The delisting of Tennessee purple coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) from the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) marks a major conservation milestone. Its removal from the ESA demonstrates the purpose of the law and how it is intended to work. It is a conservation success story that celebrates the recovery of a species once considered extinct but now protected in 10 Tennessee Designated State Natural Areas and on other conservation lands in Middle Tennessee. The rediscovery of the species and the protection of its five populations is the legacy of many dedicated people over decades. This effort utilized best science practices and important land protection measures in partnership with state and federal government, universities, and The Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy to accomplish a significant conservation goal. It is a testimony to conservation law that protects species at the federal and state level under the ESA and the Tennessee Natural Areas Preservation Act of 1971.

For land management agencies such as Parks Canada that are tasked with maintaining the ecological integrity of protected, natural landscapes, dealing with the impacts of non-indigenous species on forest succession is a serious management concern. In both Terra Nova and Gros Morne National Parks (island of Newfoundland, Canada), the cumulative impacts of non-native species are negatively affecting the capacity of a dominant conifer, balsam fir (Abies balsamea), to regenerate following canopy disturbance by forest insects. Early development of an understory fir layer is compromised by heavy predation on female cones by red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), and post-dispersal seed and seedling predation by non-native rodents and slugs. Taller saplings are then subjected to heavy browsing from non-native moose (Alces alces) so that recruitment to reproductive-aged trees is largely inhibited. An indirect effect of the long-term removal of understory fir is that seedbeds are shifting from optimal feathermoss types towards seedbeds dominated by competing grasses and non-native plants, thus reducing potential germination of balsam fir. We provide evidence that these changes to forest composition and structure are occurring at large spatial scales across both protected and non-protected landscapes. Finally, we offer management recommendations including sustained reductions of moose numbers and the supplemental planting of fir where understory densities are exceptionally low and seedbed degradation has occurred.

This study examined the significant life experiences (SLE) of individuals who had placed conservation easements on private property. Specifically, this study explored how early life experiences may impact one's conservation ethic to effect decisions on land protection. The researchers utilized a sequential embedded mixed methods research design, relying on both qualitative and quantitative data in order to develop an understanding of the phenomenon. All participants for this study were individuals who had placed a conservation easement on her or his property in Indiana. The mixed method analysis indicates that individual and informal experiences in and about the outdoors had the greatest perceived impact and were significantly different than more formalized experiences among the study's participants. The discussion focuses on the impact of informal experiences in the outdoors and the impact on the self-perceived development of conservation ethics as significant life experiences pertaining to conservation behavior and the placing of conservation easements. Implications of this exploratory study are discussed as they pertain to practitioners and scholars alike.

The conservation of biodiversity in Europe is defined by Directive 92/43/EEC — commonly known as the Habitats Directive — relating to the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna. This Directive established the creation of an ecological network of European protected areas — the Natura 2000 network — and also recognizes the need to manage these areas to maintain their “favorable conservation status.” This paper proposes adapted criteria to use to assess conservation status of habitat types at the site level. The current conservation status of habitats was assessed by using the following criteria: (1) distribution area of habitats at site, (2) degree of conservation of the structure, (3) prospects for the future, and (4) restoration possibility. This methodology was applied in a Special Nature Reserve, “Zasavica,” located by the Sava River in Serbia, and is intended to serve as a useful tool for a management planning process, because it can provide an assessment of the conservation status of each of the habitat types for which a site was designated. This will provide a scientific basis on which to establish recommendations for setting the management objectives and for the practical management of a designated site.

Knowledge of landscape patterns and dynamics is essential for land use planners and natural resources managers. They need to know how landscapes have changed in order to determine the consequences and efficacy of the management policies and implement future decision-making. This study characterized the landscape of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, which has been affected by the introduction of exotic tree species since the beginning of the 20^th century. We examined the dynamics of this landscape between 1991 and 2009 and the consequences of having been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1984. Most of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve potential vegetation (80%) is mixed-oak (Quercus robur L.) forest, but, currently, this forest is found in only 6.5% of the area. Most of the current vegetation (54%) comprises Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus sp. plantations. Over the period studied, land use had changed in only 11.8% of the area. Nearly 30% of the change was the replacement of traditional grasslands, crops, and heathlands by P. radiata and Eucalyptus sp. plantations. However, 22% of the change had reflected a recovery of the native vegetation, namely mixed-oak and Cantabrian evergreen-oak (Quercus ilex subsp. Ilex) forest, coastal sandy areas, or broad-leaf plantations. This recovery of the native vegetation has countered the tendency towards landscape degradation observed since 1957. Thus, despite the small change described, the first effects of conservation and environmental recovery policies can be detected. Nevertheless, there remains much to be done for recovering the natural ecosystem; the most difficult obstacles include the fact that most of the land is privately owned and an existence of the administrative complexity gives rise to problems that exist between different Administrations.

