Oregon Conservation Strategy, February 2006
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 19
Urban landscapes can support diverse and valuable habitats for fish and
wildlife,andtherearesuccessfulexamplesofcommunitiesthroughout
Oregonweavinggreenspacesandhabitatintotheirplanninganddevel-
opment.Thesehabitatsarehometomanycommonspecies,butmay
alsobeimportantforspeciesatrisk,includingsomeoftheStrategy
Speciesdescribedinthisdocument.Streamandrivercorridors,nature
parks,andhomesandbusinesseslandscapedwithnativevegetationall
providehabitatwithinanurbansetting.
EveryOregoniancancontributetotheconservationofwildlifeand
habitatsintheirownbackyardorneighborhood.Creatingbackyard
habitat,or“Naturescaping”,providesimportantplacesforwildlifeto
feed, nest, and find shelter from the weather. People can also help by
volunteeringforrestorationprojectsintheirlocalparks.
AscitiescontinuetogrowinOregon,incorporatingnaturalresources
intotheinfrastructureofdevelopmentandcommunityopenspaceswill
helpensurethatwildlifecansurviveandthrive.Theabilityforpeople
tointeractwithwildlifeintheirownbackyardorneighborhoodalso
contributestotheirunderstandingofthevalueofthenaturalworld,
connectspeopletothewatershedtheylivein,andimprovesthequality
oflifeOregoniansenjoy.Urbanhabitatsarediscussedinmoredetailon
pages65to69.Importantconservationactionsforurbanareasinclude:
Planforgrowthanddevelopmenttoincorporatetheprotection
oflarge,functionalandconnectedhabitatsas“greeninfra-
structure.”
Considerarangeofprogramoptionsandtrade-offsforhabitat
andurbandevelopment,incorporatingeconomic,social,envi-
ronmentalandenergycriteria.
Usemultipletoolstomeetconservationgoals,whichcanin-
cludeplanning,restoration,acquisition,on-the-groundactions,
grants, education/information, property tax reduction programs,
technicalassistance,volunteerprograms,andrecognition
programs.
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Integrate fish and wildlife habitat conservation and restoration
intoothernaturalresourceconservationefforts(e.g.,water
qualityprograms,openspaceacquisitions).
Whenplanningredevelopmentprojects,lookforopportunities
to restore habitats, increase connectivity and improve floodplain
function.
Incorporatehabitatfeaturesandfunctionsintothebuiltenvi-
ronment(wildliferoadcrossings,rooftopgardensandnests,
artificial habitat structures).
Promote“Naturescaping”andlandscapingwithnativeplants.
Preventtheintroductionofthosenon-nativespecieswithhigh
potentialtobeinvasiveandcontrolpriorityinvasives.
Integrateinformationabouthabitatsandspeciesfromstateand
federalnaturalresourceagenciesandconservationgroupsinto
localandregionalplanningefforts.
Learnabouteffectsofurbanizationonwatershedsandtest
managementactions.Considerandusenewinformationasit
becomesavailable.
Increaseunderstandingofhowurbansystemscanbedesigned
to help sustain fish and wildlife populations with a high level of
publicsupportandinvolvement.
EducateresidentsaboutOregon’snaturalheritage,showpeople
real-worldexamplesofimportanthabitatsandprojects,and
buildanappreciationthatwillleadtocitizenactionsandsup-
portforconservation.
Recognizethepositivecontributionsthatindividuals,businesses
andindustryhavemadelocally.
Promoteprogramsdesignedtomanagestormwatersoitclosely
mimics natural flow patterns and cleanses runoff before it is
releasedtonaturalwaterbodies.Discouragedumpinginto
stormdrains.
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A Place for People and Wildlife: Conservation in Urban Areas Summary
Photo©BruceNewhouse
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Strategy for Action: Summary and First Steps
20
Workacrossmultiplejurisdictions,recognizingtheuniqueness
ofeachlocalcommunityandtheneedsofvariouslandown-
ers.Seekmethodstoachievecooperationandcoordination.
Promotetheexchangeofinformation.
Supporthabitatimprovementprojectsgearedtowardsthe
needs,opportunitiesandhighlevelofpublicinterestincarrying
out environmentally beneficial projects in urban areas.
Createcost-sharefundingopportunitiesforconservation
planningandprojectimplementation.Providetechnicaland
financial support for projects.
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Supportandexpandexistingprogramstoprovideproactive,
seasonally-appropriateinformationonpreventingandresolving
conflicts with wildlife.
Considerimpactstooff-channel,shallowwaterandin-stream
habitatwhileprovidingrecreationopportunities.
Monitorchangeinurbanecosystemsusingbroad-scaleindica-
torsinurbansettings.
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Land Ownership
U.S.FishandWildlifeService
U.S.ForestService
BureauofLandManagement
NationalParkService
OtherFederal
StateLands
ParksandRecreation
Forestry
FishandWildlife
OtherStateandLocalGovernment
TribalLands
Private
Federal Ownership State Ownership Tribal Lands
Private Ownership
EcoregionBoundary
CountyBoundary
Data Source: Oregon Department of Forestry, 2004