation Facilitates reevaluating/updating the plan as conditions change Facilitates reevaluating/updating the plan as conditions change Creates opportunities for making additional contacts, expanding the program to other Creates opportunities for making additional contacts, expanding the program to other

farmsfarms

Evaluating and Refining ProgramsEvaluating and Refining Programs

► VegetationVegetation Was desired vegetation established in the short- and long-term?Was desired vegetation established in the short- and long-term?

► Participation by LandownersParticipation by Landowners Did attitudes or knowledge change as a result of the program?Did attitudes or knowledge change as a result of the program?

► Responses by Wildlife Responses by Wildlife Did population trend/abundance change?Did population trend/abundance change? Did key demographic parameters (survival reproduction) change?Did key demographic parameters (survival reproduction) change?

► Interactions Between Wildlife and HabitatInteractions Between Wildlife and Habitat Were changes in target wildlife due to the program or other factors? Did the Were changes in target wildlife due to the program or other factors? Did the

evaluation occur at the right temporal and spatial scales?evaluation occur at the right temporal and spatial scales?