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Best Practices and Responsible Care
POLLINATOR CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION SITE AND PROJECT ASSESSMENT TOOL
The generic checklist below provides an outline of how to create a best practices management tool for any pollinator conservation site. The PCA offers professional and customized assessment and consultation for your site.
The Pollinator Conservation Association uses a Best Practices assessment tool based on five foundations. These are 1.) Site Assessment; 2.) Development and Conservation Targeting; 3.) Installation Plan; 4.)Management and Maintenance Plan; and 5.) Owner training including staff and contractors.
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OVERVIEW If you have a pollinator garden, or a larger project, the concept of Best Practices and Responsible Care are essential elements that will determine the success or lack of success of your project. Following these guidelines will characterize the garden and project's value to both pollinators and the habitat and ecosystem that it is designed to support. Best Practices fall into a variety of categories that involve the many stages of the life cycle of any pollinator conservation area. Picking a site, preparing a site, picking plants, planting, short and long term management and maintenance are all factors to consider and invest in. For Professionals The Pollinator Conservation Association recommends that any contractor, employee, and or volunteers, be made aware of the nature of a pollinator conservation site and best management and maintenance practices. When possible, professional training should be undertaken. It is highly recommended that an informational agreement in writing between the site owner or agent, site manager, and all contractors and parties be agreed to. This agreement should both describe the site or sites involved, and spell out an understandings of Best Practices and Responsible Care. Some things to consider: We often think of "gardening" when we think of creating pollinator habitat. Indeed we often label projects as native pollinator of butterfly "gardens" as we engage in site development and management. Sometimes this focuses our attention on narrow contexts such as pretty flowering plants. At the very least flowing plants should be "native". While flowering plants, including pretty native ones, are important, this is just a part of what we should be thinking about. Beyond flowers, we need to include host plants, which for butterflies and most larvae, are what species depend upon before they become nectar sippers. It is also important to think of overall habitat needs for the species that you are trying to attract and support. Consider the kind and amount of soil, sand, or other media that they need. Think about driftwood, or "dead" trees or limbs as part of the habitat resource. Dead trees support a lot of life. And also make sure to think of maintenance schedules so that you do not interrupt essential life cycles. This includes mowing, or working with leaf litter, which protects many species of insects and other wildlife that are essential to supporting the lifecycles of many pollinators. Use our assessment tool at the top of this page to evaluate and inform your best practices. We offer custom assessments as a a part of our professional services. - Think holistically. Pollinator habitats are part and parcel of habitats for other plants and animals and require an understanding of those relationships. Think of creating communities including plant communities. -Think 24/7 and 12 months a year. It is not just flowering plants that make up a good pollinator habitat. Think about nest sites, foraging materials, and overwintering support for pollinators. -Target your site for appropriate and local pollinator considerations including identifying local native pollinator populations and their relationships to the habitat that you are hoping to preserve, improve or restore. Make sure that you identify the appropriate habitat that you are working with. It could be a meadow, wetland, or forest, or be adjacent to these kinds of habitats. Help to characterize and build the appropriate relationships between native plants and wildlife. -Plan for and invest in adequate soil, sun, and water contexts. -Pick plants and or seeds that are genetically native to the area, sourced from native plants within a geographic region that best represents plants found within a 50-100 mile radius. -Plan for the long-term. This is true whether or not you are working on a garden plot, or preserving, enhancing, or creating larger natural areas. Pollinators that inhabit what you create are in this for the long term, and you should be also. Make a long-term plan. -A good target for natural areas is that they become self-sustaining and needs little long-term maintenance. This means making sure that you have invested in the right combination of soils, sun, shade, water strategies, and plants. -A natural area will take several seasons to establish. Maintenance will be more intense at first, with a gradual drop off as seasons and years progress. by year 3, any pollinator conservation area should be well on its way to sustaining itself. -Regularly monitor the site as a part of any maintenance strategy. This will be most intense at first, and will gradually drop-off as the seasons and years progress. Any long-term maintenance plan should include monitoring schedules that are still in effect a decade after the first season. -Avoid the use of chemicals. Sometimes site preparation requires invasive flora and fauna strategies that involve the use of pesticides and or herbicides. Try to avoid this, although it is realistic to assume that this will not always be possible. -Try to never use any chemicals at a pollinator conservation site. If necessary, work within Integrated Pest Management contexts including the use of least toxic alternatives. Pollinators are put at great risk by the use of chemicals. -If you hire contractors to develop, install, manage, and maintain your site, make sure that they are aware of Best Practices and Responsible Care strategies. Make sure to have a written understanding of how these contractors will apply these contexts in a variety of circumstances reflecting normal care, emergency care, and unexpected or worst case scenarios. |
Benefits Of Responsible Care
-Creates sustainable paths to natural restoration of native ecosystems and helps to ensure beneficial use. -Reduced long-term maintenance costs. -Recognizes the inherent natural value of ecological communities. -Reinforces the need to introduce, invest in, and sustain management and maintenance practices. This feature, added to a scrubby grasslands pollinator conservation site on Buffalo's Outer Harbor, provides nesting and overwintering resources for species of bees, beetles, and other essential wildlife. Birds also hunt for food here.
