IF This goes Through, Hamburg may become
Non Detecting. Maybe even on Private Properties
Like Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.
Hamburg community pursues wildlife habitat certification
01/02/2008
— A local community development group is working to get Hamburg recognized for its efforts to preserve and promote its natural resources.
According to Deena Kershner, program manager for the Hamburg Our Town Foundation, members of Hamburg’s Blueprint Community committee have launched an effort to have Hamburg designated as a certified community wildlife habitat site by the National Wildlife Federation.
“One of the goals established by our Blueprint Community committee was to find ways to promote the arts and nature in our area — two things that the Hamburg area is known for,” Kershner said. “Becoming a certified wildlife community is one of the ways that we can promote our natural resources.”
Achieving the national designation may also help the borough secure grants to promote and develop natural and open space recreational areas, Kershner said.
According to program guidelines established by the National Wildlife Federation, a certified community wildlife habitat is defined as a community that provides habitat for wildlife throughout the community — from individual back yards to public areas such as parks and community gardens.
Kay L. Greenawalt, a member of the Blueprint Community committee that is spearheading the certification effort, said if Hamburg becomes a certified community wildlife habitat, it would be the first community in Pennsylvania and one of only 21 communities in the country to achieve the distinction.
“So far, we have many people in the community that are very receptive to the idea, including teachers in our local school district,” she said. “That’s great, because that means we will have young people in the community involved in the process.”
Officials at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and the Berks County Conservancy have also pledged their support, she said.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, to be certified as a community wildlife habitat, a community must demonstrate that it has made it a priority to provide habitat for wildlife by providing the four basic elements that all wildlife need: food, water, cover and places to raise young, according to program guidelines.
It should also develop ways to educate its residents about sustainable gardening practices — such as reducing or eliminating chemical fertilizers and pesticides, conserving water, composting, planting native plants and removing invasive plants — and organize community events — such as workshops about gardening for wildlife and stream or trail cleanups — with the goal of making the community healthier for wildlife and people alike, Greenawalt said.
Communities earn points according to population size in order to become certified; Hamburg — which has a population of approximately 4,100 — would have to earn 250 points to achieve certification.
Greenawalt said each community needs to earn those points in four categories to officially achieve certification: habitat certification, education, community projects and administrative goals.
To get the process started, participating communities are encouraged to form local “habitat teams,” which are groups of four to ten people who represent different sectors of the community, including schools, church groups, elected officials, civic groups, environmental and conservation groups and local business and industries.
A habitat team is responsible for researching the community and developing goals, a vision statement and an action plan based on the results of their research.
Teams will also compile project notebooks — binders or scrapbooks that include documentation of the community’s various projects such as newspaper or magazine articles about the project, kick-off events, workshops and presentations, and photos from community events.
The process will take time, effort and commitment from the Hamburg community to move forward, Greenawalt said.
“Everything is still in the early planning stages,” Greenawalt said. “It’s a lengthy process, a five-year goal.”
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19160975&BRD=2626&PAG=461&dept_id=532624&rfi=6
Non Detecting. Maybe even on Private Properties
Like Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.
Hamburg community pursues wildlife habitat certification
01/02/2008
— A local community development group is working to get Hamburg recognized for its efforts to preserve and promote its natural resources.
According to Deena Kershner, program manager for the Hamburg Our Town Foundation, members of Hamburg’s Blueprint Community committee have launched an effort to have Hamburg designated as a certified community wildlife habitat site by the National Wildlife Federation.
“One of the goals established by our Blueprint Community committee was to find ways to promote the arts and nature in our area — two things that the Hamburg area is known for,” Kershner said. “Becoming a certified wildlife community is one of the ways that we can promote our natural resources.”
Achieving the national designation may also help the borough secure grants to promote and develop natural and open space recreational areas, Kershner said.
According to program guidelines established by the National Wildlife Federation, a certified community wildlife habitat is defined as a community that provides habitat for wildlife throughout the community — from individual back yards to public areas such as parks and community gardens.
Kay L. Greenawalt, a member of the Blueprint Community committee that is spearheading the certification effort, said if Hamburg becomes a certified community wildlife habitat, it would be the first community in Pennsylvania and one of only 21 communities in the country to achieve the distinction.
“So far, we have many people in the community that are very receptive to the idea, including teachers in our local school district,” she said. “That’s great, because that means we will have young people in the community involved in the process.”
Officials at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and the Berks County Conservancy have also pledged their support, she said.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, to be certified as a community wildlife habitat, a community must demonstrate that it has made it a priority to provide habitat for wildlife by providing the four basic elements that all wildlife need: food, water, cover and places to raise young, according to program guidelines.
It should also develop ways to educate its residents about sustainable gardening practices — such as reducing or eliminating chemical fertilizers and pesticides, conserving water, composting, planting native plants and removing invasive plants — and organize community events — such as workshops about gardening for wildlife and stream or trail cleanups — with the goal of making the community healthier for wildlife and people alike, Greenawalt said.
Communities earn points according to population size in order to become certified; Hamburg — which has a population of approximately 4,100 — would have to earn 250 points to achieve certification.
Greenawalt said each community needs to earn those points in four categories to officially achieve certification: habitat certification, education, community projects and administrative goals.
To get the process started, participating communities are encouraged to form local “habitat teams,” which are groups of four to ten people who represent different sectors of the community, including schools, church groups, elected officials, civic groups, environmental and conservation groups and local business and industries.
A habitat team is responsible for researching the community and developing goals, a vision statement and an action plan based on the results of their research.
Teams will also compile project notebooks — binders or scrapbooks that include documentation of the community’s various projects such as newspaper or magazine articles about the project, kick-off events, workshops and presentations, and photos from community events.
The process will take time, effort and commitment from the Hamburg community to move forward, Greenawalt said.
“Everything is still in the early planning stages,” Greenawalt said. “It’s a lengthy process, a five-year goal.”
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19160975&BRD=2626&PAG=461&dept_id=532624&rfi=6
(if you haven't gone....GO!)
