Wildlife Management in Permaculture:
Encouragement and Discouragement Strategies
Permaculture, with its emphasis on sustainable and holistic agricultural practices, inherently integrates wildlife management into its design principles. A well-managed wildlife system not only supports biodiversity but also contributes to the health and productivity of agricultural landscapes.
Effective wildlife management involves both encouragement of beneficial species and discouragement of those that are harmful or invasive. This essay explores strategies for encouraging and discouraging wildlife within permaculture systems.
Encouragement of Beneficial Species
Encouraging beneficial species is crucial for maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Insectivorous birds and ground birds are particularly valuable in permaculture systems for their role in controlling pest populations.
Species to Encourage
Insectivorous birds such as swallows, bluebirds, and warblers are essential for managing insect pests. These birds consume large quantities of insects, reducing the need for chemical pest control. Ground birds like quails and pheasants also contribute by feeding on insects, seeds, and small pests found on the ground.
Forage Systems
To support these beneficial species, it is important to extend zone 2 hardy forage systems and plant pioneer species. Species like tagasaste (tree lucerne), oaks, pines, and locusts (both honey and black locust) provide excellent forage and habitat. These plants are resilient, provide food, and create a diverse environment that supports wildlife.
Water Provision
Providing water is essential for attracting and sustaining wildlife. Ponds and swales not only offer drinking water but also create habitats for a variety of species. These water features should be strategically placed to maximize their benefit to the ecosystem.
Shelter Provision
Shelter is another critical component for wildlife. Hedgerows, dams, rockpiles, logs, and leaf litter offer safe havens for birds and other wildlife. These rough places provide nesting sites, protection from predators, and a microhabitat for various species. Creating these sheltered areas encourages wildlife to thrive within the permaculture system.
Mowing Practices
Mowing should be carefully managed to support wildlife. Strip mowing, where only parts of an area are mowed at a time, helps maintain stability and allows wildlife to move to unmown areas. Mulching seed crops and maintaining permanent unmown strips provide continuous habitat and food sources for wildlife.
Wildlife Corridors
Creating corridors into zone 1 from other zones is essential for the movement and dispersal of wildlife. These corridors connect different habitats, allowing animals to travel safely between feeding, nesting, and resting areas. This connectivity enhances biodiversity and helps maintain a balanced ecosystem.
Discouragement of Noxious Species
While encouraging beneficial wildlife is important, it is equally essential to discourage species that can harm the ecosystem or outcompete desired wildlife.
Trap and Cull Systems
For targeted noxious species, trap and cull systems can be effective. These methods involve capturing and removing invasive or harmful species to reduce their population. This targeted approach helps protect the ecosystem without broadly affecting non-target species.
Increasing Bias Towards Chosen Species
To favor the presence of chosen beneficial species, it is important to manage the environment in a way that supports them while discouraging less desirable ones. This can involve selective planting, habitat modifications, and other management practices that increase the availability of resources for beneficial species while limiting them for harmful ones.
Limiting Shelter, Food, and Water
To discourage unwanted wildlife, it is necessary to provide no escapement, shelter, food, or water for these species. This can involve removing potential nesting sites, eliminating food sources, and managing water bodies to be less accessible to undesirable species. By making the environment less hospitable for harmful species, their populations can be controlled effectively.
Wildlife Management conclusion
Effective wildlife management in permaculture involves a delicate balance between encouragement and discouragement strategies.
By fostering an environment that supports beneficial species such as insectivorous and ground birds, providing forage, water, and shelter, and practicing thoughtful mowing and creating wildlife corridors, a healthy and productive ecosystem can be maintained.
Simultaneously, discouraging harmful or invasive species through trap and cull systems, increasing bias towards chosen species, and limiting resources for undesirable wildlife ensures that the ecosystem remains balanced and sustainable.
Embracing these strategies not only enhances biodiversity but also contributes to the overall resilience and productivity of permaculture systems.
Permaculture Design Certificate course index
You’ve caught us moving the Permaculture Design Certificate PDC course into our new website. More stories and content coming in the next week …
18. Waste Water Disposal & Recycling
19. Wildlife Management & Pest Control
* Integrated Pest Management
* Herbs and Plants That Repel Insects
* Use of Animals in Pest Control
* How to Manage Wildlife (you are here)
20. Seed Saving
Related stories
The ImPossible House: Living Off the Grid in the City
A solar passive home on a productive suburban block
Advertisement:
