Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group

habitat conservation + working landscapes

A close-up image of a bee hovering near a vibrant pink flower, surrounded by green foliage, highlighting the importance of pollinators in nature.

Resources library

This online library is a clearinghouse of tools and information related to habitat on rights-of-way and other lands. From seed mix calculators to mowing guidelines and everything in between, you’ll find it here.

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Vibrant native grassland scene showcasing diverse wildflowers under a clear blue sky, emphasizing the importance of grasslands for biodiversity and corporate sustainability initiatives. The image highlights the theme of native grasslands conservation.

Native Grasslands Conservation

This WHC white paper provides short case studies on lawn replacement, roadsides, utility rights-of-way, ranches and pastures, and more. An opportunity exists for corporations to manage privately owned grasslands in nature-friendly ways that will realize multiple values for many stakeholders, including benefits to climate change mitigation and adaptation, stormwater run-off, cost savings and aesthetics.

Alt text: Infographic detailing enrollment timing for the Monarch Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA). It includes key dates such as the approval date of April 3, 2020, and upcoming deadlines for enrollment periods and USFWS decisions, emphasizing the importance of timely participation for potential applicants.

Enrollment Timing for the Monarch CCAA/CCA

Conservation Agreements

This guidance document summarizes the different considerations for the timing of enrollment in the Monarch CCAA.

Updated 5/15/2024.

Update on using the Pollinator Habitat Scorecard version 2.1 presented on November 10, 2020, featuring three speakers discussing pollinator conservation strategies.

Update: Using the Pollinator Habitat Scorecard v2.1 – November 10, 2020

Assessment Tools, Webinars

Learn about the latest updates to the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group’s Pollinator Scorecard, including how the scorecard can be used to meet the monitoring requirements of the Monarch CCAA. This video will also touch on plot selection and distribution, the associated management module, and how to interpret scorecard results.

Virginia DOT case study presentation on enrolling in the Monarch Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA), featuring a roadside habitat and a close-up of a monarch butterfly on purple flowers, discussed during the Monarch CCAA Task Force Meeting on November 5, 2020.

Virginia Department of Transportation’s Approach to Enrolling in the Monarch CCAA – November 5, 2020

Webinars

Virginia DOT shares their story of enrolling in the Monarch CCAA, from application to implementation and monitoring.

Virtual meeting screenshot featuring multiple participants discussing barriers and incentives for voluntary conservation under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The presentation includes visuals of natural landscapes, wildlife, and renewable energy sources, along with logos from various organizations involved in environmental policy and conservation efforts.

Understanding Barriers/Incentives to Voluntary Conservation Opportunities Under U.S. ESA – Oct 26, 2020

Webinars

Following the publication of a study by the Electric Power Research Institute that evaluated barriers and incentives to voluntary species conservation in the electric utility sector, representatives from across the energy, transportation, agriculture, non-profit, and government agencies discuss the future of voluntary conservation and multi-sector strategies for at-risk and listed species.

Cover page of the report titled

Understanding Barriers and Incentives to Voluntary Conservation Opportunities under the ESA

Policy and Publications

This report by the Electric Power Research Institute and Environmental Policy Innovation Center helps electric power and other companies to better understand the factors that motivate companies to pursue voluntary species conservation and how to lower the barriers to voluntary conservation under the U.S Endangered Species Act (ESA).