Little Habitat Project Enrollment Form

The goals of URHIP are to:

– Create wildlife-friendly landscapes.
– Increase biodiversity in developed areas.
– Engage Marion County residents.
– Enhance food webs and ecological functions.
– Support partnerships with local organizations.
– Monitor and evaluate habitat improvement efforts.

We’ve organized the practices that support wildlife into five main categories: Soil, Water, Plants, Infrastructure, and Education. Before we get into those components, let’s discuss Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a science based decision making process that combines tools and strategies to identify and manage pests. It includes a variety of pest management techniques including mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical options. Those who practice IPM explore the options available and choose the least harmful approaches that make financial sense for the given situation. We invite you to learn more about IPM and use the SolvePestProblems.oregonstate.edu website to find solutions to your pest problems.

Improving soil quality and health can help with soil structure, reducing erosion, increasing fertility, water holding capacity, suppressing weeds, reducing compaction, promoting soil microbial activity, and beneficial insects.

Level I: Choose One Action Item

Level II: Choose Two Action Items

Level III: Choose Three or More Action Items

Creating water sources, conserving water, and enhancing water quality are different options to help wildlife and protect stormwater runoff. Stormwater is water that originates from precipitation and flows over land, roads, and other surfaces, eventually making its way into rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Proper management of stormwater is essential to protect our natural environment and prevent flooding and erosion.

Level I: Choose One Action Item

Level II: Choose Two Action Items

Level III: Choose Three or More Action Items

The Plants section has four action areas: Invasive Plants, Native Plants, Vegetation Layers, and Plant Practices. Invasive plants do not have any natural disease or predators in place to restrict their growth. This can result in monoculture habitats and form thicket barriers that prevent the passing of wildlife. Invasive plants are not good options to support diverse insect communities *As you remove invasive plants, make sure there is a replacement plan with desired plants, esp. if you are removing plants that wildlife species are utilizing. When selecting plants for your backyard habitat, choose species that are native to your region. Native plants are well-adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, and they provide important habitat for local wildlife including birds, insects, and mammals.

Built habitat elements can benefit wildlife.

Part of supporting wildlife in urban and residential areas is recruiting more community members to develop their own habitats. Help spread the word and extend the impact of your actions by educating your friends and neighbors on how to do the same.

Level I: Choose One Action Item

Level II: Choose Two Action Items

Level III: Choose Three or More Action Items