Habitat Management Guidelines

Habitat alteration, fragmentation and loss are collectively considered to be the primary challenge in the conservation of amphibians and reptiles (i.e., herpetofauna). With herpetofaunal populations declining, and human populations expanding and using more land, PARC has developed a series of regionally specific best management practices, or Habitat Management Guidelines (HMGs) to provide proactive guidance for improving the compatibility of land management practices with these animals.

These guidelines are not regulations, nor are they in any way an attempt to limit landowners' rights. They should simply be regarded as recommendations for landowners and managers to consider the needs of amphibians and reptiles in the course of their management activities. The HMGs are directed towards resource managers and private landowners who have a desire to help protect amphibians and reptiles. If many landowners and land managers each implement some of these guidelines, then the cumulative effect can only be a positive one.

These guidelines:

• use the best science available
• are easily understood by and practical for land managers and private landowners
• present measures to help maximize compatibility with existing management objectives, or to optimize management actions specifically for herpetofauna
• provide guidance on the management and restoration of habitats such that amphibians, reptiles, and many other wildlife species may benefit

We have not created a guidebook that describes the needs of every species of amphibian and reptile. Instead, we provide regionally-specific guidelines for managing habitats with the goals of keeping common species common, stemming the decline of imperiled species, and reduce the likelihood of species becoming listed as threatened or endangered.

Availability

See below for information on each of the regional Habitat Management Guidelines. In addition, pre-orders are being accepted for the Southwest guide.

• Southeast: The Southeast Habitat Management Guidelines book is now available as an electronic PDF for FREE download via www.separc.org. Hard copies have all been distributed and are no longer available from our partners at High Cotton; there are no plans for a second printing. For further questions about this particular book, including for inquiry about a very limited number of remaining hard copies, please contact PARC National Coordinator, Priya Nanjappa ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

• Northeast: Hard copies of the Northeast Habitat Management Guidelines are available at Northeast PARC regional meetings.

• Northwest: Hard copies of the Northwest Habitat Management Guidelines are available at Northwest PARC regional meetings.

• Midwest: Hard copies of the Midwest Habitat Management Guidelines are available at Midwest PARC regional meetings.

• Southwest: The Southwest Habitat Management Guidelines have been drafted and will be available soon. To pre-order hard copies of this guide please contact our partners at High Cotton, see below. Pre-order copies are $10 each (includes shipping).

A limited number of hard copies of the Northwest and Midwest books are available for $10 (includes shipping), on a first-come, first-served basis via our partners at High Cotton:

Delinda Franklin, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 1-877-838-2345, fax: 205-836-5587

High Cotton (ATTN: Delinda Franklin)
2901 Alton Way
Birmingham, AL 35201 
phone: 877-838-2345
fax: 205-836-5587