Fragmentation, or the loss or breaking apart of previously intact natural covers (forest, meadow, shrubland), into smaller and disconnected pieces, threatens habitat for wildlife, particularly species that rely on large tracts of forest or meadow.
A brief overview of how the rankings of Good, Better, and Best are used throughout this Handbook to lay out different options for inventorying, management, and monitoring.
The idea of sustainable stewardship is that stewardship actions make progress towards identified goals in a way that is feasible within the constraints of available resources and environmental conditions. This can create the greatest likelihood that a property can be maintained to high standards over the long-term. Additionally, active stewardship can resolve issues over time, leading to fewer management needs.
It is important for a land steward to understand the natural resources of an area. What resources are present have implications for management, mainly for how to care for the land and its ecosystems but also for what types of recreation, if any, may be appropriate. This chapter summarize the major natural resources of Pennsylvania.
Stewardship plans guide management of natural areas by assessing existing conditions, identifying priorities for management, and laying out stewardship tasks. These plans can guide annual work plans and allocation of resources, as well as support applications for funding.