USDA PRACTICE (acre), 645 Establish additional criteria for components of DEFINITION this practice including, but not limited to: Provide and manage upland habitats and vegetation establishment for shelter, food connectivity within the landscape for wildlife. and to enable movement; manipulation of vegetation to sustain desirable habitat conditions over time. Plant material specifications shall include only high quality and adapted species. Site preparation, planting dates, and planting methods shall optimize vegetation survival and growth. Equipment travel, grazing, haying and other A disturbance to habitat shall be restricted during critical periods such as nesting, brood rearing, CONDITIONS WHERE APPLIES fawning or calving seasons. Land where the decision maker has identified Control of regulated noxious weeds and an objective for conserving a wild animal invasive plants shall be specified. species, guild, suite or ecosystem. Habitat Appraisal or Habitat Evaluation: Land within the range of targeted wildlife The appraisal or evaluation procedure shall be species and capable of supporting the desired used to determine habitat suitability and result habitat. in a quality rating or habitat suitability index (hsi) (this is the score obtained by performing CRITERIA WHEG) for each of habitat elements Food, General Criteria Applicable to all Purposes Water Cover/Shelter and Fragmentation of Space. This will consider the type, amount, An approved Arizona WHEG (Wildlife Habitat and distribution of habitat elements required. If Evaluation Guide) found in Section III of the evaluation indicates a level below the FOTG, shall be used to identify habitat-limiting acceptable quality of 0.5, alternatives will be factors in the planning area. recommended that will result in the necessary Application of this practice shall remove or changes in habitat elements or their reduce limiting factor(s) in their order of management to bring the rating up to the significance, as indicated by results of the minimal acceptable of 0.5 or above. habitat evaluation. If the evaluation is at the minimum or above, Application of this practice alone, or in alternatives will be recommended that will combination with other supporting and result in the necessary management to facilitating practices, shall result in a preserve, maintain or improve the existing conservation system that will enable the habitat in its present state or toward optimum planning area to meet or exceed the minimum conditions. quality criteria for wildlife habitat established in Section III of the FOTG.
USDA (acre), 645 DEFINITION Provide and manage upland habitats and connectivity within the landscape for wildlife. CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES Land where the decision maker has identified an objective for conserving a wild animal species, guild, suite or ecosystem. Land within the range of targeted wildlife species and capable of supporting the desired habitat. CRITERIA General Criteria Applicable to all Purposes An approved Arizona WHEG (Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide) found in Section III of FOTG, shall be used to identify habitat-limiting factors in the planning area. Application of this practice shall remove or reduce limiting factor(s) in their order of significance, as indicated by results of the habitat evaluation. Application of this practice alone, or in combination with other supporting and facilitating practices, shall result in a conservation system that will enable the planning area to meet or exceed the minimum quality criteria for wildlife habitat established in Section III of the FOTG. Establish additional criteria for components of this practice including, but not limited to: vegetation establishment for shelter, food and to enable movement; manipulation of vegetation to sustain desirable habitat conditions over time. Plant material specifications shall include only high quality and adapted species. Site preparation, planting dates, and planting methods shall optimize vegetation survival and growth. Equipment travel, grazing, haying and other disturbance to habitat shall be restricted during critical periods such as nesting, brood rearing, fawning or calving seasons. Control of regulated noxious weeds and invasive plants shall be specified. Habitat Appraisal or Habitat Evaluation: The appraisal or evaluation procedure shall be used to determine habitat suitability and result in a quality rating or habitat suitability index (hsi) (this is the score obtained by performing WHEG) for each of habitat elements Food, Water Cover/Shelter and Fragmentation of Space. This will consider the type, amount, and distribution of habitat elements required. If the evaluation indicates a level below the acceptable quality of 0.5, alternatives will be recommended that will result in the necessary changes in habitat elements or their management to bring the rating up to the minimal acceptable of 0.5 or above. If the evaluation is at the minimum or above, alternatives will be recommended that will result in the necessary management to preserve, maintain or improve the existing habitat in its present state or toward optimum conditions. A
645stdaz2010.docx