Maine Coast Heritage Trust staff uses this document in its land conservation
efforts. It is designed for internal MCHT use, and is provided here as a
reference or guide. Each land trust has its own mission, priorities, and
organizational characteristics that should direct how it does its work and
what documents it uses. Please feel free to use the ideas, processes, and
even specific text contained in this document, but be sure to tailor them for
your organization.
Land trusts should always consult a lawyer and exercise
due diligence in cases of legal significance. MCHT does not guarantee or
provide advice as to the tax consequences of any project or action.
APPENDIX E
Process for Developing Carrying Capacity Evaluations on MCHT Lands
Background
Carrying Capacity is a concept that can be used to approach the management of natural resources
as well as the human use and experience of protected lands. It makes the assumption that use is
equated with some level of impact. This evaluation process provides a framework for:
-
establishing baseline data of natural and other resources
determining key ecological factors needing protection
determining the desired visitor experience
developing limits of acceptable change
creating a mechanism to measure that change
determining actions to be taken to prevent exceeding the acceptable limits
determining an acceptable level of publicity for each property
The Board of MCHT has adopted a stewardship policy which states that protection of the natural
resources on our lands is of primary importance and recreational use will generally be allowed if
it can be accommodated without compromising ecological values. At the same time, there are
pressures both within our organization and from external sources to publicize our preserves, and
connect more people with our lands, both because of their intrinsic spiritual, physical and
emotional value to humans, and to develop ongoing support for these lands in particular and land
conservation in general.
To determine the carrying capacity or the acceptable levels of use and change on MCHT’s
properties, we have developed the following methodology.
Methodology
Carrying capacity studies and ongoing monitoring will be done on MCHT preserves in
conjunction with developing a management plan. For each preserve, we will consider the intent
of the acquisition, any restrictions on the property, identify the sensitive ecological features, the
desired visitor experience, and levels of acceptable change. We will then identify appropriate
management actions to protect these sensitive resources and visitor experience, and determine
the appropriate level of publicity.
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I.
Develop baseline documentation. Include as much of the following list as is
reasonable.
a.
Natural Resources Inventory - botanical, geological, historical use, soils, will be
included. In particular:
1.
Rare/threatened/endangered species will be identified and mapped.
2.
Invasive species will be identified and mapped (species, extent and
aggressiveness).
3.
Soil types will be identified and mapped.
4.
Existing structures and key features, including trails, access points, and
campsites will be identified and mapped.
b.
Breeding bird survey.
c.
Property survey.
d.
Original intent of preserve acquisition.
e.
Photo documentation and measurements at key locations on the property.
Locations will be GPS’ed, location markers will be placed. Measurements will be
taken at “indicator” locations such as campsites. Measurements will also be taken
of bank erosion, trail width and trail compaction depth, as appropriate per each
site.
Photos and measurements will be repeated annually or according to a plan and
documented in the Preserve Monitoring Report.
f.
II.
Baseline summary narrative- a simple and short synopsis of baseline data, and
current use will be prepared.
Identify Key and/or Sensitive Biological/Historical/Archeological Resources
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III.
Determine the Tolerance of Biological/Historical/Archeological Resources to
stressors, including human use.
a.
Consider the following questions for each sensitive biological/historical/
archeological feature identified.
What factors stress the identified features?
Can human use be managed so that the most sensitive features remain intact?
IV.
If yes –
If no –
at what level?
with what specific management actions?
close to visitors during sensitive periods.
If unsure –
impacts.
allow limited use with monitoring/measurements to determine
b.
If there are specific resources we are concerned about, identify monitoring plots
and include the annual measurement and/or monitoring of those
plots in the Actions portion of the management plan matrix.
c.
If there are specific bird species or wildlife to protect, then plan to conduct routine
surveys at a specific interval and include in the Actions portion of the
management plan matrix.
d.
Integrate specific actions into the management plan to ensure that human impact
does not exceed acceptable levels.
e.
Periodically review both the management plan and the carrying capacity
assessment criteria to determine whether changes need to be made in the
strategies.
Determine Desired Visitor Experience
Consider the following questions about the visitor experience.
a.
What is the current level of use?
b.
What is the desired visitor experience and what features contribute to that
experience?
Desired experience could include: solitude, quiet, expansive views, aesthetics,
interaction with other people.
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Contributing factors could include: narrow trails, limited parking, untrampled
campsite, size of the property, accessibility of the property.
c.
Can the desired visitor experience be achieved with an increase in use?
If yes -
at what level?
with what specific management actions?
If no
maintain the existing level/type of use, or
decrease the existing level/type of use
-
If unsure -
V.
d.
Are there any factors that prevent or limit an increase in public use?
e.
Examples of management actions to control human impact are creating, closing or
rerouting a trail, increasing parking and annual monitoring of sensitive features.
Integrate Into Management Plan
a.
VI.
allow limited use with annual monitoring
Once the baseline is completed, a management plan with goals for the property
will be established. The management plan will contain an assessment of current
use, methods for evaluating the above criteria, and outline specific actions to
ensure that human impact does not exceed the desired level. Staff will take steps
to manage usage in an effort to maintain acceptable levels of human impact.
Publicity
Members will be given information about our preserves. Publicity refers to further
promotion and can be divided into two categories: local and unlimited.
Local publicity: would include attempting to limit usage and awareness of the preserve
to full time and seasonal residents in the immediate and surrounding communities.
Acceptable publicity might include news items in local papers, speaking to local clubs,
involving local schools, etc.
Unlimited publicity: would include publicity in national newspapers and magazines and
on our and other websites.
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