Interested in managing your property or backyard for wildlife, but not sure where to start? Our guide, Managing Land in the Piedmont of Virginia for the Benefit of Birds and Other Wildlife, introduces landowners to land management options that should be considered for a variety of habitat types.
Virginia benefits from a system of protected lands that provide key wildlife habitat, ranging from national, state and municipal properties to lands set aside for conservation by private, non-profit organizations. As impressive as these conservation lands are, their footprint on the landscape pales in comparison to the total acreage that is under private ownership. This is especially true in the Virginia Piedmont, where 95% of the land base is privately owned. Because of this, private lands can have a huge, positive impact on wildlife conservation.
Whether private lands are forested, agricultural, regenerating clearcuts or old fields, contain wetlands or open water, or are even suburban backyards, they are actively used by all types of wildlife. Among these are innumerable species of birds, many of them with declining populations, which use private lands for breeding, wintering and during migration. To that end, all private landowners have a contribution that they can make to the conservation of these species on their lands.
In order to facilitate wildlife conservation on private lands, we created a new edition of Managing Land in the Piedmont of Virginia for Birds and Other Wildlife. This booklet was produced in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Forestry (DGIF) and the American Bird Conservancy and benefited from input by many other partners across the state.
It serves as a primer to the landowner interested in making a difference for birds and other wildlife on their property, and covers a wide variety of habitat types and land uses including. It also includes a ‘Resources’ section to put landowners in touch with foresters and biologists who can help to tailor planning and management recommendations to individual properties; and to guide folks toward professionals who can help get habitat management done.
The publication covers wildlife habitats found in the Piedmont region of Virginia. These habitats are not exclusive to the Piedmont, so that the publication can be used by anyone whose land includes these habitats, regardless of location.
Download a PDF version of the guide below or contact The Piedmont Environmental Council at 540-347-2334 to arrange to pick up a hard copy at one of PEC’s offices.
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