Central Wisconsin Basin Partnership White Paper on issues related to Vegetation Management

The focus of the Central Wisconsin Basin Partnership's ad-hoc vegetation management committee is to identify issues of concern related to terrestrial ecosystems. The term vegetation management, as used in this context contains three basic idea and these are:

I. Ecological Capability: The ability of an area to support certain types of plants and animals, and human use of the area.

II. Biological Diversity:
Biological diversity or biodiversity means all life forms, the places they live, and the processes that support them. Biologically diverse ecosystems have many complex linkages among a wide variety of plants and animals and their physical and chemical environments.

III. Sustainability:
The management of terrestrial ecosystems to meet the needs of people today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

There are several types of communities that are in decline in Wisconsin for reasons such as development of homes, businesses, farms, industry, and roads, lack of land management education and ethics, and economics. These communities include woodlands, savannahs, grasslands, and wetlands. Some of the major issues relevant to these communities include, improved management of private lands that includes education efforts and communication improvements; integration across land ownership; lack of baseline inventory data or compilation of existing facts and data; economics which include crops and recreation potential; invasive species, endangered resources; fragmentation and loss of community.

Woodlands --a community where trees form closed stands or provide more than 50% canopy (Curtis). Management of private lands is an issue where education that teaches stewardship ethics, ecological system types, and provides resources for landowners, both technical and financial is lacking. Improved communication exchange among stakeholders that include surveys will help improve private land management as well. The economic concerns for woodlands are high. Invasive species such as the gypsy moth, buckthorn, and garlic mustard need to be addressed in addition to endangered species like the Karner blue butterfly, eastern massassauga rattlesnake, black locust, and timber wolf. Fragmentation and loss of this community regarding both the types of species and diversity of species is of concern.

Savannahs-a community where trees are a component but where their density is so low that it allows grasses and other herbaceous vegetation to become the actual dominants of the community (Curtis). The need for inventory for pre-settlement historic information versus current information for both public and private lands is lacking and/or needs to be compiled into one document. The economic concerns for savannahs are of medium concern. Invasive species such as spotted knapweed, Kentucky bluegrass, and leafy spurge need to be addressed along with endangered species such as the Karner Blue butterfly, eastern massassauga rattlesnake, Kirtland’s warbler, regal frittilary, and woolly milkweed. Fragmentation and loss of this community is an important concern.

Grasslands -- an open area covered by low-growing plants, dominated by grass like species of which at least one-half are true grasses, and with less than one mature tree per acre (Curtis).The need for pre-settlement historic information versus current information for both public and private lands is again, lacking. Economics for grasslands include the dairy industry and recreational activities such as birding with a medium level of concern. Invasive species such as smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and spotted knapweed are of significance. The endangered species of prime concern include prairie chickens, Henslows sparrow, and the upland sandpiper. Again, both fragmentation and loss of grasslands need to be addressed.

Wetlands -- a community where water is at, near, or above the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation and which has soils indicative of wet conditions (Wisconsin Statutes 23.32(1)). Economics for wetlands can be of high concern because of issues such as flood management, cranberry industry, filtering functions, and sometimes, wild rice production.Invasive species in wetlands include purple loosestrife, Eurasian milfoil, reed canary grass, and narrow leaved cattails (typha angustifolia).Specific endangered communities or species include sedges, calcareous fens, and mussels. Wetland communities suffer from fragmentation and loss.

Stakeholders involved in vegetation management issues and concerns include the following: NRCS, Land Trusts, public agencies/local governments/municipalities, industry such as forestry, cranberry, real estate, and recreation based, non-profit environmental organizations such as Sierra Club, Audubon, Trout Unlimited, Wisconsin Wetland Association, Chambers of Commerce, educators, politicians, university faculty and staff, utilities, and agriculture such as vegetables, dairy, and cranberry.

What can be done?
At first glance, these issues are overwhelming and people may feel that anything they do will not make a difference. But there are projects that can help lay groundwork for more noticeable efforts such as the following:

Inventory fact gathering for the basin/compilation or a “Natural Resource Basin Inventory” to include historic and trend data.

Invasive species “task force” or a “white paper”. This could include gathering current information/activities/programs, identifying specific species, prioritizing, and education initiatives.

Initiative to increase use of school forests.

Brochure specific to community type and management methods produced by the Central Wisconsin Basin Partnership.

A demonstration site such as restoring native grasses in the Buena Vista area.

Survey of interested stakeholders and current projects.