Most recently naturalized weeds (invasive non-native plant species, or species growing outside their natural range) in Australia are still only locally distributed, so it is critical to identify the pathways by which these and more widespread species are most likely to spread and to identify the domestic sources from which they are most likely to emerge. Our research sought to identify which weed sources and pathways account for the majority of weed ingress, which pathways pose the greatest risk, how these risks are changing, and how pathway management strategies might be improved. These questions were addressed through a review of literature and a survey of Australian weed experts. Twenty-four sources and 17 natural and human-assisted pathways were identified and assessed. The most significant weed spread pathways in Australia appear to be the trade in ornamental plants and movement of machinery and vehicles, while other important pathways include fodder trade, aquarium plant trade, agricultural produce, and water. Economic and demographic trends, and changing climate, are likely to contribute to growing importance of a range of weed spread pathways in the future. Pathway risk assessment makes it possible to target scarce weed control resources, policy measures, and research efforts by highlighting the pathways that have the greatest potential (in terms of likelihood and potential magnitude) to spread weeds, now and in the future. Similarly, it informs natural area managers as they instigate control and management tools that address the highest risk means by which weeds might enter and spread through their area of responsibility.

Cheatgrass (Promus tectorum L.), a winter-annual grass native to Eurasia, is one of the most widely distributed and damaging invasive annual grasses in North America. We studied the scale and pattern of cheatgrass in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, examining possible dispersal and disturbance mechanisms and inherently susceptible environmental characteristics that may facilitate the spread of cheatgrass in the park. We distinguished facilitating factors related to land uses and natural processes. We mapped (with GPS) cheatgrass patches along randomly selected transects along roads, trails, in natural vegetation, and around developments. For each patch, we recorded: (1) patch size, (2) percentage cover of cheatgrass, (3) characteristics of microenvironments, and (4) amount of cheatgrass within microenvironments. Using MANOVA, we found that, at a broad scale, cheatgrass is concentrated on the east side of the park, at lower elevations, and in grassland and shrubland vegetation, with roads and developments in these areas having the highest abundance. Cheatgrass also is spreading into areas of natural vegetation, possibly due to naturally susceptible vegetation, fire, and favorable microenvironments. At a finer scale, cheatgrass is favored by cracks, cut banks, and untended vegetation near infrastructure. At the finest scale, we did not find that textured soils surfaces (e.g., rills, burrows, hoof prints) favored cheatgrass, but bare ground did. Based on our results, we suggest focusing control and management on areas where there is most potential to prevent further invasion, applying pre- and post- disturbance treatments where disturbances are planned, and planting invasion-resistant vegetation in areas of disturbance.

Trails are a form of recreational disturbance affecting natural areas. Trail disturbances can cause soil degradation such as compaction, which facilitates soil erosion and overland water flow. This study analyzed the effects of four different types of trails—paved, gravel, equestrian, and hiking—on soils in the Oak Openings of Northwest Ohio, a globally rare ecosystem that harbors more than a third of Ohio's rare plant species. Bulk density and soil moisture content were measured in order to determine physical impacts of trails. Soil pH, ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, and dissolved organic C and N concentrations were measured to determine effects on soil chemistry. Finally, soil microbial biomass and exoenzyme activities were measured to determine biological responses to trail disturbances. Soils from the gravel trail were the most affected by the trail, with significant effects on chemical (PO43-concentration) and biological (phosphatase and NAG activity, and MB-N) properties. The soils near the paved trail were the second most affected after the gravel trail, with a trend toward a pH change and a significant biological (microbial peptidase activity) effect of this trail. The soils of the horse and natural trails were generally not significantly different from the soils in the surrounding ecosystem. The only significant disturbance in the horse trail was increased bulk density in the trail, while the natural hiking trail had no statistically significant differences, but trends lean toward increased bulk density and reduced microbial phosphatase activity. These results suggest that the natural and horse trails have the least impact on the Oak Openings ecosystem.

