Weeks 3 & 4 | What Are Conservation Buffers?
October 7th, 2009 at 16:22by Alison Cole
What are conservation buffers? Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation, designed to intercept pollutants and manage other environmental concerns. Buffers include: riparian buffers, filter strips, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, windbreaks, living snow fences, contour grass strips, cross-wind trap strips, shallow water areas for wildlife, field borders, alley cropping, herbaceous wind barriers, and vegetative barriers (USDA-NRCS, 2009).
Why are we discussing them? Understanding different types of conservation buffers and various ways to construct them is crucial to attempt any type of land restoration. Whether you are working to reduce runoff from human settlements and agriculture, or you are trying to revive the soil and water flow to degraded land, using buffers and barriers aids in restoration.
Here are a few examples taken from Bentrup, 2008 in the syllabus:
What are some other types of conservation buffers and what is their purpose? Can a forest act as a large scale conservation buffer? What types of buffers could be used to restore soil retention and water flow to a deforested site?
Resources
- Bentrup, G. 2008. Conservation buffers: design guidelines for buffers, corridors, and greenways. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-109. Asheville, NC: USDA, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.