2002 Draft Natural Resources Management

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4. GENERAL NATURAL C�MMUNITY MANAGEMENT RECQMMENDATIQNS SECTION SU1bIMARY This section includes recommendations for managing naturai communities thernselves, as well as some suggestions for continuing the posiCive engagetnent of city residents about the management of resources within the five selected parks that this st�dy focuses on_ WHERE PUSSIBLE, LrNK TRACTS OF NATURAL AREAS Connectivity and size are both irnportant factors affecting the function of natural areas. As a general rule, the larger an area is, the greater the diversity of plants and aniinals present. Larger natural areas are also tnore stable and able to withstand the affects of naiurally occurring events suc� as drought, insects and disease, and windstorms. Patches of natura� eommunities and sites with good restoration potential should be used to link larger areas. Linkages should consider corridors and natural areas outside the City as well as features within the City. U�E PLANT SPECI�S NATIVE TO THE ROSEVYLLE AREA Native trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs can be planted in active usc portions of parics as well as other landscape and idle areas around the city. Planting species in these areas that are native to the area complement existing natural communities and enhance the areas ecological functionality. A�ood source of information an indigenous plants is the species lists provided in flppendix A of this report as well as Minnesota's St. Croix River Valley nnd A�2oka Sandplai�i: A Gicicle to Ncrtive Ilabitats (1995). Plant species should be chosen based on the specific characteristics of ihe site including soils, stope, aspect and adjacent naturai cornmunity types and quality. If possihle, restore the site to replace the original natural community type tnat still exists in ihe arca, or one that existed bcfore conversion (i.e., prairie, oak forest). Citv of Ros'ei�ille ZD Parks Nrrtural Resource tl�lancrgenielat