Community Conservation

Taking Action

Conservation Area Checklist Project

• Group featured: The Audubon Society of Missouri
• Group mission: Dedicated to the preservation and protection of birds and other wildlife, the education and appreciation of the natural world and to effective wildlife and habitat conservation practices.
• For more information about The Audubon Society of Missouri: Contact Julie Lundsted, phone 573-635-2976, e-mail jlundste@hotmail.com or go online.

CACHE, or the Conservation Area Checklist project, is an asset to birds and birdwatchers. The Web-based database, created by the Audubon Society of Missouri and the Department of Conservation, tracks the occurrence of birds on Conservation lands. The data collected are used to enhance bird habitats and birding opportunities.

ASM President Mike Doyen describes CACHE as citizen conservation at its best. ASM members input information into the system about birds sighted during their visits to Conservation lands. The Department of Conservation uses the bird monitoring information to create or adjust land management plans to help restore or maintain healthy bird populations.

Birders can use CACHE as a source of information for birdwatching locations. To view information in the CACHE database visit online.

Gardens and Wildlife

Get this guide on how to prevent wildlife damage.

Prevent your garden from becoming a buffet for local wildlife. Get a copy of the Department of Conservation brochure Gardens and Wildlife. The publication is ideal for gardeners who want non-lethal methods for protecting crops from a wild animal’s menu. The easy-to-follow guide gives instructions on the use of repellents, electric fences and exclusion fences. to receive a free copy of the guide write to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Gardens and Wildlife, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or e-mail pubstaff@mdc.mo.gov.

Saving Streams

Many join together for the sake of this Ozark gem.

The Ward Branch Preservation, Restoration and Enhancement Project is providing a natural solution for a man-made problem. The stream management project seeks to correct problems created by urbanization along the southwest Missouri stream.

The Ward Branch project was created by experts from Greene County, the Department of Conservation, City of Springfield, Ozarks Greenways and Missouri State University to address flooding and erosion damage caused by storm runoff. Construction along the stream of buildings, streets and other surfaces that are unable to slow or absorb water created the problems, so partners in the improvement project are working to combat the problems by returning the stream to a more natural and stable condition.

Information learned from the project will be used to help plan future Ozarks stream restorations.