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Open Space Management Plan

part1 part2 part3 part9 part8 part7 part6 part5 part4

 

Part 5.  Management Issues, Activities & Opportunities

You’ve described the natural and cultural characteristics of the property, and how it is being used. This section is the place to discuss particular problems or concerns, and how you envision the future of the Tract— before you go on to detail your management recommendations in Part 6.

A. Natural Habitats, Plants, Wildlife
B. Cultural Resources
C. Recreation, Education Activities

A. Natural Habitats, Plants, Wildlife

For each issue that you want to describe, include the following:

1. “Natural Habitat, Plant or Animal”(be specific)

A. Existing site condition
B. Current management activities, if any
C. Planned or desired future condition

Examples:

Listed below are examples of issues that could be addressed here for specific natural habitats or species 

  1. Invasive Species (plant and/or animal) – be specific as to what habitats are impacted and what the invasive species are.

    meadowwoodyspecies

    meadowencroachment

    A long, narrow meadow with encroachment by numerous woody shrubs and invasive plant species. The bordering trees also shade the meadow plants along the margins.

    Another meadow showing encroachment by shrubs and invasive plants. This site might be managed differently than the previous meadow.

    dogwoodmanage

    dogwoodnotmanaged

    A woodland where dogwoods have seeded in naturally, but have been managed to maintain the woodland and to discourage invasive vines from overtopping the trees.

    This photo shows mainly dogwood trees in an area that was not managed as in the previous photo. The dogwoods are very tall and spindly, and many have Asianic bittersweet vines encircling their trunks.


  2. Erosion (e.g. stream or riverbank erosion)

  3. Restoration Projects (examples: tidal marsh restoration, fish ways)

  4. Speciman Tree Protection

    specimantree

     

    A speciman tree that a land trust wants to maintain.

     

See Appendix C for other examples and ideas on Management provisions.

 

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B. Cultural Resources

(You’re probably not going to add new cultural resources to the Preserve, but you may want to maintain and manage existing ones. For example, a field or meadow should be mown on a regular basis; a stonewall needs to be rebuilt, or an existing structure on the property needs to be rebuilt for storage of equipment)


1. “Cultural Resource” (be specific)

A. Existing site condition

B. Current management activities, if any (e.g. Pasture is mown annually to keep shrubs and saplings from overtaking herbaceous plants)

C. Planned or desired future condition 

meadowwoodyspecies

 

A stone wall that is part of a land trust property and must be maintained per the donor's wishes.

 

 

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C. Recreation, Education Activities

  1. Boundaries - Are all boundaries clearly posted?

  2. Existing Trails (e.g. The existing trail system needs regular maintenance; Are there problems with overuse, erosion; Should some trails be closed, etc?)

  3. Planned or desired trails, parking areas, etc.

  4. Planned educational activities (e.g. nature trail guide)

 

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