Charlotte’s Special Wildlife Habitats –
Learn About the What and Why May 29

by Linda Hamilton

Almost all of Charlotte is potential wildlife habitat, right? Well, yes ….but areas vary in the amount and uniqueness of plants and animals and ecological functions they support. And location is important too, because biological diversity can be maintained only if habitats are connected. The formulators of the early Charlotte Town Plans recognized this, and they included the first Critical Wildlife Habitat Map as a guide to where these particularly valuable natural areas occur. In the almost 20 years since the first map, the Conservation Commission has made a concerted effort to collect information and carry out studies to expand and deepen our understanding of the wildlife and wildlife habitat that is a much-loved part of our rural landscape guided by wildlife science and improved airphoto interpretation, was made in the late 1990s. The second and most extensive professional review and revision of the map is now underway. This brings the Charlotte habitat map into sync with the general principles of landscape ecology and recommendations from the recent Vermont Biodiversity Project and the Vermont Wildlife Action Plan. The new Significant Wildlife Habitat Map refines the current map in important ways and documents the attributes and ecological functions of areas in an associated database. The new map will become part of the Town Plan by vote in November, and the computer database will be available to anyone who wishes to use it – for education, resource stewardship and to guide development activities.
Want to learn about what is considered “significant wildlife habitat” in Charlotte and why? Please join the Conservation Commission on May 29, 7-8:30 p.m. at Town Hall for a slide presentation and discussion with ecologists Jesse Mohr and Matt Kolan, who have been the lead scientists helping us with the map and database since 2006. Jesse and Matt will also guide the May 31 nature outing in the Charlotte Walks series, on the theme of “Birds, Herps and Habitat of Charlotte’s Hills.” Don’t miss these opportunities to learn about the natural wonders right here in Charlotte.