Bridging the gap between conservation delivery and economics with precision agriculture

McConnell, Mark D.

doi:10.1002/wsb.995

Cited by 28 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Mitigating modern agricultural practices to conserve emergent wetlands and increasing perennial cover is imperative to improving overwinter female pheasant survival. Successful widespread conservation of native perennial vegetation and emergent wetlands has been implemented as Farm Bill policy (McConnell 2019), particularly through the modern CRP legislation (Food Security Act of 1985). With general CRP enrollment limitations failing to meet demands in South Dakota (St. Pierre 2019), large‐scale conservation efforts to improve winter pheasant habitat are limited.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With general CRP enrollment limitations failing to meet demands in South Dakota (St. Pierre 2019), large‐scale conservation efforts to improve winter pheasant habitat are limited. Innovative conservation opportunities outside of CRP including precision agriculture or working lands conservation programs may supplement pheasant conservation efforts to increase perennial cover on the landscape by retiring agriculturally active landscapes into perennial cover (McConnell 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snow and land use alter pheasant survival in South Dakota

et al. 2022

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We examined survival of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) occupying fragmented landscapes within the Prairie Pothole Region in South Dakota, USA, where severe winter weather events historically limited pheasant population growth through increased mortality. Recent landscape transformations could further affect overwinter adult female survival by reducing critical winter resources. Assessing the influence of time-dependent landscape features on survival at small focal scales may reveal spatially important relationships. We captured and monitored 321 adult female pheasants from 2017-2019 and recorded 110 pheasant winter mortalities.Female pheasant winter survival was 0.66 (85% CI = 0.62-0.70) and was inversely correlated to snow depth. We generated Cox proportional hazard models to determine risk of mortality associated with landscape features. Pheasants using landscapes other than perennial cover (i.e., emergent wetland, tall vegetation, woody, food plots) experienced a 2.22 times greater risk of raptor predation than pheasants using perennial cover. Additionally, pheasants experienced a 58% reduced risk of weather mortality when using emergent wetlands. We analyzed resource selection ratios to understand how perceived landscape risks at the population level scaled down to land use selection at the individual level. Female pheasants selected for emergent wetlands, showed no selection for woody features, and avoided tall vegetation (non-aquatic herbaceous vegetation >75 cm) during severe winters. Pheasants would greatly benefit from conservation of emergent

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snow and land use alter pheasant survival in South Dakota

et al. 2022

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“…The missing ingredient is the next inspirational conservation leader(s), who could take us a step closer toward improving the balance of the human experience and natural resource sustainability. Visionary leaders must inspire a national environmental awareness coupled with sustainable market‐driven solutions for private lands (Echols et al , Keyser et al , McConnell ). Our work must be more strategic and adaptive (Burger et al , Riley et al ) and must better accountant for society's values and desires (Golden et al , Gamborg et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A state assessment of private lands wildlife conservation in the United States

et al. 2019

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Wildlife habitat in the United States is largely owned by private entities. Threatened and endangered species conservation and game-species hunting interests occur predominately on private lands. Our wildlife conservation history was characterized by eras of exploitation followed by conservation reactions. State wildlife agencies evolved through those eras as well. We sought to assess state wildlife agency investments in private lands conservation. We used a short survey to construct an index score designed to measure the state agency manpower commitment (%) as it relates to the composition of the state's private ownership (%). During 2019, we collected data about state wildlife agency participation in private lands program activities including cost-share, equipment loans, or free supplies (seed or herbicide). Our survey metrics showed Kansas, USA, was the national leader in its commitment to private land management. Several midwestern and western states were notably well-positioned to deliver private lands conservation relative to the nation. Our data show states are trending toward more effort on privately owned lands, but they continue to focus disproportionately more manpower on publicly owned lands or other priorities. Development of state wildlife agency commitments to private lands is a process characterized well by the Missouri Department of Conservation, USA. Expansion in conservation efforts on private lands will likely be linked to funding expansion that includes nonconsumptive users. We charge professionals to meet the conservation challenges of the 21st Century, they must invest significantly greater resources in private lands management through state wildlife agencies.

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“…Meaningful improvements in a broad suite of ecosystem goods and services, including water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat, come from increases in diversity of native plants in existing or new natural areas in rural landscapes (Fornara and Tilman 2008;Pérez-Suárez et al 2014;Schulte et al 2017). In those landscapes, policy makers and conservationists find promise for progress in areas where existing land use practices are mismatched with landowner goals for profitability or cost management (Muth 2014;McConnell and Burger 2016;McConnell 2019). Here, we explore one such area: managed turfgrass monocultures (hereafter lawns).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Financial Analysis of Converting Rural Lawns to Pollinator Habitat in the Corn Belt

Janke

Tyndall

Bradbury

2021

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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Conservation efforts in rural landscapes seek to improve the multifunctional nature of land uses for people and the biotic communities that support them. In these environments, existing turf grass lawns mowed routinely thorough the summer presents an opportunity where changes in management from intensively managed monocultures toward diverse native perennial vegetation can stack environmental benefits by improving soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Conversion of lawns to pollinator habitat can help achieve continental goals of reversing declines in high-profile species like monarch butterflies Danaus plexippus and native bees. Here, we present a study that examines the financial implications for landowners and managers considering conversion of lawns to pollinator habitat in rural landscapes. We examined financial factors over a 10-year management horizon in three unique scenarios with a range of expenses; self-maintenance of lawns, contracted maintenance of lawns, and establishment and management of pollinator habitat. Our analyses indicate conversion to pollinator habitat was appreciably less expensive ($54-$167/acre/year) than continued self-care ($637-$1,007/acre/year) or contracted care ($326-$1034/acre/year) of lawns over a 10-year period. These results establish the financial benefits for landowners or land managers considering an alternative management paradigm of existing lawns. These financial benefits complement existing literature demonstrating multiple ecological benefits of diverse native perennial vegetation.

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Bridging the gap between conservation delivery and economics with precision agriculture

Cited by 28 publications

References 55 publications

Snow and land use alter pheasant survival in South Dakota

Snow and land use alter pheasant survival in South Dakota

A state assessment of private lands wildlife conservation in the United States

Financial Analysis of Converting Rural Lawns to Pollinator Habitat in the Corn Belt

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