Wildlife
and Botany
The wildlife
and botany program develops conservation plans and manages
flora and fauna resources. These include Federally listed
endangered and threatened species such as the bald eagle,
Red cockcaded woodpecker (RCW), woodstork, and smooth purple
coneflower. The RCW recovery effort at SRS has been
very successful. In 1985, there were 4 RCWs at SRS; today,
there are over 150. Species of special concern
to South Carolina, or those that are good indicators of ecosystem
management are monitored. Several thousand acres are
surveyed annually to locate endangered or sensitive populations.
Partnerships
are an important part of this program. Monitoring of
migratory nesting birds is conducted under an agreement with
Clemson University, and the RCW recovery effort is done in
partnership with the Southern Research Station. Also
included in this program are the wetland mitigation banking
and other ecological restoration plans (e.g. longleaf savannah
community). The wildlife and botany staff collaborates
with researchers on conservation and ecological projects,
provides operational priorities, and reviews USFS-SR sponsored
research. The following are services that this program
provides to partners and SRS cooperators:
- Biological
evaluations for environmental restoration, proposed SRS
facility areas, and other projects. The impacts from
new site operations are assessed on a project level to meet
the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.
- Control
of damaging animals, particularly feral hogs and beavers.
Feral hogs damage or destroy regeneration and native plants.
Beavers are trapped in locations where they threaten the
integrity of facilities, roads and other structures.
- Assistance
in identifying opportunities and developing cost-effective
plans for wetlands (e.g. mitigation banking), and ecological
and species restoration projects.
- Recovery
plans and management for endangered species. Management
and research activities are currently focused on the RCW.
Databases for endangered, threatened, and sensitive plants
and animals are also maintained.
- Technical
and management direction for deer hunts, including population
estimates and recommendations on hunt strategies.
Habitat improvement projects for deer, turkey, quail, and
fish are also conducted.
RETURN
TO TOP
|
