Evaluation Sourcebook (.pdf) - School of Natural Resources and ...

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THREATSEcological | Management | Social | Understanding or Attitudes | OrganizationalDISRUPTION OF SOIL QUALITY / FERTILITYSoil is the substrate that supports and influences thegrowth and biodiversity of plants and animals. Withouthealthy soil, plants do not receive water and nutrients andmicroorganisms do not recycle dead organic materialsback into basic nutrients. Healthy soils filter and protect water and air quality, as well assupport human health.What causes a disruption of soil quality? Anything that changes the structure or livingorganisms of the soil, such as:• Certain agricultural practices, including tilling, the use of heavy machinery, overfertilizing,under-rotating, etc.• Intense grazing• Destructive natural resource extraction, such as strip mining, clear cut logging, etc.• Heavy trail use• Stripping an area of vegetation• Invasive species, such as non-native earthworms and nitrogen-fixing plantsTo assess the extent of soil quality disruption you can track changes in the soil itself (seealso Soil structure, composition and fertility, p.48) or in the practices causing soilcompaction, erosion, fertility loss, etc.Sample evaluation questions and indicators 13X What is the severity of soil erosion and/or disruption of soil function? Distance from designated point tostream or river bankDepth of channels or gulliesSedimentation in streamsTopsoil depthSoil temperature, moisture, pH,water holding capacityDuff layer depth (decomposingorganic matter on soil surface)Percent ground coverChange in composition orappearance of vegetationAmount of microbial biomassAmount of soil organic matterAmount of respirationRate of decomposition of plantresidues“The nation that destroys itssoil destroys itself”Franklin Delano RooseveltFebruary 26 th , 1937COMPARED TO WHAT?In addition to looking at soil characteristicsover time, you could compare:• Different agricultural practices (no till vs.contour plowing vs. strip cropping vs.terracing, organic vs. conventional,mono-cultures vs. poly-cultures, etc.)• Different forestry management practices(clear-cutting vs. selective logging,skidders vs. no-skidders, monoculturesvs. poly-cultures, etc.)• Different grazing practices (differentgrazing intensity, stream buffers vs. nostream buffers, etc.)13 Many of these indicators were adapted from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services. For moreinformation see: http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/Ecosystem Management Initiative 122
INTRODUCTION OBJECTIVES THREATS ASSETS STRATEGIESX What is the extent of soil compaction? Soil bulk density (mass per volume)Amount of area use by heavy machinery (from construction, logging,military activities, etc.)The amount of foot/bike traffic using trailsX What is the extent of nutrient loading on the soil? The amount fertilizer used within the project areaThe amount or percent of fertilizer used that is found in water runoffThe types of nutrients most commonly found in water runoffThe amount of volatile chemicals released into air after fertilizationX What is the extent of nutrient loss from over-harvesting? Change in the amount of nutrients in the soil after a harvesting episodeChange in leaching of nutrients (runoff) after a harvesting episodeWHAT DO EARTHWORMS INDICATE?In agriculture and gardens, where earthworms cycle nutrients and aerate the soil, they are seen asa direct measure of soil fertility. In northern temperate forests, however, earthworms (almost allexotic species in this area) seriously disrupt soil structure, microbes and plant communities.The extent of earthworm impact on forests can be measured by taking photos of the forest floor.You could also measure the sources of invasion: release of fishing bait, construction of forestroads, and relocation of soil, compost, etc. from an invaded area to a non-invaded area.Data sources• See Soil structure composition and function (p.48) ExampleArmstrong Redwoods Habitat Protection and Restoration Project – ArmstrongRedwoods State Reserve was being “loved to death” by the adverse effects of too manyvisitors using the reserve. The Restoration project aimed to restore soil health so thatredwood seedlings would be able to germinate, survive and grow into adult trees. Therestoration project first undertook a baseline study of the soil compaction near trail areas,then decided to mitigate the effects of soil compaction on trails by covering the soil withKORMAT – a plastic material that absorbs impact and pressure from foot traffic. They aremeasuring the success of this project by retesting the soil compaction of trails with andwithout KORMAT after two years. They hope to restore soil structure and the mycorrhizalfungi necessary for redwood seedling survival.For more information see http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=22249.Evaluation Sourcebook 123
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The Ecosystem Management Initiative
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SOCIAL OBJECTIVES..................
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SUPPORT OF KEY PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATI
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Ecosystem Management Initiative 2
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INTRODUCTIONSOURCES OF INFORMATION
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ECOLOGICALOBJECTIVESLandscape | Hab
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STRATEGIESRestore/Manage | Econ./Co
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STRATEGIESIntroductionHow well have
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p. 80 Kahn, Jason. Burns Park Schoo
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INDEXAcquisitions, 28, 31, 180Adapt
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