**NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE**

**CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD**

**RHODE ISLAND**

**UPLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT**

**(acre)**

**CODE 645**

**DEFINITION**

Creating, restoring, maintaining or enhancing areas for food, cover, and
water for upland wildlife and species which use upland habitat for a
portion of their life cycle.

**PURPOSE**

-   Provide a variety of food for the desired kinds of wildlife species;

-   Provide a variety of cover types for the desired kinds of wildlife
    species, examples include nesting, fawning, loafing, resting,
    escape, travel lanes, and thermal;

-   Provide drinking water for the desired kinds of wildlife species.

-   Arrange habitat elements in proper amounts and locations to benefit
    desired species.

-   Manage the wildlife habitat to promote viable populations of target
    species within their native geographic range.

**CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES**

On all sites that are suitable for the kinds of wildlife habitat that
are needed and are within the range of the desired species or the
natural community under consideration.

**CRITERIA**

**[General Criteria Applicable to all Purposes]{.underline}**

-   Habitat development and management

> necessary, to achieve the purpose(s), shall be based on a wildlife
> habitat appraisal or suitable habitat evaluation. The appraisal or
> evaluation procedure shall be used to determine a habitat suitability
> rating for either individual fields, home range areas, habitat type or
> natural community as well as to provide an overall evaluation for the
> entire property or operating unit.

**Habitat Appraisal or Habitat Evaluation:**

-   The evaluation will result in a quality rating or habitat
    suitability index (hsi). This will consider the type, amount, and
    distribution of habitat elements required. The quality rating or hsi
    will be compared to the quality criteria in Section III of the FOTG.

-   If the evaluation indicates a level below the acceptable quality,
    alternatives will be recommended that will result in the necessary
    changes in habitat elements or their management to bring the rating
    up to the minimal acceptable or above.

-   If the evaluation is at the minimum or above, alternatives will be
    recommended that will result in the necessary management to
    preserve, maintain or improve the existing habitat in its present
    state or toward optimum conditions

**Habitat Elements**

-   The following habitat elements will be considered when assessing
    wildlife habitat. Not all may apply to every habitat type.

1.  Food

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a.  Type

b.  Amount

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2.  Cover

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a.  Type

b.  Amount

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3.  Water

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a.  Quality

b.  Quantity

c.  Accessibility

d.  Seasonal availability

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4.  Interspersion and Distance to

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a.  Crops

b.  Grasses and or legumes

c.  Shrubs

d.  Trees

e.  Water

f.  Openings

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5.  Migration

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a.  Routes

b.  Season of use

c.  Corridors

Development and Management of Wildlife

Habitat:

-   As indicated by the wildlife habitat evaluation, certain habitat
    elements may be weak or missing. For the desired species, identify
    the types, amount, and distribution of habitat elements and
    management actions necessary to achieve the management objectives.

-   The location, amounts, and kinds of habitat elements planned shall
    be identified in a management plan along with their management
    requirements.

-   In habitats with some degree of naturalness, only native plant
    materials shall be used. In other habitats, the use of native plants
    is encouraged. No nonnative, invasive species may be used even if
    they are readily available.

-   Prescribed burning or mechanical, biological or chemical methods, or
    a combination of the four shall accomplish vegetative manipulations.

-   Where feasible prescribed burning shall be utilized instead of
    mowing.

-   Livestock grazing or haying may be conducted to maintain or improve
    vegetation structure and composition so as to improve the desired
    wildlife habitat.

-   Management measures shall be provided to control invasive species
    and noxious weeds.

-   Spraying or other control of noxious weeds will be done on a "spot"
    basis in order to protect plants that benefit native pollinators and
    other wildlife.

-   The site shall be monitored to determine the effectiveness or
    condition of the resource.

**CONSIDERATIONS**

Wildlife population control (hunting to reduce numbers) which is the
responsibility of state and federal wildlife agencies and the landowner
may be necessary to protect and maintain certain habitats.

Consider that manipulations of habitat may impact more than the desired
kinds of wildlife. These possible effects shall be evaluated and taken
into consideration during the planning process.

This practice may be used to promote the conservation of declining
species, including threatened and endangered species.

Consider the problems of habitat fragmentation when using this practice;
create large blocks of habitat verses increased edge, which leads to
predation and parasitism by some species such as cowbirds.

Consider the potential for both positive and negative consequences of
habitat linkages and habitat corridors when developing upland wildlife
habitat.

**PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS**

Plans and specifications for this practice shall be prepared for each
site. Plans and specifications shall be recorded using approved
specification sheets, job sheets, technical notes, or narrative
documentation in the conservation plan, or other acceptable
documentation.

**OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE**

The purpose of operation, maintenance, and management is to insure that
the practice functions as intended over time.

A plan for operation and maintenance of upland wildlife habitat at a
minimum shall include monitoring and management of structural and
vegetative measures.

As a minimum, the following actions shall be addressed in the operation
and maintenance (O&M) plan to insure that this practice functions as
intended throughout its expected life.

1\) Use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals.

2\) Designation of base plots and periodic inventories conducted to
monitoring, as applicable, the target vegetation, the target animal(s),
and target environmental factors.

3\) Control of invasive plant species.

4\) Removal of vegetation or replacement of dead or dying vegetation.

5\) Control of erosion.

These actions include normal repetitive activities in the application
and use of the practice (operation), and repair and upkeep of the
practice (maintenance).

Timing of haying and livestock grazing will avoid periods when upland
wildlife are nesting, fawning, etc. and will allow the establishment,
development, and management of upland vegetation for the intended
purpose.

Biological control of pests (e.g., using predator or parasitic species)
shall be implemented where available and feasible.