Thumbs up for upland habitat
“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish these natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children.”
Theodore Roosevelt could not have put it in any better way. This country that we live in is your land, and it is my land. It is where we dwell, where we work, where we survive. Without it, where would we be? Who would we be? That is why preserving our land and its resources is so important. Taking measures to preserve our land allows us to continue to use and enjoy our land, while also ensuring that its resources are still available for future generations. This land is yours, and it is mine, but it is also our kids’ land. Why would we take it from them?
There are many areas in which the land can be preserved, whether in regards to farmland, forests, soil health, or wetlands. One area that I think is often overlooked, however, is upland preservation. Upland preservation focuses on preserving the land that is not considered a wetland area. The National Park Service describes the uplands as being land areas that are above the elevation where flooding usually occurs, such as grasslands, scrublands, woodlands, forests, etc. These areas are not necessarily mountainous, just simply are not aqueous. Uplands provide vital habitats for various wildlife species, especially upland game birds such as ring-necked pheasants and bobwhite quail.
As stated above, some of the kinds of uplands are grasslands. If you have walked at any of the parks owned by the Ashland County Park District, maybe you have noticed some bright orange Pheasants Forever habitat signs placed in grassy fields around some parks. These grassy areas are reserved as habitat areas for local wildlife to live in. These areas are usually planted with native grasses that local wildlife rely on, which provides the wildlife with a food source, along with a habitat. You may have also seen fields with native wildflowers that are reserved as pollinator habitats. Similarly, the pollinator habitats provide useful resources to pollinators such as monarch butterflies who rely solely on certain native species for survival. Reserving areas as habitats is an important part of upland preservation because it supports wildlife survival. Protecting the wildlife populations helps to ensure that the wildlife will continue to be around for future generations to utilize and enjoy.
An example of how upland preservation is important can be seen with the ring-necked pheasant. The pheasant was introduced to the United States in the 1800s and now serves an important role as a game bird. Not only that, the diet of the pheasant, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), includes seeds, insects, ragweed, poison ivy, sumac, bittersweet, and much more. The pheasant has become a very useful part of the American landscape. However, the pheasant populations in America have been declining because of a loss of habitat.
ODNR describes the pheasants as being “a bird of agriculture edges” because they favor soils that are rich in nutrients and organic matter. Pheasants usually live where there is adequate cover that is available for nesting and where there is food available during the winter months. The pheasants were able to thrive near farmlands because their habitat needs were met. Changing practices and development, though, have affected the survivability of pheasants in America. ODNR writes that, “Following World War II, decades of change in agriculture practices and urban development eliminated or degraded the fallow fields, fence rows, and field dividers where this popular game bird was found.” A way to help increase the pheasant populations is by providing habitats for the pheasants to live in. Upland preservation is a way to provide these habitats by restoring the land that may have been lost or degraded.
Ring-necked pheasants are just one example of how upland preservation is beneficial to wildlife. There are plenty of other benefits with preserving the uplands. Interested in learning more about what upland preservation is or what exactly an upland is? Join us August 19th at the Ashland County Park District’s Avian Acres Farm Park in Jeromesville for “A Day in the Uplands.” At this free event, participants can learn from various organizations such as Pollinator Partnership, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, ODNR Division of Wildlife, and more. These organizations will be talking about wildlife habitat projects that can be implemented on private lands, along with possible cost share opportunities that are available. Reservations are required by August 11th and can be made by calling the Ashland SWCD at (419) 281-7645. We hope to see you there!
