The Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor Protects The Human Species

Based on comments made at last week’s Whatcom County Council Planning Committee meeting, it was obvious that some Council members do not understand why the County needs to address habitat fragmentation and degradation in the Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor to comply with the Growth Management Act.  This was one of numerous issues determined by the Growth Management Hearings Board as part of an appeal of the Rural Element update of the County Comprehensive Plan. This post discusses the importance of wildlife corridors generally, and the Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor, specifically.  

The Council will be considering a proposal to create 5 acre lots in the Chuckanut Corridor (an area that includes Lake Samish, South Bay, Wickersham, Cain Lake and Chuckanut), without analysis of the zoning, development standards and comprehensive planning efforts necessary to protect wildlife corridors. The compliance deadline is July 10, 2012.

Ecosystem Services

While the connection between human health and environmental health has long been accepted, it is now clear that we significantly underestimated the importance of the services and benefits provided by functioning ecosystems.  International efforts are on-going to better understand, predict and protect the “free” ecosystem services that are important to human health, wealth and ultimately, survival. 

For example, ecosystem services increase the production and profit of agriculture through pollination, pest control, greater resistance to invasive species, soil creation and stabilization, improved water storage and availability, flood buffers and stormwater infiltration.  The value of these services is more than theoretical.

A 2011 study by the USGS and several universities determined that insect-eating bats in the United States saved the U.S. agricultural industry between $3.7 billion to $53 billion a year.  These estimates are based on the cost savings from the reduction in pesticide applications, before considering the detrimental effects of pesticides on ecosystems and the economic benefits of bats suppressing pest insects in forests.  The authors concluded that “not only is the conservation of bats important for the well-being of ecosystems, but it is also in the best interest of national and international economies.”  The Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor provides caves for County bat species, including a threatened species.

Other ecosystem services that directly protect human health include filtering of air and water, decomposition of waste, greater carbon sequestration, and protection of food and pharmaceutical sources.  Healthy ecosystems prevent the outbreak of infectious disease in humans just as it protects the health of our working forests.

Ecosystems depend upon a complicated synergistic relationship between different functions and processes, exemplifying the truism that “the sum of the whole is greater than any individual part.” Degradation of any one ecological function, for example, habitat, is likely to reduce ecosystem benefits generally. Therefore, it is important to protect ecosystems holistically.

Biodiversity

It is now understood that biodiversity is the most important component of a healthy ecosystem.  In recognition of this fact, 2011 through 2020 has been proclaimed the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. (Resolution 65/161).

Biodiversity includes genetic diversity within a species, species diversity within an ecosystem, and ecosystem diversity within a region.  More biodiversity generally equates to greater human benefit from ecosystem services.  We now understand the importance of protecting the abundance of common plant and animal species, rather than just endangered or threatened species.

Biodiversity is protected by maintaining habitat and species mobility. Most species require more than one type of habitat during their life cycle, as well as access to water. Thus, the ability to travel is critical.  Travel is also necessary to allow the genetic exchange that increases genetic diversity.

In situations of immediate danger, such as predation, fire, etc, species must be able to safely flee, and to have access to alternative habitat if necessary.  While habitat needs vary by species, each species needs habitat of a minimum size for long-term survival, in addition to sufficient buffer areas to protect the function and value of habitat.  Isolated wildlife communities are at high risk of extinction.

Wildlife Corridors

It is not surprising then, that wildlife corridors are believed to hold more promise for the conservation of biodiversity then any other management factor except stabilization of the human population. Development destroys biodiversity by degrading and fragmenting habitat.

Wildlife corridors are most successful when they connect habitats of minimum size and types to support a large diversity of species. This generally requires larger habitat corridors, and studies have confirmed the connection between the size and shape of wildlife corridors and their use by wildlife species.  Larger corridors, which are also important in allowing movement of large, migrating mammals, generally have higher conservation value.

Therefore, it is important to protect all large areas of intact habitat within Whatcom County.  In developed areas, restoration is needed to provide connective linkage between habitat patches through creation of habitat corridors.  This is generally done through a comprehensive wildlife management plan, which Whatcom County lacks.

While the success of restoration projects is improving, compensatory mitigation is unlikely to replace in full the ecological functions and values that were lost to development.  Avoidance of impacts to intact habitat and corridors is the most effective method of protecting biodiversity.  For this reason, avoidance is the first requirement under mitigation sequencing required in the County Critical Area Ordinance.

This suggests that it is most important to enforce the avoidance provisions with regard to the largest areas of intact habitat, which generally have the greatest conservation value, and are most protective of biodiversity.  This reflects the great ecological value of the Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor.

Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor

While Whatcom County contains numerous habitat areas that should be protected, the Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor is the highest priority.  It was determined by the County’s own Best Available Science review for the County Critical Area Ordinance, and by Bellingham’s Wildlife and Habitat Assessment, to have the greatest diversity of plants and animals, including those that are rare and/or threatened. The size of this relatively undeveloped land alone makes it unique. It is the last remaining area in Puget Sound with natural land cover extending from marine waters to upland forest.

An understanding of how humans benefit from ecosystem services, sustained through biodiversity and habitat corridors, supports the need to protect the Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor.  If you agree, let the County Council know with emails and telephone calls.