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Team
Habitat Meeting
Team
Habitat is a group of dedicated individuals representing various natural
resources agencies and organizations working to provide habitat for all
wildlife species in New Jersey. It is organized under the auspices of the
South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council and is based
along the lines of the "Pheasants Forever Habitat Team" concept. Member
organizations include Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Ruffed Grouse
Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Bear Creek
Conservancy, the Cape-Atlantic Soil Conservation District, USFWS, NJ Fish
and Wildlife, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services,
Land Dimensions Engineering and Lenape Farms. Member organizations have
pooled their equipment resouces and made them available for
habitat creation and restoration. I have attended two meetings of this
organization this year, the latest of which occurred November 13th.
Discussions this meeting centered on completing pre-proposals for two
monetary grants from the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund and the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The proposal is to use the monies
from these grants to hire a part time person, for a period of two years,
to operate Team Habitat equipment and coordinate habitat projects.
Shon
Robbins, PF Regional Biologist, proposed that PF assume the responsibility
of managing the activities and payment of this person. Team Habitat's
modus operandi is to carry out habitat projects that are funded from
various sources such as WHIP and CRP. This service is important on
projects where land owner does not have the capability or equipment to
perform the work. The projects themselves could be wetland restoration,
warm season grasses or forest restoration. The goal of "Team Habitat" is
to eventually become self-sufficient and to fund the position from the
money recieved for each project. The grants are a way of jump starting
the process and getting someone on board.
The
pre-proposal to the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund is due on November
17th and we should hear from them early in 2007.
Respectully submitted
Ken Sass
Co-chair Habitat Committee |
