Sweetbear Sugar

sweetbear sugar The use of sugarcane production for wildlife conservancy

sweetbear sugar The use of sugarcane production in wildlife conservancy

Hagan Doyle, Aidan Gallaugher, and Seth Winkler

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fragmentation agricultural and anthropogenic development

35% bottomland hardwood

statewide forest cover

45%

agriculture

40%

the introduction of agriculture across the globe has created many issues for a plethora of species but the coastal sub-population of black bear has suffered greatly from the practices of agriculture and other anthropogenic activity in southern louisiana. agriculture and anthropogenic development has plagued this area with numerous examples of the fragmentation of landscapes and habitats. the deforestation that came along with development is what truly destroyed these habitats. sugarcane makes up the majority of this agriculture in southern parts of louisiana which provides a promising opportunity for the reconnection of these louisiana black bear sub-populations.

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culture of farming

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agricultural matrix

sugarcane

$1,100,000,000/yr 400,000 acres

soybeans

$880,900,000/yr 1,400,000 acres

rice

$450,000,000/yr 1,400,000 acres

corn

$296,000,000/yr 390,000 acres

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sugarcane

1800 - 1860

1795

1700’s

timeline

The Jesuits begin to establish missions across the Americas as part of the expansion of the Spanish and French colonies. They brought sugar cane to Louisiana in 1751.

Jean Etienne de Bore (first mayor of New Orleans) produces the first successful sugar crop to make raw sugar.

Cultivation of sugar in southern Louisiana was at its highest rate in history.

Slavery played a large role in the success of the early production of sugarcane. With an average yield of 16-20 tons/acre. This made

1920 - present

1880 - 1910

1865 - 1880 After the Civil War, the abolishment of slavery posed a major threat to the production rate on sugarcane farms at that time.

With the loss of slavery, nearly all forms of agriculture needed an innovative solution through technology in order to grow as an industry. The three roller mill was a catalyst in the innovation of agriculture.

In the early 1920’s Sugarcane was plagued with the Sugarcane Mosaic Virus (SCMV) which caused a near collapse in the industry. Once the disease was eradicated in the late 1920’s the steady increase in the the production and success of sugarcane in Southern Louisiana was restored.

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sugarcane in louisiana Since its introduction to Louisiana in 1751, sugarcane has had massive effects on the landscape and the economy. Sugarcane contributes $2.2 billion annually to the Louisiana economy spanning 400,000 acres in 22 parishes involving more that 17,000 employees in its production and processing. Although Sugarcane is not the most expansive crop in the state, it is the highest yielding. Louisiana cane yields range from 30-50 tons per acre per season producing 180-240 pounds of sugar from each ton; nearly half of the nation’s annual cane crop. This production rivals tropical regions to the south reknown for sugarcane farming reinforcing the importance of this local industry.

As bottomland hardwood was eradicated to make way for agriculture and development, the Louisiana black bear was forced to assimilate to this new ecological mosaic of urbanization. Bears in this southern coastal population have begun to use sugarcane as a corridor to travel unseen through urban areas. This graphic portrays the correlation between bear and vehicle collisions and sugarcane fields along major roadways.

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planting and processing sugarcane harvesting

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agro corridors While agricultural growth has put the Louisiana Black Bear at a greater risk of death, it can also rebuild a dwindling population by providing habitat connectivity through strategic harvesting strategies. Sugarcane is Louisiana’s most profitable “cash crop” and is centralized in southern Louisiana where an isolated black bear population is struggling to restore its home range.

By working with sugarcane farmers and local government, an acreage designation plan can be implemented that allows a certain percentage of crop to be unharvested and used as a corridor for the coastal bear population to be connected with the Upper Atchafalaya bear habitat.

Also, by using the image of the black bear to rebrand the sugar harvested from these farmers, the product itself can raise awareness about protecting Louisiana’s state mammal while providing additional revenue for the participating farmers.

The Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americans luteolus) once had a home range throughtout Louisiana, east Texas, and southern Mississippi. Due to development, agriculture, and poaching, the bear population has now been fragmented along the western edge of the Mississippi River.

Historically, there were 20 million acres of Bottomland Hardwood forest at the base of the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley. By 1980 that shrunk to 5 million due to development and agriculture.

