Evaluating Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Lands

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Evaluating Wildlife Habitat and Conservation
Lands

• Kristina Sorensen
• DNR Nongame Conservation Section

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What is Habitat?

• A combination of resources (food, cover, space,
  and water) and environmental conditions a
  particular species needs for survival and
  successful reproduction.

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2. There are different types of habitats within
species based on age, sex, and seasonality
Some Key Points

• Each species has its own unique habitat
  requirements

• Habitat availability restricts
• species distribution

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Example Wild Turkey Habitat
Nesting Cover Brood-rearing/Escape Cover Foraging
Areas Roosting Sites Display Areas Loafing/Dusting
Sites
Other examples of habitat types Over-wintering
sites Denning sites Thermal refugia
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Variables affecting Habitat Use

• Some species are generalists (e.g. deer)
• Open fields
• Ag lands
• Forests (Pine or hardwood)
• Residential areas
• Some species are specialists (Often rare species)
• Need mature Longleaf pine (gt80 y.o.) to build
  cavities
• Need open pine lands to successfully forage
• Large vs. Small Home range size
• Vertical Structure requirements

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Some things to consider

• Habitats need to be connected and not isolated
• Natural vs. artificial habitat (not a
  replacement)
• E.g. nest boxes, supplemental feeders
• In order to have habitat that supports wildlife
  populations, you need all the necessary
  habitats/resources that species needs
• Size can be an important factor

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Characteristics of Conservation Land

• Large, intact areas
• Little to no human development, roads, etc.
• Relatively natural condition
• Diversity of habitat types
• Water resources

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Resources

• State Wildlife Action Plan -
• Georgia Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation
  Strategy
• GA Conservation Tax Credit Program -
• DNR defined Conservation Purposes

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www.gadnr.org/cwcs

• Lists of high priority habitats
  and species
• Priority areas of conservation

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CWCS High Priority Habitats Piedmont (16)

• Beaver Ponds Freshwater Marsh
• Bottomland Hardwood Forests
• Canebrakes
• Granite Outcrops
• Medium to Large Rivers
• Mesic Hardwood Forests
• Montane Longleaf Pine-Hardwood Forest
• Oak Woodlands and Savannas

• Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
• Rocky or Cobbly River Shoals
• Rocky/Sandy River Bluffs
• Serpentine Outcrops
• /Woodland/Savanna
• Springs and Spring Runs
• Streams
• Upland Depression Swamp
• Xeric Pine Woodlands

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Conservation Tax Credit ProgramDNR Certification
Process

• DNR must certify all land donations as meeting
  conservation purposes in order to receive state
  income tax credit
• A list of 7 well-defined purposes has recently
  been developed by DNR
• IMPORTANT COMPONENT
• undeveloped, natural state or that has been
  developed only to the extent consistent with

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DNR Conservation Purposes

• Wildlife habitat protection through the
  conservation of high priority plants, animals,
  and habitats as defined in Georgias
  Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
• Providing connectivity through the protection of
  land adjacent to existing conservation lands
• Protection of water quality through the
  conservation of land containing streams, rivers,
  natural wetlands, or floodplains and which have a
  minimum 100 permanently protected vegetated
  buffer  

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DNR Conservation Purposes

• Erosion reduction through the protection of steep
  slopes of greater than 25
• Maintenance of prime farm and forestry lands
  managed according to Best Management Practices.
  Properties must consist of a minimum of ten (10)
  contiguous acres and be used for production of
  timber products, crops, or livestock
• 6. Creation of nature-based outdoor recreation
  opportunities open to the general public   
• 7. Protection of land with significant
  archaeological and/or historic sites, listed in
  or eligible for the Georgia Register of Historic
  Places either individually, or as a contributing
  building or land area within a historic district.
  

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For More Information

• State Wildlife Action Plan
• www.gadnr.org\cwcs
• GA Conservation Tax Credit Program
• www.glcp.ga.gov\taxcredit
• DNR Wildlife Resources Division
• www.georgiawildlife.org
• Kristina.Sorensen_at_gadnr.org
• 770-918-6411