Valuable Downloadable Resources |
Bee the Best Natural Steward, Help to Protect our Natural Resources by Following Best Practices
Best Practices Guidelines
Outlines of Best Practices
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Responsible Care
Including Links to Resources
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Responsible Care
Including Links to Resources
PLANNING
-Identify partners and contractors that are fully aware of pollinator conservation strategies including Best Practices and Responsible Care guidelines. Make sure that any contractors and or employees, including maintenance personel are fully aware of the purpose of the site and its sustainability as a natural site.
-Identify Invasive Species issues and create a plan that addresses these issues early on. Initial removal and control, followed by longer term maintenance and monitoring is essential.
-Create a short and long term plan that reflects the conservation needs of the site including an understanding of the needs of both the pollinators and the plants and soils being used; and create short and long-term maintenance and management schedules with responsible partners and contractors.
-Address the installation and management needs of the site.
-Identify partners and contractors that are fully aware of pollinator conservation strategies including Best Practices and Responsible Care guidelines. Make sure that any contractors and or employees, including maintenance personel are fully aware of the purpose of the site and its sustainability as a natural site.
-Identify Invasive Species issues and create a plan that addresses these issues early on. Initial removal and control, followed by longer term maintenance and monitoring is essential.
-Create a short and long term plan that reflects the conservation needs of the site including an understanding of the needs of both the pollinators and the plants and soils being used; and create short and long-term maintenance and management schedules with responsible partners and contractors.
-Address the installation and management needs of the site.
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF SITES
-Design for long-long-term sustainability so that as it establishes itself as a natural community, the long term maintenance requirements are reduced.
-Make sure that you understand what pollinators you are looking to protect, conserve, or restore. Make sure that you are introducing habitat that includes cover and food including both native host plants and nectar producing plants that relate to the species that you are focused on.
-Installing and establishing native plant communities may take a number of seasons to reach full productivity. Some of these plant communities will have seasonal showy flowers, and some will not.
-Find Plant and Seed distributors that have the most local connection. It is best to have plants and seeds that are produced within about a 200 mile radius of the the site.
-Make sure to plant to specifications recommended by the seed and or plant sales resource.
Resource: “How Seeding Rates Can Affect Species Composition in Pollinator Planting. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/plantmaterials/home/?cid=NRCSEPRD1435909
-Design for long-long-term sustainability so that as it establishes itself as a natural community, the long term maintenance requirements are reduced.
-Make sure that you understand what pollinators you are looking to protect, conserve, or restore. Make sure that you are introducing habitat that includes cover and food including both native host plants and nectar producing plants that relate to the species that you are focused on.
-Installing and establishing native plant communities may take a number of seasons to reach full productivity. Some of these plant communities will have seasonal showy flowers, and some will not.
-Find Plant and Seed distributors that have the most local connection. It is best to have plants and seeds that are produced within about a 200 mile radius of the the site.
-Make sure to plant to specifications recommended by the seed and or plant sales resource.
Resource: “How Seeding Rates Can Affect Species Composition in Pollinator Planting. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/plantmaterials/home/?cid=NRCSEPRD1435909
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Soil Preparation
You may decide to use existing site soil, you may have to introduce soils, or you may mix and match as needed. Try to follow the existing conditions as closely as possible as well as the needs of the plants to be introduced. -It is important to insure that the growing media used either as existing or introduced is not bringing invasive plant or seed banks to the site. Careful analysis and monitoring of soil and seed banks will be a major part of creating a successful pollinator conservation area. It is a difficult issue but some contractors are now providing bulk compost that is both organic and relatively invasive free. |
Inspired by Nature. Dave Majewski's company, SRG of Buffalo, has compost and storm water projects and products are highly valued by the Pollinator Conservation Association.
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Management and Maintenance
It is critical to create a short and long-term plans for yourself, your organization and or any contractors. Everyone involved has to understand the needs and capacities of the site, the plants, and the wildlife that use it. Make sure that any maintenance schedules reflect the natural aspects of the site, and not just seasonal work perceptions. Pollinators use sites 12 months of the year.
Important Note: A scheduled or non-scheduled mow just after Labor Day can have disastrous consequences on pollinators and habitat.
