Conservation Landscapes for America Sustainability and Sustainable Resource Management ‐ An Overview ISC‐Audubon believes that today is the foundation for our future. We believe that the focus should be on economic prosperity, the environment and social betterment and that the actions we take today, will be our legacy. Someday we will look back on our past actions and reflect on what our dreams were for the future and how successful we were in reaching our goals. What we do today will be the foundation of how future generations view our accomplishments and how our children and children’s children view our commitment to our descendants and to their future. We believe that economic growth and stability, a healthy environment and the social conditions of humans are inextricably linked. Likewise, research, environmental education, conservation assistance and public policy are essential elements for promoting sustainability and supporting environmental and economic progress. ISC‐Audubon is organizationally and programmatically designed to integrate these vital components. We cannot wish ourselves to a sustainable future. We must work for it – one person at a time, one project at a time and one place at a time.
ISC‐Audubon Perspectives ISC‐Audubon believes that working with nature and not against it, makes both environmental and economic sense. Working with nature means making sound decisions about how to manage the land. It means finding out what will work with the land, given its physical and chemical characteristics. It also means weaving nature into the vision of a landscape. In order to deliver this mission, ISC‐Audubon has created Conservation Landscapes for America and manages a variety of associated programs that promote biological diversity, ecosystem management, ecological restoration and sustainability. Through policy development and implementation, environmental education, conservation assistance, research and planning, ISC‐Audubon promotes economic and environmental stewardship action where people live, work and play.
ISC‐Audubon works with people from all walks of life and with all types of properties – backyards, a variety of corporate and business properties, school properties, golf courses and other types of managed lands, as well as public lands that are under the care of various governmental bodies. ISC‐ Audubon is committed to continuous environmental improvement in economically feasible ways. Conservation landscape management is based in the knowledge that we must all use natural resources to the benefit and betterment of humanity, but we must do so in ways that will leave adequate natural resources for future generations to meet their own needs. This is the cornerstone of what ISC‐Audubon calls Sustainable Resource Management.
Sustainable Resource Management Concepts • Protect and enhance the quality of the environment by encouraging responsible stewardship actions specific to wildlife and water needs and ecological restoration. •
Encourage, educate and motivate individuals to take positive, constructive actions based on the generally accepted ISC Principles of Sustainability.
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Promote environmental planning, sustainable land management practices and economic development based on sound science.
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Support and expand educational programs, research efforts and training to achieve greater understanding and participation in the practice of sustainability and sustainable resource management.
Sustainable Resource Management – Basic Principles •
Take resource management actions that have the least impact on wildlife, water and the ecosystems that sustain life.
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Utilize renewable resources.
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Reduce, minimize and eliminate the use of non‐renewable resources.
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Maximize positive environmental benefits by utilizing new, science‐based products and technologies.
• Always practice water conservation and take actions that protect and enhance water quality. • Live and manage resources in ways that sustain ecosystems and that enhance biological diversity. • Practice resource management within the natural limitations and opportunities defined by the ecosystems and geographic boundaries of the land being managed.
Sustainable Resource Management– Site Assessment & Planning
Site Assessment
Before land‐use changes take place, it is crucial to understand the “properties” of the site that will be subject to proposed changes. A comprehensive site survey should do the following: •
Identify the geographic and topographic features of the area.
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Identify the area’s unique resources to protect and conserve them.
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Make it possible to choose power sources in accord with the area’s physical attributes.
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Identify and conserve areas of archeological, natural, historical and cultural significance.
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Identify land use in the vicinity and seek compatibility regarding proposed changes and uses.
• Specify the area of change and establish parameters for future changes beyond this area.
Greenspace and Corridor Planning Urban parks, forested zones, native grassland areas and stream corridors reaching into urban areas are necessary elements of sustainability. In this regard everyone should: • Provide access to appropriate greenspaces for educational and recreational experiences. • Maintain corridors that connect areas and allow for wildlife movement within the property boundary and adjacent areas. •
Identify and preserve greenspaces and corridors of high wildlife habitat and water quality value within the property and region around the property.
Building Planning The design of buildings are essential to developing sustainable patterns of behavior. Everything from lighting to composting food scraps must be considered. In this regard, the building designs should: •
Incorporate energy efficient design approaches for: o o o o o o
Heating/cooling Ventilation Building materials Appliances Lighting Cooking
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water use space Include efficient waste handling and recycling programs.
• Apply landscaping practices that minimize maintenance such as employing native or naturalized plants. • Use building materials that will not become hazardous waste or impossible to dispose of in an ecologically beneficial manner at the end of their useful life.
