WILDLIFE HABITAT 



Situation 



The greatest problem facing wildlife today in Montana 

 is loss of habitat. Human encroachment has accelerated 

 in recent years as land uses change rapidly. Habitat is be- 

 ing destroyed or severely altered by energy development, 

 urban expansion, rural subdivision, highway easements, 

 and conversion of marginal land to agricultural use. Farm 

 and forestry cultural practices disturb or destroy habitat, 

 and overgrazing can reduce the food available to wildlife 

 of many species. 



As wildlife habitat decreases or loses its ability to sup- 

 port certain birds and animals, those populations decline. 

 Wildlife under stress do not reproduce at a normal rate; 

 young often fail to survive, due to inadequate food and in- 

 sufficient range. Montana's big game populations are hard 

 hit as development encroaches on their natural habitat, 

 and changes their migration patterns. Nongame species, 

 too, are forced to areas that are inadequate or incompati- 

 ble to their needs. Many are unable to adapt to changes in 

 their environments. 



Private rangelands are vital to Montana's wildlife; they 

 provide two-thirds of the food needed by our wildlife; 

 private forestlands offer habitat (DNRC 1977). Some of the 

 private land affords ponds, sloughs, and waterways for 

 waterfowl, as well. 



Concerns 



As the human population increases, its 

 demands for food, land, and water grow. This add- 

 ed pressure strains the capabilities of the land that 

 remains. Managers of wildlife have an obligation 

 to provide areas for its preservation. 



Objectives 



A) To increase good riparian management 

 the CDD will educate CDs on the importance of 

 riparian habitat management. The district super- 

 visors will then be able to encourage landowners 

 in their district to employ good riparian manage- 

 ment practices. See Part A, Objective 20 of the 

 Work Plan. 



Rationale: Many supervisors are not aware of 

 the importance of the riparian habitat in providing 

 fish and wildlife habitat, maintaining water quali- 

 ty, and preserving streambanks. 



B) To improve or protect wildlife and fish 

 habitat the CDD will, with the Department of Fish, 

 Wildlife, and Parks (DFWP), set up a joint CDD 

 and DFWP committee. This committee will in- 

 vestigate and recommend methods for providing 

 incentives to landowners for habitat im- 

 provements or protection. Based on committee 

 recommendations pilot programs will be establish- 

 ed, and these programs will be supervised by the 

 committee. See Part B, Objective 48 of the Work 

 Plan. 



Rationale: Pilot programs are needed to 

 demonstrate the effectiveness of incentives in im- 

 proving and protecting habitat, and the benefits of 

 these incentives to landowners. 



C) To develop fish and wildlife habitat plans 

 in conjunction with farm conservation plans, the 

 CDD will request the SCS and CDs to ask all land- 

 owners to consider developing habitat plans in 

 conjunction with their conservation plans. See 

 Part B, Objective 49 of the Work Plan. On 

 rangeland, emphasis should be given to rest- 

 rotation systems. 



Rationale: Many landowners need incentives 

 to develop wildlife and fish habitat on their land to 

 replace habitat lost because of land use changes. 



D) To develop fish and wildlife improvement 

 projects and educational programs, the CDD will 

 request the CDs to give fish and wildlife improve- 

 ment projects high priority in their planning ac- 

 tivities. See Part B, Objective 50 of the Work Plan. 



Rationale: Some agriculturalists and other 

 land users may not recognize the importance of 

 providing habitat for Montana's fish and wildlife. 

 As local level influencing agencies CDs need to 

 educate these people as well as give concrete sup- 

 port by initiating habitat improvement projects. 



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