Schedule
-Make sure to create and keep a schedule that makes sense in both short and long term contexts.
-Make sure that everyone, including contractors and contracted labor understand the value of the site as a natural area, and are fully aware of Best Management maintenance practices.
-Plantings may occur all at once, or over several seasons. Prioritize management and maintenance during planting and the first two seasons after planting. Meadow areas will require initial care including watering and selective weeding. Expect a gradual reduction in maintenance, limited to regular observation schedules, long-term staggered mowing schedules (if applicable), and any emergency including invasive species, or weather or storm conditions.
-Develop a schedule based on Best Practices with any management and maintenance Contractors. Simple mistakes such as mowing at the wrong time can create harm to the installation.
-Generally speaking the monitoring and maintenance should be the most frequent in the first few weeks and days and then gradually reduced until by season three (unless there have been emergencies).
If your goal is to prevent natural succession (as the meadow succeeds over the years to transform into a woodland) You should expect at this site that any bushland/meadow habitat will need mowing only every three years after it is established. Current Best Practices involve rotating or staggering mowing schedules focused on early spring and in some cases late autumn.
Site Monitoring
Regular monitoring and spot maintenance will be required on all sites during initial planting and growing seasons. Monitoring will help to determine conditions that may reflect water or lack of water issues, types of wildlife present including pollinators and other insects, and any invasive plants that may show up.
Meadows and Mowing
Pollinators and other beneficial wildlife use habitat year round, day and night.
Properly managing and maintaining habitat involves scheduling that reflects the needs of the ecological community that is the Pollinator Conservation Area.
Pollinator meadow habitats could evolve productively into brush land. This may or may not be desirable.
Maintenance and mowing schedules will depend on what the planned outcome for the site is.
Many sites can be designed to be sustainable and long-term maintenance free.
Any mowing practices should reflect appropriate seasonal and staggered schedules.
Notes for Meadow Maintenance
-Be patient for at least first two growing seasons.
-Work with the contractor and establish a maintenance plan prior to planting.
-Undesired plants may be most aggressive in first season. Learn what they are and have a plan to control them.
-Avoid aggressive root pulling of undesired plants first two season.
-Mow to only 6”-10” and then only every other year maximum.
-Mow in early spring instead of late fall so that organisms including bird food sources, can overwinter. If wet conditions prevent spring mowing, pick a section to mow in late fall.
-Rotate or stagger mowing so that the whole system has a chance to balance itself out.
Resource: “How to Successfully Maintain a Meadow”
UConn Extenson
http://ipm.uconn.edu/pa_turflandscape/pa_turflandscapea_meadows_2_4221852303.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1e6oYVs-k9QvhQ4Q-uqYkgnjvuRiGwpsQROWihJ045OcgEaq8ExkBLgx8
It is critical to create a short and long-term plans for yourself, your organization and or any contractors. Everyone involved has to understand the needs and capacities of the site, the plants, and the wildlife that use it. Make sure that any maintenance schedules reflect the natural aspects of the site, and not just seasonal work perceptions. Pollinators use sites 12 months of the year.
Important Note: A scheduled or non-scheduled mow just after Labor Day can have disastrous consequences on pollinators and habitat.
Schedule
-Make sure to create and keep a schedule that makes sense in both short and long term contexts.
-Make sure that everyone, including contractors and contracted labor understand the value of the site as a natural area, and are fully aware of Best Management maintenance practices.
-Plantings may occur all at once, or over several seasons. Prioritize management and maintenance during planting and the first two seasons after planting. Meadow areas will require initial care including watering and selective weeding. Expect a gradual reduction in maintenance, limited to regular observation schedules, long-term staggered mowing schedules (if applicable), and any emergency including invasive species, or weather or storm conditions.
-Develop a schedule based on Best Practices with any management and maintenance Contractors. Simple mistakes such as mowing at the wrong time can create harm to the installation.
-Generally speaking the monitoring and maintenance should be the most frequent in the first few weeks and days and then gradually reduced until by season three (unless there have been emergencies).
If your goal is to prevent natural succession (as the meadow succeeds over the years to transform into a woodland) You should expect at this site that any bushland/meadow habitat will need mowing only every three years after it is established. Current Best Practices involve rotating or staggering mowing schedules focused on early spring and in some cases late autumn.
Site Monitoring
Regular monitoring and spot maintenance will be required on all sites during initial planting and growing seasons. Monitoring will help to determine conditions that may reflect water or lack of water issues, types of wildlife present including pollinators and other insects, and any invasive plants that may show up.
Meadows and Mowing
Pollinators and other beneficial wildlife use habitat year round, day and night.
Properly managing and maintaining habitat involves scheduling that reflects the needs of the ecological community that is the Pollinator Conservation Area.
