Primary Map 3:
Undeveloped Habitat Blocks
Background Information:
"Large blocks" are relatively unbroken areas of habitat that include forest, grassland/agricultural land, and wetlands. "Unbroken" means that the habitat is crossed by few roads, and has relatively little development and human habitation.
If we want to maintain habitat for animals that have large home ranges, such as bear, bobcat, fisher, and moose, and other animals that are sensitive to human disturbance, such as upland sandpipers and wood thrushes, we need to conserve larger blocks of forest or grassland, or wetland habitat. Blocks between 1 and 19 acres are home to species typical of urban and suburban landscapes (e.g., raccoons, skunks, and squirrels). Blocks of 50 acres of grassland or 250 acres of forest begin to provide habitat for birds that are uncommon in smaller grasslands and forests. These birds may include grassland species such as the upland sandpiper and grasshopper sparrow and forest species such as the veery and scarlet tanager. Moose, bald eagles, goshawks and similar species usually require 500 to 2,500 acres, while blocks of greater than 2,500 acres may hold the full complement of species expected to occur in Maine. Refer to A Response to Sprawl: Designing Communities to Protect Wildlife Habitat and Accommodate Development and Conserving Wildlife in Maine's Developing Landscape included in your BwH binder for more detail on species specific large block requirements.
In some parts of Maine, one landowner may own an entire large habitat block but more typically, several or many landowners' properties combine to create a single large undeveloped block. Because development quickly fragments these multi-owner blocks of habitat, many towns are in danger of losing their last opportunities to conserve large blocks of habitat.
Data Components:
- Undeveloped Habitat Blocks identified by buffering improved roads and developed areas by 500 feet.
- Development Buffers representing the 500 foot buffer on either side of roads and around developed areas.
- Land Use/Land Cover Categories that are divided into agricultural lands, forest lands and interior forest lands (which may be in various stages of succession), and wetlands as well as other land use/land cover types. Wetlands are defined by the presence of certain plant species, soil types, or the length of the year they are covered with water.
In addition, Map 3 includes an inset map showing a regional view of undeveloped blocks sizes.
Strategies for Local Action:
- Set some goals: each town should strive to maintain at least several 250-500 acre blocks of undeveloped land and, where they still exist, at least some 500-1000 and 1000+ blocks of habitat. In addition, towns should work together with neighboring towns to conserve 5000 - 10,000 acre blocks of habitat in their region. Only in such blocks of land will many species find the home ranges they need to breed, travel, and protect themselves.
- Update your town's comprehensive plan to include policies on protecting undeveloped habitat blocks. After the update is completed, make sure an implementation committee is formed to make any necessary zoning ordinance changes. Comprehensive plan policies and potential ordinance changes should focus on opportunities to protect existing large blocks and corridors that may connect them as part of overall growth accomodation. See the BwH Toolbox sections on Comprehensive Planning and on Land Use Ordinance Tools for more information.
- Inventory local parcels of land that could, in combination with other private or public lands, be considered important undeveloped blocks of habitat on a local scale. Acknowledge these lands in the town's comprehensive plan. Where they are distant from local services like sewers and fire stations, include these significant blocks of habitat within designated rural areas, away from which most future development is to be directed.
- Conduct outreach to landowners who might benefit from a "current use" tax status. Suggest they examine estate and tax planning with a local land trust in order to conserve large parcels of land they own. Information on "current use" tax programs can be found in the BwH Toolbox.
- Meet cooperatively with neighboring towns, land trusts, and conservation organizations to explore the conservation of large blocks of habitat across political boundaries.
- Review your standards for the construction of private roads to create building lots. Do these roads extend into large undeveloped blocks of habitat? What are the impacts of these roads and the companion buildings on wildlife habitat? Consider prohibiting or restricting the length of these private roads so new building lots do not unnecessarily fragment remaining large blocks of habitat. For more information on road standards, see the BwH Toolbox.
- Explore opportunities to protect large undeveloped habitat blocks via conservation easement or fee ownership. Funds for acquisition can be raised through public appeal, appropriation of town funds, or application to private foundations or public funds (see the Financing Habitat Protection section of the BwH Toolbox for information on funding sources). At least three state agencies administer acquisition funds; contact the Department of Conservation about the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife about the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and the State Planning Office about the Land For Maine's Future Program. Contact the Maine Coast Heritage Trust and The Nature Conservancy about private land trust protection efforts. The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (622-5503) has a trust to own and manage high value game habitat. For more information on federal grants for land protection contact the USFWS Gulf of Maine Coastal Program. Contact your local land trust for additional fund raising support.
To learn more about specific strategies for local action, visit the Beginning with Habitat (BwH) Toolbox or contact BwH.
