Natural Resource Management TipsApproaches and tips landowners can use to help effectively management their land. |
Natural Resource Management TipsApproaches and tips landowners can use to help effectively management their land. |
4 Winter Habitat Projects for Whitetails10/22/2023 October 23, 2023Winter Whitetail Habitat Projects to Do This YearWinter, with its unique challenges and opportunities, offers a prime time for habitat enhancement projects that benefit not only deer but also numerous other wildlife species. In this article, we will discuss four winter habitat projects you should consider doing this year for better deer habitat. October 15, 2017Take Advantage of Fall for Planting Trees for WildlifeSpring is not the only time for planting trees for wildlife. Fall is the perfect time to enhance your wildlife habitat with new vegetation. Trees and shrubs can be planted all the way up until the ground freezes and be ready to explode come spring. Forest Buffers in Pennsylvania
Not more than a year ago, a cornfield grew for decades right to the edge of the stream. The potential effects were clear as stream banks were mostly barren, with steep sides and undercut banks. Through a partnership with the Pennsylvania USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the landowner was able to acquire funding and technical assistance with Northeast Land Management, LLC through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative.
Benefits of Forest Buffers in Pennsylvania
Forest buffers can significantly improve stream health by reducing erosion, controlling sediment and nutrient runoff and stabilizing water temperatures. Not only does the forest buffer protect streams but it increases wildlife habitat. Wildlife use stream buffers as feeding areas, nesting locations and travel corridors.
Success with Forest Buffers
Successful forest buffers do not just happen. Planning the right species mix to plant, proper protection from deer browse and on-going maintenance all are part of establishing an effective forest buffer. Planting native trees and shrubs are only the first step in creating a buffer. Maintenance of the buffer for the first 5 years is the most critical and perhaps the main reason why stream protection projects fail. Far to often you drive through central Pennsylvania and see tree tubes on the ground within a weed infested strip of uncultivated land next to a stream. With proper planning and the right technical assistance, protecting streams can be a beautiful and sustainable addition to your agricultural operation and your overall property's wildlife habitat management in Pennsylvania.
Today our stream restoration project in Franklin County, Pennsylvania is showing success. Native trees and shrubs are peaking out from their tree tubes, already filtering nutrient runoff and capturing excess sediment. Soon these trees will be dropping fruit and mast for wildlife and given larger species a protective corridor to travel. Have a stream on your property or looking for a sustainable solution to increase wildlife habitat? Take the first steps to evaluate your property and plan for its future.
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​Pennsylvania forestry consultants, wildlife managers and agricultural conservationists managing and improving properties across the Keystone State and the Northeast since 2009. |
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