Pollinator meadow habitats could evolve productively into brush land. This may or may not be desirable.
Maintenance and mowing schedules will depend on what the planned outcome for the site is.
Many sites can be designed to be sustainable and long-term maintenance free.
Any mowing practices should reflect appropriate seasonal and staggered schedules.
Notes for Meadow Maintenance
-Be patient for at least first two growing seasons.
-Work with the contractor and establish a maintenance plan prior to planting.
-Undesired plants may be most aggressive in first season. Learn what they are and have a plan to control them.
-Avoid aggressive root pulling of undesired plants first two season.
-Mow to only 6”-10” and then only every other year maximum.
-Mow in early spring instead of late fall so that organisms including bird food sources, can overwinter. If wet conditions prevent spring mowing, pick a section to mow in late fall.
-Rotate or stagger mowing so that the whole system has a chance to balance itself out.
Resource: “How to Successfully Maintain a Meadow”
UConn Extenson
http://ipm.uconn.edu/pa_turflandscape/pa_turflandscapea_meadows_2_4221852303.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1e6oYVs-k9QvhQ4Q-uqYkgnjvuRiGwpsQROWihJ045OcgEaq8ExkBLgx8
Invasive Species
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Invasive Plants of this region (not a complete list)
Purple Loosestrife Phragmites/Common Reed Garlic Mustard Giant Hogweed Honeysuckle Japanese Knotweed Japanese Stiltgrass Wild Parsnip Common Buckthorn Norway Maple |
Some Common meadow “weeds” to be aware of in the Great Lakes, Niagara Region:
Artemisia vulgaris: Mugwort Cirsium arvense: Canada Thistle Celastrus orbiculatus: Oriental Bittersweet Lonicera japonica: Japanese Honeysuckle Lythrum salicaria: Loosestrife (wet meadows) Phytolacca americana: Pokeweed Rosa multiflora: Multiflora Rose Solidago canadensis: Canada Goldenrod |
Invasive Plant Resources
Western New York PRISM
http://www.wnyprism.org/invasive-species-in-western-new-york/
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Terrestrial Invasive Species in New York State
https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/95383.html
Western New York PRISM
http://www.wnyprism.org/invasive-species-in-western-new-york/
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Terrestrial Invasive Species in New York State
https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/95383.html
Pest Management
Pest management can be the most challenging management need. But it does not have to be.
More and more pest management consultants are educated in Least Toxic Management strategies and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Workforce members and managers are being trained in strategies that both target pest species, reduce risk to non-target species, (including humans); and eliminate dependency on chemical practices.
Chemical Concerns
Fungisides, herbicides and pesticides can be devastating to native plant and pollinator communities. Many of these are broad spectrum poisons that effect all species of plants and insects. Understaing how and when to use any chemicals, and most importantly, how not to use them is a critical part of creating pollinator habitat.
The safest chemical approach to protecting and conserving native species and naturalized communities is to use no chemicals. Our installations are designed to reduce problems associated with unintended pests and problems, but we recognize that from time to time it will be necessary to address unanticipated issues. Make sure that any contractor has a deep understanding and commitment to IPM.
Priority Recommendation:
Any vendors or contractors associated with pest management must be familiar with the conservation purpose of any installation, and with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and least toxic approaches to best management.
Integrated Pest Management Resources
Pesticide Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Source Penn State
https://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/publications/p4-best-practices-for-pesticide-use
National Pesticide Information Center Low Risk Pesticides
http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/lowrisk.html
Pest management can be the most challenging management need. But it does not have to be.
More and more pest management consultants are educated in Least Toxic Management strategies and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Workforce members and managers are being trained in strategies that both target pest species, reduce risk to non-target species, (including humans); and eliminate dependency on chemical practices.
Chemical Concerns
Fungisides, herbicides and pesticides can be devastating to native plant and pollinator communities. Many of these are broad spectrum poisons that effect all species of plants and insects. Understaing how and when to use any chemicals, and most importantly, how not to use them is a critical part of creating pollinator habitat.
The safest chemical approach to protecting and conserving native species and naturalized communities is to use no chemicals. Our installations are designed to reduce problems associated with unintended pests and problems, but we recognize that from time to time it will be necessary to address unanticipated issues. Make sure that any contractor has a deep understanding and commitment to IPM.
Priority Recommendation:
Any vendors or contractors associated with pest management must be familiar with the conservation purpose of any installation, and with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and least toxic approaches to best management.
Integrated Pest Management Resources
Pesticide Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Source Penn State
https://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/publications/p4-best-practices-for-pesticide-use
National Pesticide Information Center Low Risk Pesticides
http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/lowrisk.html
Best Practices for Monarchs, Mowing and Management
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