Pollinator Conservation Initiatives – A Template for Parks Oakland County Parks and Recreation

Brittany Bird, Natural Resources Planner

Melissa Nawrocki, Recreation Specialist

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Solidago sp.

Status of Monarchs

Stakeholder Analysis for Pollinator Conservation in Oakland County Parks

Current Efforts

Land Management

Public Outreach

Programing

Future Activities

Outline

Monarch Butterfly Population

90% decline in the last 20 years

Habitat loss, pesticide use, weather and changing agricultural practices are factors in their decline.

In December 2014 the USFWS initiated a Status Review under the Endangered Species Act.

Concern for Additional Pollinators Monarchs are a visible ‘flagship’

species to the public

Pollinators are an indicator of environmental health

Potential impacts to food crop production

1/3 bites we take is a pollinated food source

Park natural areas can play a role in pollinator conservation Provision of habitat, breeding sites

Duke University Study Summer 2014 OCPR Staff approached by Duke University Grad Student, Lisa Appel Advisor: Dr. Nicolette Cagle “Stakeholder Analysis for Pollinator Conservation in Oakland County Parks”

OCPR Staff interested in: How do our current initiatives measure up to what

others are doing? What are our local stakeholder expectations? What are our resource limitations?

Research Questions: How can stakeholders and management strategies be integrated to benefit Monarch Butterfly populations in Oakland County parklands?

1.Who are the stakeholders involved with Monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation in Oakland County?

2.What is the extent of current Monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation both internally and externally?

3.What are external stakeholder perceptions for OCPR’s priorities in Monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation?

4.How can stakeholder values and interests be integrated into program design for an Oakland County pollinator conservation plan?

5.How do local park efforts relate to national conservation programs?

Oakland County Parks & Recreation

Map of Eight Oakland County Parks

Image credit: http://www.destinationoakland.com/parksandtrails/vehiclepermits/Pages/CountyParks.aspx

Wetland Boardwalk at Rose Oaks County Park

Data Collection

Data Collection: Conducted 22 interviews

internal stakeholders (OCPR staff)

external stakeholders (volunteers and conservation organizations)

Image credit: http://cdn-1.monarch-butterfly.com/graphics/monarch-emerging.jpg

TABLE : OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF INTERVIEWED

TITLE DEPARTMENT

Natural Resources Planner Natural Resources

Recreation Program Supervisor Recreation Program & Services

Education Resource Specialist Recreation Program & Services

Technical Aide Planning & Resource Development

Parks Naturalist Recreation Program & Services

Communications Specialist Marketing & Communications

Parks Supervisor Parks Operations

Recreation Specialist Recreation & Program Services

Supervisor Marketing & Communications Marketing & Communications

Supervisor of Planning & Resource Development

Planning & Resource Development

Stakeholder Analysis Analysis: Coded data for common

themes

Categorized data and linked it to programmatic and management opportunities with stakeholders

Mapped stakeholders according to power and interest

Image credit: http://cdn-1.monarch-butterfly.com/graphics/monarch-emerging.jpg

NATIONAL Monarch Joint

Venture UMN Monarch Lab

Monarch Watch Wild Ones

STATE Michigan Natural

Features Inventory Michigan State

University Michigan Butterfly

Network

LOCAL Detroit Zoo

ITC Holdings, Inc. SEMBA, NOHLC

Wild Ones Chapters OCPR Volunteers

Monarch Watch Specialist

Pollinator Conservation at

OCPR

Figure: Venn Diagram of External Stakeholders with Different Levels of Engagement with OCPR

Secondary

Primary

What Did Our Partners Say About Us? Education Education is necessary for pollinator conservation (6) OCPR is a good mechanism for public education/aligns

with their mission and people trust park personnel (5) Habitat OCPR already provides important habitat Manage for all pollinators not just one species

What Did Our Partners Say About Us? Outreach OCPR should tell people what they are already doing Waystation certification for OCPR projects Encourage residents to plant for pollinators Increase educational signage Engage in citizen science projects with park visitors Pass-out information and Offer educational seminars on pollinators & their

needs Offer professional development workshop for teachers

What Did Our Partners Say About Us? Management

Augment existing & establish new native plantings for

pollinators Use citizen science to monitor and measure

restoration projects Review current burning, mowing, pesticide practices

for potential impacts to pollinators Propagate native plants from seed sources on park

properties for plantings More swallowwort control

THEMES

• Mission - Aligns with OCPR mission of natural resource protection; OCPR has public visibility and education is critical (10)

• Awareness – Staff understand issue that Monarch butterflies and pollinators are declining (8) • Positive Organizational Culture - Staff is proud of existing natural resource management and

education efforts (8) • Charismatic - Monarch butterflies are attractive and relatable (5) • Holistic Management - Management should support all pollinators, not just one species (4) • Efforts are Working - Existing habitats are valuable to many wildlife species, including

pollinators (3)

What Did We Say About Ourselves?

16 current activities:

Programs, gardens, special events

17 suggested activities:

Training, management, programs and communication

Image credit: Jon Noyes, OCPR Planning

What Did We Say About Ourselves?

