Oregon Conservation Strategy, February 2006

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 19

Urban landscapes can support diverse and valuable habitats for fish and

wildlife,andtherearesuccessfulexamplesofcommunitiesthroughout

Oregonweavinggreenspacesandhabitatintotheirplanninganddevel-

opment.Thesehabitatsarehometomanycommonspecies,butmay

alsobeimportantforspeciesatrisk,includingsomeoftheStrategy

Speciesdescribedinthisdocument.Streamandrivercorridors,nature

parks,andhomesandbusinesseslandscapedwithnativevegetationall

providehabitatwithinanurbansetting.

EveryOregoniancancontributetotheconservationofwildlifeand

habitatsintheirownbackyardorneighborhood.Creatingbackyard

habitat,or“Naturescaping”,providesimportantplacesforwildlifeto

feed, nest, and find shelter from the weather. People can also help by

volunteeringforrestorationprojectsintheirlocalparks.

AscitiescontinuetogrowinOregon,incorporatingnaturalresources

intotheinfrastructureofdevelopmentandcommunityopenspaceswill

helpensurethatwildlifecansurviveandthrive.Theabilityforpeople

tointeractwithwildlifeintheirownbackyardorneighborhoodalso

contributestotheirunderstandingofthevalueofthenaturalworld,

connectspeopletothewatershedtheylivein,andimprovesthequality

oflifeOregoniansenjoy.Urbanhabitatsarediscussedinmoredetailon

pages65to69.Importantconservationactionsforurbanareasinclude:

Planforgrowthanddevelopmenttoincorporatetheprotection

oflarge,functionalandconnectedhabitatsas“greeninfra-

structure.”

Considerarangeofprogramoptionsandtrade-offsforhabitat

andurbandevelopment,incorporatingeconomic,social,envi-

ronmentalandenergycriteria.

Usemultipletoolstomeetconservationgoals,whichcanin-

cludeplanning,restoration,acquisition,on-the-groundactions,

grants, education/information, property tax reduction programs,

technicalassistance,volunteerprograms,andrecognition

programs.

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Integrate fish and wildlife habitat conservation and restoration

intoothernaturalresourceconservationefforts(e.g.,water

qualityprograms,openspaceacquisitions).

Whenplanningredevelopmentprojects,lookforopportunities

to restore habitats, increase connectivity and improve floodplain

function.

Incorporatehabitatfeaturesandfunctionsintothebuiltenvi-

ronment(wildliferoadcrossings,rooftopgardensandnests,

artificial habitat structures).

Promote“Naturescaping”andlandscapingwithnativeplants.

Preventtheintroductionofthosenon-nativespecieswithhigh

potentialtobeinvasiveandcontrolpriorityinvasives.

Integrateinformationabouthabitatsandspeciesfromstateand

federalnaturalresourceagenciesandconservationgroupsinto

localandregionalplanningefforts.

Learnabouteffectsofurbanizationonwatershedsandtest

managementactions.Considerandusenewinformationasit

becomesavailable.

Increaseunderstandingofhowurbansystemscanbedesigned

to help sustain fish and wildlife populations with a high level of

publicsupportandinvolvement.

EducateresidentsaboutOregon’snaturalheritage,showpeople

real-worldexamplesofimportanthabitatsandprojects,and

buildanappreciationthatwillleadtocitizenactionsandsup-

portforconservation.

Recognizethepositivecontributionsthatindividuals,businesses

andindustryhavemadelocally.

Promoteprogramsdesignedtomanagestormwatersoitclosely

mimics natural flow patterns and cleanses runoff before it is

releasedtonaturalwaterbodies.Discouragedumpinginto

stormdrains.

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A Place for People and Wildlife: Conservation in Urban Areas Summary

Photo©BruceNewhouse

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Strategy for Action: Summary and First Steps

20

Workacrossmultiplejurisdictions,recognizingtheuniqueness

ofeachlocalcommunityandtheneedsofvariouslandown-

ers.Seekmethodstoachievecooperationandcoordination.

Promotetheexchangeofinformation.

Supporthabitatimprovementprojectsgearedtowardsthe

needs,opportunitiesandhighlevelofpublicinterestincarrying

out environmentally beneficial projects in urban areas.

Createcost-sharefundingopportunitiesforconservation

planningandprojectimplementation.Providetechnicaland

financial support for projects.

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Supportandexpandexistingprogramstoprovideproactive,

seasonally-appropriateinformationonpreventingandresolving

conflicts with wildlife.

Considerimpactstooff-channel,shallowwaterandin-stream

habitatwhileprovidingrecreationopportunities.

Monitorchangeinurbanecosystemsusingbroad-scaleindica-

torsinurbansettings.

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Land Ownership

U.S.FishandWildlifeService

U.S.ForestService

BureauofLandManagement

NationalParkService

OtherFederal

StateLands

ParksandRecreation

Forestry

FishandWildlife

OtherStateandLocalGovernment

TribalLands

Private

Federal Ownership State Ownership Tribal Lands

Private Ownership

EcoregionBoundary

CountyBoundary

Data Source: Oregon Department of Forestry, 2004