Image credits: Mesh, Unsplash
Wildlife friendly management includes a variety of landscape management practices that seek to reduce human impacts to improve habitat quality by creating more naturalistic conditions. Practices can include reducing chemical inputs and minimizing vegetation maintenance to create greater habitat complexity.
Wildlife friendly management practices improve habitat quality by increasing habitat complexity and minimizing human disturbance and toxic exposure for wildlife. These practices have been tied directly to increases in biodiversity.
Wildlife friendly management strategies can lead to improved air quality and reduced exposure to toxic substances. Strategies include the reduction of chemical inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which contribute to cancer, birth defects, and other negative health impacts. Reduced use of mowers and leaf blowers improves air quality as well.
Safety concerns and cultural preferences for highly manicured greenspaces may necessitate more intensive practices that reduce value for wildlife. Selective pruning can allow for risk mitigation while still preserving habitat and lowering maintenance costs. In fire-prone regions, fire smart landscaping principles may require clearing of tree limbs, dead trees, and leaf litter.
