Case Study: The Ramifications Of Park Fencing
Indiana University Bloomington
The Ramifications of Park Fencing on Wildlife
Leon Cohen
SPEA-E 482
4 June 2014 Boundary fencing has been a vital component to wildlife conservation strategy for over 50 years in both the domestic and international realms. It hasn’t been seen until recently, as these ecosystems under management respond to their environments, that these boundary fences have had a profound effect on both its biotic and abiotic factors. The decision to implement a certain management strategy is largely dependent on many factors unique to the area. The following text will analyze the costs and benefits of the use of fencing in natural areas seeking ecological stability through this conservation management technique. …show more content…
If fencing is required in order to meet an objective, choosing the right kind of fence is extremely important to the uniqueness of the habitat and issue. For the containment of large game, permeable fencing is an option that still allows smaller animals and plant life to move across boundaries (Slotow 2012). Once an appropriate type of fencing is decided upon, conservationists must decide where the fencing is absolutely necessary and so any unnecessary resources are used and begin there. Conservationists must make sure of any intended and possible effects, costs, or outcomes that the fencing may bring. The construction of fencing can be problematic in many social and ecological contexts, so an extensive impact assessment of the suggested fence must be made (Lindsey, Materson, Beck, Romañach 2012). It is inevitable that the fencing will eventually become ineffective and require repairs. Creating a careful strategy for fence maintenance will ensure that they remain effective towards their purpose and avoid costlier repairs later on (Slotow 2012). For established protected lands that currently have ineffective or harmful fencing, actions must be made to ensure that previous conservation management actions don't become counterproductive. Anywhere possible, fencing must be removed to create larger wildlife areas or connect two areas together (Lindsey, Materson, Beck, Romañach 2012). The conglomeration of protected areas greatly reduces the risk of habitat isolation and promotes a more natural gene flow and migration pattern for the wildlife. Established protected areas for large game does not require hard fencing, so replacing the current type to a more permeable fence will reduce fence line mortality and also help with the gene flow and migratory situations of all wildlife. Conservationists must be meticulous in their implementation
The Ramifications of Park Fencing on Wildlife
Leon Cohen
SPEA-E 482
4 June 2014 Boundary fencing has been a vital component to wildlife conservation strategy for over 50 years in both the domestic and international realms. It hasn’t been seen until recently, as these ecosystems under management respond to their environments, that these boundary fences have had a profound effect on both its biotic and abiotic factors. The decision to implement a certain management strategy is largely dependent on many factors unique to the area. The following text will analyze the costs and benefits of the use of fencing in natural areas seeking ecological stability through this conservation management technique. …show more content…
If fencing is required in order to meet an objective, choosing the right kind of fence is extremely important to the uniqueness of the habitat and issue. For the containment of large game, permeable fencing is an option that still allows smaller animals and plant life to move across boundaries (Slotow 2012). Once an appropriate type of fencing is decided upon, conservationists must decide where the fencing is absolutely necessary and so any unnecessary resources are used and begin there. Conservationists must make sure of any intended and possible effects, costs, or outcomes that the fencing may bring. The construction of fencing can be problematic in many social and ecological contexts, so an extensive impact assessment of the suggested fence must be made (Lindsey, Materson, Beck, Romañach 2012). It is inevitable that the fencing will eventually become ineffective and require repairs. Creating a careful strategy for fence maintenance will ensure that they remain effective towards their purpose and avoid costlier repairs later on (Slotow 2012). For established protected lands that currently have ineffective or harmful fencing, actions must be made to ensure that previous conservation management actions don't become counterproductive. Anywhere possible, fencing must be removed to create larger wildlife areas or connect two areas together (Lindsey, Materson, Beck, Romañach 2012). The conglomeration of protected areas greatly reduces the risk of habitat isolation and promotes a more natural gene flow and migration pattern for the wildlife. Established protected areas for large game does not require hard fencing, so replacing the current type to a more permeable fence will reduce fence line mortality and also help with the gene flow and migratory situations of all wildlife. Conservationists must be meticulous in their implementation