The loss of native biodiversity is a major ecological issue in human-dominated landscapes. In particular, the tree regeneration failure of deciduous forests remnants in suburban landscapes is of great concern to land managers and forestry associations. We tested the responses over two growing seasons of herbaceous plants and tree seedling survival and growth to the removal of invasive plant competition and deer herbivory. We first tested the response of understory vegetation to the removal of Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass), a non-native invasive grass, and the removal of deer herbivory, via exclosures, in two forest fragments in central New Jersey. We then explored the restoration potential of planted seedlings of canopy tree dominants, Acer rubrum, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus rubra. The herbaceous community responded with an increase in species richness to the removal of M. vimineum. There was no response of the herbaceous community to the removal of deer herbivory, indicating that the herbaceous community will not recover rapidly from removal of these stressors alone. Survival and height growth of naturally regenerating tree seedlings increased with the removal of M. vimineum and the removal of deer herbivory, but these effects were not interactive. The survival and growth of planted seedlings of two tree species, F. americana and Q. rubra, were depressed by the presence of M. vimineum. Our results suggest that intensive management of M. vimineum and deer populations as well as active re-vegetation of herbaceous communities and tree seedlings are necessary to restore plant biodiversity in suburban deciduous forests.

Blue oak woodland is an endemic natural community in the Central Valley region of California. It is dominated by blue oak (Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn.) and has an understory of annual grasses and forbs. Most blue oak woodlands are found on privately owned cattle ranches which are currently threatened by conversion to housing, vineyards, and cropland. Land trusts are acquiring conservation easements which include terms that allow for continued commercial grazing. Some studies suggest that livestock grazing negatively impacts biodiversity, although others show that it creates a beneficial disturbance regime and can play an important role in controlling invasive plants. There is also concern that grazing may be negatively impacting blue oak seedling regeneration. Our study begins to address the assumption that livestock grazing is a conservation-compatible land use on ranches with conservation easements. Our study questions whether livestock grazing reduces oak seedling density, if invasive non-native plants such as medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae L.) are reduced, and if native species richness is promoted. We monitored oak seedling density and herbaceous plant species cover in grazing exclosures over a period of five years on five cattle ranches in eastern Tehama County. Ranches were all grazed under easement terms set by The Nature Conservancy. Our study demonstrates that commercial livestock grazing practices had mixed affects on some of the conservation values of blue oak woodlands. Livestock grazing reduced oak seedling density, but it remains unknown if reduced densities will affect the long-term reproduction and health of the woodlands. Grazing also reduced the cover of invasive medusahead grass; yet native species richness and cover were not improved by livestock grazing.

Yellow mud turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) have been studied in and around a nature preserve near Muscatine, Iowa, for over three decades. The deep sand prairie habitat, unusual for Iowa, has incurred a variety of human disturbances since the 19th century. The area has been managed for natural habitat for the last 40 years, initially by private hunt club (1970s) and now as a private conservation area (late 1970s to the present). The surrounding landscape either continues to suffer a variety of anthropogenic disturbances or was abandoned following disturbances during the 20th century. Recent survey data for yellow mud turtles, an Iowa endangered species, were compared with past surveys to determine efficacy of management practices and effects of habitat alteration on the species. Because yellow mud turtles require wetlands in spring for hydration, feeding, and mating, we specifically focused on impacts and management of former oxbow habitats once connected to the Mississippi River. We conclude that wetlands outside the preserve no longer contain populations of yellow mud turtles. Causes of decline include a history of severe environmental disturbance, in addition to perpetual populations of permanent water-adapted aquatic turtles (e.g., Chrysemys picta) and predatory fishes that either compete for food with yellow mud turtles or prey upon juveniles. Our studies validate the necessity of wetlands that are shallow enough for aquatic turtle and fish winterkills. However, the wetlands also require sufficient depth each spring to satisfy the hydration and feeding requirements for yellow mud turtles.