High-quality habitat on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands improves water quality, prevents soil erosion, and preserves wildlife habitat. CRP pollinator habitat creation is crucial for supporting crop yields and conserving at-risk pollinators.
Routine monitoring is key to maintaining healthy pollinator habitats and helping landowners develop effective vegetation management strategies. However, traditional survey methods can be time-consuming, costly, and may not fully capture site conditions over time. Emerging technologies, such as remote sensing and eDNA surveys, offer cost-effective and comprehensive solutions for long-term monitoring and informed vegetation management.
A four-year research study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) led by the University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the Electric Power Research Institute will assess 30 CRP habitat sites in Central Illinois with the following objectives:
- Integrate and compare traditional monitoring and emerging technologies to develop a rapid habitat quality assessment framework for use by FSA, FPAC, producers and other agricultural stakeholders.
- Create tools that facilitate selection of habitat quality assessment methods and subsequent management planning based on result scenarios.
- Communicate the results to CRP program and agricultural stakeholders
Information gained from this study will increase understanding of the benefits CRP habitats provide for pollinators. Tools and resources will be developed to assist landowners in utilizing these monitoring techniques to assess biodiversity and management needs at their CRP sites.
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