SWEET BEAR SUGAR ate s don armer e to f a n g ia Louis their acrea rs f part o ear corrido b k c la b

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sugarcane growth bear movement 1

1

bottomland hardwood

2

highway 90

3

sugarcane growth bear movement

At the beginning of each October, farmers harvest thousands of sugarcane fields. By unharvesting a percentage of certain cane fields, bears can utilize this overgrowth as a protectected corridor to continue foraging for winter.

2

2

1

3 january-march

april-june

july-september

october-december jan-mar

5

apr-jun

1

jul-sep

10

oct-dec

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number of bear death on highway 90 over the past 24 years 5 deaths undated

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tracking mechanisms In order to track and study the bears in the corridor, special tools must be used. Game cameras will be used to photograph the bears as they travel. Barbed wire obstacles snag hair from bears that can be DNA tested and tracked to a single bear. Engineered sands capture footprints of animals leaving evidence of their presence.

game cameras

barbed wire

engineered sands

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wildlife crossings Allowing wildlife to safely and eďŹƒciently cross Highway 90 reducing roadkill and vehicular damage from collisions.

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structure fencing structure The fencing that encases the interstate is designed to be functional and informative. It’s main purpose is to lead wildlife to the crossing underpass, keeping them off of the road and out of harm’s way. The fencing’s secondary purpose is to peak the driver’s interest and provide an attractive indicator, informing them that they are approaching a unique area in the landscape.

highway overpass In elevating a highway overpass, we have created a wildlife underpass.

A wildlife underpass is the ideal scenario for this region, in comparison to a wildlife overpass. The soil here is too wet to dig a subsurface underpass, but elevating the interstate is still more cost effective than constructing an overpass because this design requires minimal interstate disturbance. Also, during construction, one lane can be left open for traffic, alleviating the need to close down the highway. Secondly, while some species like the grizzly bear are more inclined to travel on high ground such as an overpass, the black bear seems to have no preference between the two.

retention wall The retention wall also serves two purposes for the crossing. The wall retains fill required to elevate the interstate alleviating the need for the land to return back to it’s original grade which would require much more room, destroying forest. It also keeps wildlife off of the road as it reaches a maximum height of 12’ along the crossing.

exploded underpass diagram

fencing structure

highway overpass

retention wall

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vegetation Along the edges of the crossing, implimentation of bottomland hardwood and forage species will attract and encourage wildlife movement.

The areas of the crossing beneath the overpass were designed to recieve partial sunlight allowing for shade-tolerant plant species to grow, adding some vegetal density that black bears can use as cover.

wildlife corridor cross-section

existing bottomland hardwood

strategic agro-forestry

shade tolerant species

shadow studies 7:00am

9:30am

12:00pm

2:30pm

5:00pm

strategic agro-forestry

existing bottomland hardwood Calumet Crossings

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components

interactive lighting

Solar-powered lights will flash when the crossing is being used (see game cameras) drawing a connection between driver and wildlife, and presenting the public with visual evidence of the crossing’s importance.

signage

Posting signage along this stretch of Hwy 90 is an effective way to slow down drivers and increase their awareness. It also can increase public interest in the bear movement, local farmers, and Sweetbear Sugar.

fencing structure

The fencing structure is designed to capture the interest of drivers while keeping wildlife off of the road. It is made of 12’ long iron rods, 6” in diameter. It’s uniformity mimics crop rows in the agriculture fields surrounding the crossing that the black bear will navigate through to avoid human interaction.

ECOncrete

ECOncrete will be used for the retention walls. It is concrete that has been engineered to encourage biologic activity. It mimics natural surfaces such as rock or coral, increasing micro-scale bioiversity.

game cameras

Motion sensing cameras will photograph animals as they use the underpass allowing documentation and study of the wildlife and the crossing. When motion is detected, the cameras will take a series of pictures until that animal is out of range. Throughout each motion detection, the lights on the Sweebear Sugar sign will flash, informing drivers that wildlife is traveling through the underpass

vegetative strategy

A variety of plants species will be introduced along the crossing to increase it’s appeal to wildlife.

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fencing development Along highway 90 between Morgan City and Franklin a large number of black bear have been killed crossing the road during mating and foraging season. As part of our proposal, fencing along 90 between Calumet and Centerville can help reduce the number of bear mortality incidents by keeping the wildlife off of the highway until they reach the crossing structure. This allows the bears to roam along the forested side of the fence until they approach the crossing, which allows them to move freely across the highway.

