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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Alt text: Close-up images of various bee species on yellow flowers, illustrating the streamlined bee monitoring protocol for assessing pollinator habitats, with logos of UC Davis, Rutgers University, Michigan State University, and The Xerces Society.

Streamlined Bee Monitoring Protocol for Assessing Pollinator Habitat

Assessment Tools

This guideline developed by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation examines the habitat and habitat restoration projects and how they help increase the value of wild bees in crop pollination. Working to better understand the ecology of wild polination services, examine pollinator diversity , community ecology of plant-pollinator networks.
Alt text: Spreadsheet from the Xerces Society detailing pollinator planting guidelines, including columns for species/variety, percentage of seed mix, total bulk seed per square foot, and target bulk seed requirements, with instructions for data entry and interpretation.

Xerces Seed Mix Calculator

Best Management Practices, Planning Tools

Develop a custom region-specific conservation seed mix for pollinator and beneficial insect habitat using this seed rate calculator in combination with the Xerces Pollinator Habitat Installation Guide and the Xerces Pollinator Plant List applicable to your region.

Final report on the survey of key monarch habitat areas along roadways in Central and North Florida, authored by Janet C. Daniels, Ph.D., from the Florida Museum of Natural History, dated October 30, 2017.

Survey of Key Monarch Habitat Areas Along Roadways in Central and North Florida

Policy and Publications

Roadsides in North and Central Florida harbor a large number of milkweed populations important to the monarch butterfly. A total of 303 roadway locations had one or more plants of the target species. A comprehensive geo-referenced Excel spreadsheet of all populations locations and related population data was developed and submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation. Communication/dissemination and vegetation management recommendations are presented to help maximize the availability and productivity of roadside milkweed populations for monarch and pollinator conservation.

Document titled

Public Perception and Sustainable Roadside Vegetation Management Strategies

Case Studies and Research

This literature review presents a comprehensive review of the history of roadside vegetation management strategies, policy and roadside vegetation, benefits associated with sustainable vegetation management strategies, public perception of roadside landscapes, the impact of information relevant to the roadside landscape on public perception, and the Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) experimentation with sustainable strategies.

Research article titled

Evaluation of Mowing Frequency on Right-of-Way Plant Communities in Mississippi

Case Studies and Research

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management posted a study on the effects of decreased mowing on roadsides and it’s effect on plant communities. With the decline of grasses and wildflowers alongside rights-of-ways new strategies for their maintenance and care have surfaced.

Document titled

Economic Impact of Ecosystem Services Provided by Ecologically Sustainable Roadside Right of Way Vegetation Management Practices

Case Studies and Research

This report prepared by the University of Florida on behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation estimates the economic value of Florida’s State Highway System roadside right-of-way ecosystem.