Dear Ecolog,
I am working with a group of colleagues in the Province of Salta, Argentina to develop a strategy for improved hedgerow placement within agricultural fields, with the aim to support landscape connectivity for wildlife movement (large mammals, >5 kg) in an area facing rapid deforestation associated with soybean plantations. Provincial law requires approximately 20-35% of forest cover to be maintained on a property, dependent on the amount of land that is cleared. In response, farmers have been complying by the use of hedgerows, which are forest strips that are left within agricultural fields, typically used to reduce erosion problems (ranging between 25-200 m wide). Proponents of land clearing operations suggest that these same hedgerows serve as beneficial wildlife habitat and movement corridors, and declare that they confer conservation benefits that facilitate connectivity for wildlife. A masters thesis written by Mauricio Núñez-Regueiro of the University of Florida suggests the opposite is happening, and that the low occurrence of large mammals in these often narrow forest strips may mean that hedgerows, as configured now, are not in fact benefiting wildlife. We view the status quo practice of hedgerow placement as a mostly failed conservation strategy. While hedgerows serve an important function for farmers, improved placement and allocation of mandatory forest reserves should be addressed. We are working to develop a landscape-scale management plan for hedgerow/forest block placement within and between agricultural fields and properties, to improve the size and configuration of these hedgerows across the landscape, reduce edge effects, and better the chances that wildlife are able to inhabit or move through the forest blocks that remain after deforestation activities. Above and beyond our own literature review, I would like to ask for the advice of those with insights or experience with this type of question: What methods and/or publications would you recommend we consider? We are working in data poor conditions, in terms of availability of wildlife population studies. The methods we employ to develop a model will likely rely on the published literature to begin with. Field testing our approach will be a priority, but may not be an option from the outset due to time and resource constraints. I am aware that this question is complicated, dependent on species involved, land management objectives of private property owners and provincial authorities, etc. Thank you for your input. Best regards, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lorie Baker, M.S. Resource Conservation Fulbright-Hays Researcher, Argentina Research Affiliate- University of Montana, USA [email protected] Skype: LorieBaker81 Cel. Arg: 0387-5386404