This proposal hopes to allow gene flow to continue in the habitat by using minimal fencing only where most of the mortalities occur.

coastal bear habitat

forage/mate movement

infrastructure

highway 90 fencing

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fencing strategies barriers for reduced mortality The fencing design along highway 90 was based on form and function.

The fencing needed to be tall and sturdy enough to keep bears from climbing over yet keep its diaphanous qualities that make it aesthetically pleasing to on the highway.

While the curved red steel frame of the fence stands out against the bottomland hardwood behind it, the structure curves outward opening up the space along the highway.

The mesh design was inspired by stainless steel wire mesh fencing used in zoo habitats which is flexible yet durable against bigger mammals with a break strength of 700 pounds. This mesh also works great for climbing vine species, which when planted will have the added benefit of allowing the fence to become part of the landscape.

Vegetation along the roadside and fencing not only strengthens the aesthetics of the drive but provides rainwater management strategies.

section

plan

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fence ends and jumpouts Along each fence there are breaks or access roads. At these breaks the fencing will angle back slightly towards the intersecting road with electric mats running along the road. These mats give animals a mild shock to deter them from moving through. If animals do manage to get on the road side of the fence there are jumpouts located between these fence ends to allow wildlife to get back to the other side. These jumpouts act as elevated ramps that guide animals to safer ground.

fence ends

jumpouts

climb proof siding

The fence posts stand 9 ft tall above ground set 3 ft underground in a concrete footing. The footing sits on top of a lower gravel layer to allow water to drain underneath. 3ft tall chain link fence is place at a 45 degree angle under the fence as a dig barrier for wildlife trying to go under the fence.

7”

1/4”

tension cord t

r: 3 1/2”

3/4”

4”

brace band

flexible stainless steal cable mesh

post

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Throughout the design process, we needed to think of ways to promote black bear awareness within the area. An obvious choice was to use signs along the highway highlighting where black bear are found near the road the most. While street signage will alert drivers that they are entering the bear habitat, a bigger, more eye catching strategy can become part of the environment and attract visitors to the area. We proposed the idea of having “BLACK BEAR CROSSING� painted along the fencing mess as useful tactic to not only warn drivers, but incorporate the fence as a billboard alternative that becomes part of the landscape.

Since most bears move at night to stay hidden, the fence needed a lighting system to alert drivers at night. Downlighting made the space feel enclosed by somewhat spotlighting the area. By lighting the fence from the ground this is a more subtle lighting system that highlights the fencing, reduces the light in drivers eyes, and allows the light to fade out into the night sky.

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context strategy overview

crossing structure spots agro-forestry agricultural easement designated reforestation for a wildlife corridor 750’

1500’

3000’

direct

[-] sugarcane [+] forest

existing

transition

proposed

existing

transition

proposed

existing

transition

proposed

deter

[-] sugarcane [+] soybean

reconnect

[+] sugarcane [-] production

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direct

conservation easement

the first phase of this project would create the most disturbance to the existing conditions at the shadyside property. however, it would be the strongest argument to make this a conservation land trust project. a 300’ wide swath of land that stretches 1.5 miles from the existing forested land to the atchafalaya river basin. a conservation easement of this magnitude would create substantial tax breaks and potentially a form of environmental credits. while also involving the implementation of foraging species within the reforested corridor to provide the bears and other wildlife whether they are migrating or just increasing their caloric intake before the dormancy period. the coastal bear population would be provided with a thoroughfare that connects their current range with the southern end of the atchafalaya river basin. this would be a part of the network of strategies to connect the upper and lower atchafalaya black bear populations.

current conditions are a 300’ wide stretch of productive sugarcane land.

over time this area would be reclaimed for redevelopment of habitat.

implementing foraging species of overstory and understory would help to promote the presence the coastal bear population.

once the forest is established a corridor would be formed that stretches 1.5 miles from the properties existing forested areas to the atchafalaya river basin.

