Sustainable Habitat Restoration
Native plant habitat may support over ten times the number of native animals than habitat made up of invasive and exotic vegetation. Safe Harbor believes in reconnecting fragmented buffer zone and resource area habitats. Habitat restoration efforts should be site specific. A realistic 3-4 year plan should include monitoring and invasive plant management. Inland sites have better predictability than coastal sites.
Inland restoration should begin by controlling any up slope storm water sheet flow. Create a temporary zero discharge perimeter with biologs and silt fencing. The next step will be to spread thin, indigenous compost and mulch layers over the barren or disturbed area. These layers should mimic and connect adjacent habitat soil profiles. Native top cover is added and jute netting can be used in windy or sloped areas. We recommend discouraging uniformity, allowing randomness to create microhabitats, which contribute to biodiversity. We also recommend a full spectrum of techniques for re-establishing native vegetation systems: seeding; transplanting; plugs and plantings. Restored native vegetation will increasingly reduce erosion. The root/stem/leaf system will remove sediment and excess nitrogen. Native Habitat Restoration restores natural percolation of storm water to the ground water table.
Watering may be necessary during prolonged periods without rain, during the first growing season. Some plants may die and some new plants may become established. By the second and third year, the system will gain an increasing sustainability. Sustainable habitat never needs mowing, watering, fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Sustainable restoration systems should be designed with linkage to existing habitat, through plant succession.
Contact Gordon Peabody with your questions, gordonsafeharbor@yahoo.com
