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<br />Habitat Loss: Global Crisis <br />with a Local Solution <br /> <br />8y Rebecca Retzlaff, AlCP <br /> <br />Whether picnicking at a locai park, taking a scenic bike ride through the country, whale- <br />watching off the Pacific coast, or backyard bird-watching, our favorite pastimes wouid <br />indicate that most people have a love affair with wiidiife, <br /> <br />In fact, so much so that we spend billions on <br />the roads that take us into the hinterlands and <br />even more to secure beachfrontpropertyor <br />neighborhood access to wetlands-and alloflt <br />50 we can connect with the animals in their <br />natural habitat. <br />From tJle perspective of many animals, <br />however, the relationship with humans <br />smacks more ofdysfunGtion than mutual love <br /> <br />needs ofa wetland community differ vastly from <br />those ofa terrestrial comml.lnity. <br />This issue ofZoningmmcediscussesthe <br />ro\eofzoninginhabitatandspeciesprotection. <br />The lirstsection will digest the latest species <br />and habitat infbrmation that plannerS and mu- <br />nicipal and elected officials can use to provide a <br />lechnicalandsdentiiicbasisforzoningordi- <br />nances. The second section provides munidpal <br /> <br />Many of the aetivities that lead to habitat <br />and species losses.are at least partially under <br />tne cOl1trol ofmunidpal regulations and pro- <br />grams. The most frequent causes of species <br />extinetionare: <br />interaction with non-natlvespedes; <br />I.lrbanization, agriculture, and tourism and <br />recreation development; <br />ranchingandlivestockaetivities; <br /> <br /> <br />affair. Urbanization, road and utHityconstruc- <br />tion, and the presence of humans and domes. <br />tic animals has led to extreme biodiversity <br />loss,spedes endangerment or extinction, pro- <br />liferation of non-native spedes, and habitat <br />fragmentation. When humans ~connect~ with <br />nature, the beneiits are hardly reciprocal; for <br />theanimalsitotlenmeansruination. <br />Planners can help protectspedesand habi- <br />tats through zoning tools such ~szoningdistricts, <br />overlay zones, and densitybonl.lses, butthey first <br />need to understand the habitat requirements of <br />the species needingprotettion, inc\udinghabitat <br />location and leveiofsensitlvity. Forexamp)e, the <br /> <br />76 <br /> <br />examples of species and habitat protection <br />through such zoningmechaniSJI)S.as overlay <br />zones and sensitive areas ordinances, and <br />through species.specific regulatory tools, <br />including fencing and lighting ordinances. <br /> <br />THE ROLE Of ZONING <br />Much of the discussion about species and habi- <br />latprotection has to do with federal laws such <br />as the Endangered Species Act and the National <br />Environmental PolicyAet. While the federal pO!i. <br />des are crucial,localgovemments play equally <br />important roles in the prolection of habitats and <br />endangered and threatened species. <br /> <br />damsandreselVoirs; <br />modification of natural fire regimes; <br />. pollution; <br />oil,gas, and mineral extraction; <br />industrial and military activities; <br />halVestingand logging; and <br />roadbuildillg. <br />Because localgovemments control <br />both development and land-use regulation <br />they are better suited to protect some <br />species and habitats with tools that are <br />unavailable to state and federal govern. <br />menls.This is especially true in today'sfed- <br /> <br />ZONJNG?RACTlCE 1.07 <br />AMERICANPlJINN1NGASsow..noNlpage2 <br />