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deter

agricultural practice

as the bears and other wildlife move through the partially forested property there will be deterrents in place to keep them where they need to be. rather than fencing off every area that is deemed to be restricted to any bear activity, an agriculture strategy would be put in place to direct the bears. the black bear feels more comfortable with a prominent overstory and have already been seen walking through the tall fields of cane just before harvest. by slightly re-organizing the agriculture matrix with the production of the known low-growing soybean along the edge of the forest with a break at the opening of the corridor would encourage movement in the corridor. although, secondary fencing may be implemented temporarily for the initial encouragement to follow the forest to the corridor. theoretically, the bears would walk through an area that they find safer, but they will walk wherever they choose. this would be a cheaper solution than fencing and reforesting the area, it would create a profit continuing to use the land for agriculture by producing soybeans.

the existing forest is already frequented by the coastal bear poplulation. so leading them to a corridor should be fairly simple, in theory.

however, creating a vegetal deterrent rather that just fencing or clear cutting would be a valuable way to make use of existing agricultural land

agro-forestry is a viable option because it would create an environment in which the bears would not feel comfortable entering and would keep them in a dedicate corridor of sugarcane or forest

these strategies would only stretch for a few hundred yards so that the loss in productive agriculture would be less substantial. the agro-foresty strategy would then resume to the production of sugarcane.

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reconnect sugarcane easements

the final phase of this project will be the easiest to implement but the most difficult to gain support. rather than reforesting a large piece of productive agricultural land this would work as an agricultural easement in which sugarcane would still be produced but in order to promote the movement of the black bear population it wouldn’t be harvested until later in the season to maintain a protected corridor for the bears to move through until the beginning of their dormancy period. this sugarcane could then be harvested as either sugarcane or as byproducts. this sugar could then be marketed as a specialty sugar with our “sweetbear sugar” logo as a publicity spot for the farmer. giving the local sugarcane farmers the opportunity to be assosciated with a conservation effort would also help the local citizens to take ownership and pride of their coastal black bear sub-population. outreach is was problem with the support of the struggling black bear population. sugarcane has always had a very strong foothold in the agricultural production of this region. seeing the ones that are responsible for the economic success of a region take to a cause such as this would give the general public a reason to support the cause, as well.

the existing forest would lead to the opening at a corridor of tall sugarcane

this cane would be left later into the harvesting season to promote bear movement until their dormancy period.

this extended corridor would still be dedicated to sugarcane production. the production rates would decrease minimally due to the sugarcane staying later into the season and some of the cane losing some of its production value.

the stretch of sugarcane is nearly 2 miles long and twice the width of the proposed reforested corridor.

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Southern Louisiana is a region that has been heavily dependent on agriculture since its colonization in the 17th century.

Due to its distinct climate and environment, Louisiana has thrived for centuries as a hotspot for cultivation of multiple crops. With this development, industries grew and the population grew as well. With more and more urban development over the last 200 years, the Louisiana landscape is now just a small portion of what it used to be.

Louisiana sits at the base of the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley. Every day the Mississippi river deposits soils from 31 states into the Gulf of Mexico which has built the shape of Louisiana and provided an environment with one of the richest soil systems in the country. Once settlers began deforestation timber for development, they realized the soils were prime for producing crop and continued to practice. What was once a state of more than 20 million acres of Bottomland Hardwood forest, Louisiana now contains around 5 million acres spreading into east Texas and Mississippi.

With the deforestation of Bottomland Hardwoods, certain key species that thrived in that environment began to see a decline. Louisiana’s state mammal, the Louisiana Black Bear is one of these animals. one of sixteen subspecies of black bear, Louisiana’s black bear is a very distinct breed due to its evolution in the wetland regions. With agriculture continuing to grow, this depletes the black bears home range and is continuously putting the bear in contact with human interaction and a growing mortality rate.

While agricultural growth and anthropogenic disturbances put the black bear at a greater risk of death, it can also help rebuild the dwindling population by providing habitat connectivity through strategic harvesting strategies.. By working with private landowners and state government, we can link two patches of Bottomland/Cypress forests with wildlife conservation easements on agricultural land to create a corridor with minimal risk of human interaction. Sugarcane fields are the cornerstone of this plan. Sugarcane is Louisiana’s most profitable “cash crop” and is centralized in southern Louisiana where the most isolated bear population is struggling to re-establish its historical range. An acreage designation plan can be implemented that allows a small percent of sugarcane to be unharvested in late autumn that is set aside for black bear to travel through, connecting the bears range below Highway 90 with a breeding zone located in the North Atchafalaya River Basin.

With sugarcane being a dominant industry in south Louisiana, local farmers can help raise awareness about black bear conservancy within the state by advertising the production of corridors and bear migration on the products sold