Venn Diagram of Perceived Barriers by Internal and External Stakeholders towards Pollinator Conservation

Pollinator Conservation

Planning (BSD/P)

Marketing and

Communi-cations

Recreation & Program Services - Volunteer Services

Natural Resources

Management

Park Supervisors

Recreation & Program Services -

Educational

Example of Cross-Department Work Team to Address Pollinator Conservation Management and Outreach at OCPR

So what have we done to-date?

Management

Surveys

Planning

Education

Programming

Land Management Burning & Native Seeding Old-fields Oak Barrens & Prairies

Active restoration efforts 4 parks 250 acres

Invasive species removal Prescribed Fire/Stimulate Seedbank Seeding

Common, butterfly milkweeds Bergamot Joe-pye Lobelia Showy & Stiff Goldenrods Little bluestem Prairie dropseed Canada & wild ryes

Grassland Restoration

Targeted Invasive Control Swallow-wort

Invasive herbaceous vining plant Milkweed family Sink for Monarchs – larvae fail to

thrive Oakland County is a State-wide hot-

spot

System-wide management

Ongoing treatment since 2010 Emphasis on NW OC parks FY15 growing season 150 acres in 9

parks treated Collaborating with local CISMA for public-private treatment partnerships

Land Management Incorporating Pollinator-Friendly Plants into Park Projects

Lyon Oaks Wetland Mitigation

OC Parks – Road Commission OC

13-ac. mesic prairie – sedges, rushes, wildflowers

7-ac. prairie buffer – grasses, wildflowers

Native-MI genotype seed source

Land Management

Incorporating Pollinator-Friendly Plants into Park Projects

Interpretive Sign links wetland plants to wildlife values

Stresses relationship of plants and pollinators in the ecosystem

Land Management 13 native plant swales 11 parks 103,500 square feet = 2.4

acres Native MI-genotype seed and

plugs Milkweeds, blue-flag iris,

black-eyed Susan, boneset, ironweed

Water quality improvements reduced sediment,

phosphorous, nitrogen

Land Management

Surveys Annual participation in North American Butterfly Association survey

Independence Oaks

Citizen Science-based

Results contribute to national data-set

Park-specific butterfly checklist

Implementation

Surveys – T&E Pollinators

Poweshiek Skipperling

Eliminated from 90% of range

Listed as Federally Endangered in Oct. 2014

Critical Habitat – Fens in SE MI interlobate region

4/12 fens with occupied habitat in Oakland County

Surveys Potential Habitat Mapping – Fens

2 parks adjacent to FWS-designated critical

habitat 3 parks with remnant open-fen habitat Field Surveys – Poweshiek & Plants

July 22 & 24 2015; 4 Parks, 8 Sites

Results No Poweshiek observed Re-visit 3 sites in 2016 Provide contiguous land management support to critical habitat partners

Neonicotinoids – systemic insecticides Have been found to be toxic to bees and other

pollinators 2015 - Instituted BMPs to Eliminate Neonics at OC

Parks Golf Courses & Turf Maintenance Areas

Best Practices

INSECTICIDE BMPs

Don’t spray when flowering

Use granular vs. liquid grub control

Substitute with safer insecticides – Acelepryn

No-mow zones with pollinator-friendly seed mixes Image Source: Permaculture Research Institute

Public Education Nature Center Workshops Partner with Monarch Conservation

Specialist Monarch Series Raising Monarch Caterpillars Monarch Migration - tagging and release Swamp milkweed seedling give-away Backyard Pollinator Waystations

Debbie Jackson Monarch Watch – Conservation Specialist Michigan and Northeast Region debbieamj@monarchwatch.org

So what have we done to-date?

Funded from ITC Sponsorship

Fun, Educational, Family Event

Activities: Crafts, Music, Educational Walks

Butterfly Parade

T-shirts and Wings Educational Walks

Activities cont.

T-shirts and Wings Educational Walks

Butterfly Tent Michigan Butterfly Farm

Mobile Butterfly Tent

Music and Arts Activities cont.

Tamara Menas www.mibutterflyfarm.com

Butterfly Parade

Gathering to start the Parade

Butterfly leads the Parade

Moving Forward Limiting factors = staff time & funding

Planning: Solidify interdepartmental work group Management: Implement Way-station certification

for swales Surveys: Continue NABA survey annually;

continue research on other potential pollinators of concern in park system

Programming: Continue to bring in local stakeholders to educate on native planting practices for residents

Funding/ Support: Pursue related grants, plug into National Initiatives - NRPA Parks for Monarchs and Monarch Joint Venture

Resources NRPA Parks for Monarchs http://www.nrpa.org/parks4monarchs/monarch-butterfly-resources/ Monarch Joint Venture http://monarchjointventure.org/ Monarch Watch http://www.monarchwatch.org/ Xerxes Society http://www.xerces.org/

Thank you!!

Melissa Nawrocki Oakland County Parks and Recreation Recreation Specialist nawrockim@oakgov.com 248-858-5267

Brittany Bird Oakland County Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Planner birdb@oakgov.com 248-858-1726