Draft Conservation Action: Species Management in Upland Hardwoods

Rule: Urban open space index areas within Upland Hardwood in top 30% Reason: Many rare plants that require disturbance in the Upland Hardwood ecosystem are not effectively covered by LCC indicators and natural disturbances are no longer sufficient to maintain their populations. Many rare upland hardwood plants now rely on railroad tracks, roadsides, and small human created prairies for their survival. Cultivation and establishment of rare disturbance dependent upland hardwood plants in high priority Blueprint areas near urban areas could provide a unique way for urban areas to improve the overall integrity of the upland hardwoods ecosystem