Development Planning Beyond the specific design of a structure, there is the issue of how it is all put together in a development or community. Where does the food come from? Where do the people work and play? How are the sustainable patterns of behavior extend into the larger community? Development designs and changes should: •
Protect the area’s sustainable resources.
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Encourage low impact transportation like walking, bicycling and the use of other forms of transportation that do not include internal combustion engines.
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Work with the contours of the land to avoid excessive mechanical land and soil movement, such as blasting and filling.
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Include recycling/composting centers and encourage exchange/reuse stations.
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Include support stations for forms of transportation that rely on alternative sources of energy.
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Include a multi‐purpose community/environmental education center.
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Include clustering of residences when possible.
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Minimize the use of impermeable surfaces for drives and parking lots.
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Continually look for opportunities to “re‐claim” previously degraded environments.
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Cluster structures and maximize open space.
Sustainable Resource Management – Components Habitat Sensitivity Sustainable resource management entails factoring in the wildlife habitat of an area and region. Managing land in a habitat‐sensitive way includes: • Not disturbing local wildlife populations by degrading sources of food, shelter, water and other components necessary for life. •
Protecting ecologically sensitive areas from all degrading impacts.
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Not posing threats to species directly or indirectly through increased air and water
pollution.
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Avoiding unnecessary increases in ambient noise levels in the area during and following changes in land use.
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Ensuring migratory species have access to habitual routes, food sources and breeding grounds.
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Maintaining corridors and greenspaces that will allow for the movement of plants and animals.
Native & Naturalized Plants & Natural Landscaping Sustainable resource management should provide the use of material and resources native to an area. Using native or naturalized plants reduces the need for special watering and ground preparation, while natural landscaping can help hold valuable topsoil. For this reason, native and naturalize plants and natural landscaping should: • Be used exclusively, except for special purposes areas such as agricultural lands, recreational use areas and certain work areas. • •
Encourage biological diversity, starting with the soil.
Minimize or eliminate the need for pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, minimize their use on special purpose areas mentioned above and promote the use of management practices and materials that, through their source and production process, are components of the Earth’s natural cycles.
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Use efficient irrigation and fertigation methods and practices.
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Maximize the use of integrated resource management.
Water Conservation Water is vital to all life, yet it is one of our most misused, mismanaged and misunderstood resources. We make deserts bloom year round and have expanded populations in areas that are running out of water. A water conservation program should: •
Utilize a rainwater collection or gray water system for watering grounds, flushing toilets and for other non‐drinking water uses.
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Minimize water usage by monitoring water usage and installing low‐flow devices.
• Evaluate sustainable yields for the lowest flow periods of supply and design to accommodate those periods. • Recapture and re‐utilize water resources. • Integrate native and naturalized plants that are biologically appropriate for the geographic region.
Waste Management The first goal of waste management should be to not generate waste to start with. We must rethink how we purchase and consume goods. To the extent that waste is generated, the following should apply: • Solid and hazardous waste must be reduced, recycled or reused whenever possible. Continuously monitor and assess how much solid and hazardous waste is generated. • Non‐recyclable wastes must be disposed of in an environmentally sensitive manner. Periodically review waste reduction strategies and recycling methods used. • Compost all organic wastes. • Explore low capital, low maintenance alternatives for wastewater treatment systems.
Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Sources Nothing short of weaning ourselves from non‐renewable sources of energy is sustainable. Until that time we should all attempt to use the following sources of energy if available: 1. Explore the utilization of: •
Solar – (Direct use of the sun and photovoltaics)
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Wind power
• Geothermal power • Wave and tide generated power • Hydro‐electric power Clean burning fuels 2. Minimize consumption of non‐renewable resources while more energy efficient sources are being developed. 3. Include energy efficient technologies in manufacturing, building design and transportation.
Transportation To move toward sustainability we should: •
Encourage the expanded use of public transportation.
• Encourage and utilize low‐impact transportation by providing sidewalks, walking trails and bicycle paths. • Ensure the availability of energy efficient public transportation to new areas of development and city centers. • Reduce cross‐country transportation of goods by diversifying local resources. •
Encourage infrastructure changes that support the use of more energy efficient technologies in vehicles (such as electric battery charging stations).
Agriculture and Food Reaching sustainability must include sustainable agriculture practices and policies. Therefore, we should: • Protect prime agriculture production areas. • Promote regional food self‐sufficiency. • Improve the efficiency of low input farming methods. • Improve irrigation and drainage systems. • Integrate livestock management with food crop and vegetative management to improve soil fertility. • Encourage the use of integrated pest management (IPM) practices at all farms and agriculture facilities. • Explore the use of greenhouse farming. • Increase the use of aquaculture. www.isc‐audubon.org