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Action Plan 9:
Protecting Bio-Diversity and Rare and Endangered Species Habitat
October 17, 2011 draft finalAbout the new Buzzards Bay CCMP Action Plans
The Buzzards Bay NEP is now updating our 1991 landmark Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to reflect the great progress achieved since that plan was finalized. It will include new or updated goals, objectives, and management solutions to meet the environmental needs for Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed throughout the next decade.
On this page is a draft action plan from the updated Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The text on this page is a public draft provided to invite comment and discussion of the subject by residents and stakeholders. It may contain goals and recommendations that have not yet been endorsed or approved by the Buzzards Bay Steering Committee. The views or information contained here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
We want your feedback on this action plan. First, please read the entire action plan Protecting Bio-Diversity and Rare and Endangered Species Habitat. Then at the bottom of this page click the "Rate the Goals and Objectives now" button to provide comments on each goal, objective and defined management approach contained in this Action Plan. Based on your feedback, we will update and revise all the action plans in the new CCMP.
Protecting Bio-Diversity and Rare and Endangered Species Habitat
Problem
The biodiversity of Buzzards Bay and its watershed, particularly populations of locally rare and endangered species, are threatened by habitat loss, alteration, and stresses caused by human activity and pollution discharges. Vital habitats include those that support locally rare plants and animals, wetlands, fish nursery and spawning areas, submerged aquatic vegetation, and shellfish beds. Protection of these areas can only be achieved by adequate evaluation of threatened species, mapping their habitat, enforcement of existing laws, adoption of new laws to create buffers around these habitats, and education of the public and government officials about their importance. Municipal conservation plans may be a key instrument to go beyond project permit review and to achieve more comprehensive and effective strategies to protect key wildlife habitat and to build necessary public support.
Issues and recommendations related to these habitats and resources are included in Action Plan 7: Protecting Wetlands, Action Plan 8: Restoring Migratory Fish Passageways, Action Plan 10: Managing water withdrawals to protect wetlands, habitat, and water supplies, Action Plan 11: Managing Invasive and Nuisance Species, and Action Plan 12: Protecting Open Space. This action plan addresses problems not discussed in those other action plans, particularly those issues relating to the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Goal
Goal 9.1. Conserve and protect vital fish and wildlife habitats of Buzzards Bay and in its surrounding watershed.
Objectives
Objective 9.1. Ensure that rare and endangered species areas and vernal pools continue to be mapped and this information made publicly available.
Objective 9.2. Ensure that rare and endangered species habitat is considered in the relevant permit review process.
Objective 9.3. Ensure that important biological and core habitat is protected and conserved.
Objective 9.4. Ensure that the public and government officials are aware of the importance of rare and endanger species and core bio-habitat through effective education efforts.
Solutions
The primary mechanism to permanently protecting the most important habitat in the Buzzards Bay watershed is the purchase or donation of lands for open space protection, or the purchase or donation of conservation restrictions. Municipalities (particularly conservation commissions) and area lands trusts must take action in both establishing priorities and goals in open space protection. To help set acquisition priorities, municipalities should update their open space plans to include priority habitat to ensure that the protection of rare and endangered species habitat remains a high priority for land acquisition and protection. To provide sufficient funds to meet municipal goals, all municipalities should consider adopting the Community Preservation Act.
The second most important strategy to protect rare and endangered species habitat is to map accurately these resources. In this regard, municipalities and non-profits should help map and certify vernal pools throughout the watershed. With technical oversight, citizen volunteers can be trained to map and gather the necessary information to certify vernal pools. Sites of investigation can be identified using the NHESP report of potential vernal pools in southeastern Massachusetts. Other important habitat types must be mapped by trained wetlands and wildlife biologists. Federal agency staff could provide some assistance to the state in such an effort.
Costs and Financing
Certain costs, like providing trained staff to help organize efforts to certify vernal pools, or update open space plans are relatively modest, and some free technical assistance could be provided by the Buzzards Bay NEP. However, the real cost associated with this action plan is the acquisition of open space and it would be easy for watershed municipalities to utilize several million dollars per year for open space protection. However, because much of the most desirable lands from an environmental protection point of view contains considerable areas of wetlands, they are often difficult to build upon, they often have the lowest costs per acre of lands available for sale.
Measuring Success
Several direct measures can be tracked for this action plan, with total acres of open space permanently protected being the most important. Other measures, like the number of vernal pools that have been certified are easy to track programmatically.
To fully understand the basis of these goals and objectives, and possible management approaches, please read the complete Protecting Bio-Diversity and Rare and Endangered Species Habitat Action Plan (October 17, 2011 draft final, pdf file).