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I I ` - that many areas of restored habitat, ~ w Edge Condition Desirable particularly where invasive species have ' ~ Promoting edge conditions in habitat converted one habitat type to another (for 1 ~ ~ •ff •°Y~ # restoration areas is considered a examplefrom open, native prairie to dense ~ • compatible and desirable management brush and emerging forest) will not seekto L technique to achieve both habitat, public replace the habitat function of the invasive ' ~ Figure 46 -GOOD Vegetation safety and recreation values. Edges are species, but replace it with a preferred i_: Management, known to be areas of high diversity and high habitat function in a native ecosystem. Many layers wildlife value, and are also reported to be High species diversity areas where wildlife viewing such as birding Understory Vegetation and Few invasive plants ' ~ Goodvisibili is most successful. Edge conditions ty Public Safety typically describe the transition area Public safety is one key concern related to between different habitat types such as habitat restoration, as well as vegetation Q grasslands and forest. They may also management in general. Overgrown ~ occur along roadways or trails, when fallen trees create openings in the forest, or vegetation is seen as creating potential U ~ ~o - - hidin laces for criminals and ille al ~ ~ ~ ~~y around small groves of trees in open areas camperpthat poses a threatto park users. ~ j I ~ (see Figure 6)• Crime Prevention Through Environmental i y~,;~ ^i ~ Design puts forth recommendations that ~ i y~ - , t(i ~ ~ Invasive Species include clearing dense vegetation and y~i j~ - • i' Invasive plant species, as described in restricting the height of vegetation in areas ~ earlier cha ters, are clear) the reatest P Y g used by pedestrians (paths, parking lots, threatto the health of native habitats to the restrooms etc.). However wholesale Figure 5b -GOOD Trail Safety > Perceived safety park. The removal of all invasive species clearing of vegetation and height limitations Fewer hiding places from habitat units is recommended. The are also viewed as counter to restoration proposed Habitat Inventorywill list invasive efforts. Some areas of dense vegetation . ~ species in the park and expand on the are required by certain species of birds and j general approach to removal described in animals for cover, nesting and forage.. How this plan, can this apparent conflict be resolved? ~ , j Invasive Species and Habitat Focus on Invasive Species Removal ' Function By concentrating on eliminating invasive Despite the fact that many animal and bird species, the question of dense understory species have adapted to the use of invasive vegetation is much simplified. English ivy, plant species for forage, cover, etc., blackberry, Scot's broom, English hawthorn r c invasive species do not contribute to the and others contribute greatly to an l : ~ _ ~ overall health and diversi of a native tY overgrown, dense and low-diversity ~ &.r ~ ~..-r ~ ` ~ habitat. Most migrating bird populations, understory in many areas in the park. ~ for example, do not rely upon or particularly Native plant communities, by comparison, benefit from non-native sweet cherries as tend to be relatively open, with greater Figure Bb - GooD Edge a source of forage. due to the timing of species diversity as well as structural condition migrations. Incases where certain species diversity - i.e. more layers and more More edge condition have rown local) accustomed to habitat Higher species diversity g y openings (see Figure 4). By subtracting Improved visibility functions of invasive species, however, that invasive species, and encouraging the function may also be provided by natural re-growth of native plant combinations of site-adapted native communities, much of the affect of species (native elderberry and chokecherry, vegetation management for public safety for example). Therefore, the removal of all reasons is achieved. ' invasive species, accompanied by the encouragement or re-planting of native Diverse, Open Understory for Safety ~ species serving a similar habitat function, Indiscriminate removal of the forest is the favored policywhere invasive species understory is not a preferred management ( serve apparent habitat functions that are option for public safety (see "Promote ~ desirable long-term. It is important to note Natural Recovery of Native Plant Communities" for related remarks). °-i~ Skinner Butte Park • Master Plan 2001 71