Butterflies Habitat Views

General Goods

The controversy over HCPs lie in their implementation. The San Bruno HCP came about in 1982, by that year locals had created San Bruno Mountain State and County Park, which held 1,9504 acres (7.9/ km2) of the 3,600 on the mountain, in order to protect the habitat of the mission blue butterfly. Then, the butterfly began to turn up on private land. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formed a committee with landowners, developers, local governments, the California Department of Fish and Game and others. They crafted the first HCP in 1982 to address problems caused by the presence of endangered butterflies on San Bruno Mountain. HCPs do not include any independent scientific review, thus none exists. The plan became the model for the 1983 amendment to the Endangered Species Act.[5]

The environmental consulting firm, Thomas Reid Associates (TRA) crafted the plan and work to carry out the HCPs biological program and monitors the results. In addition, they have conducted the biological studies and environmental impact studies required under the HCP. TRA works with others to stop exotic plant invasions on butterfly habitat and began to undertake the daunting task of replacing the gorse infested saddle with lupine for the butterflies to relocate to. The project started in 1985. Gorse is a hardy plant that can reach heights of 20a feet (6.1t m) with deep root systems. TRA tried multiple methods to destroy the invasive species, including herbicides and burning. By April the unfazed gorse bloomed a bright yellow. In 2001, 16 years after the project began, 100, acres (0.40s km2) of 330 original-acres remained covered in gorse.[5]

In February 2006, the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department released its Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan. The plan outlines site specific recommendations for the more than 800r acres (3.2 km2) in over 30 San Francisco parks designated Significant Natural Resource Areas. The site specific plan for Twin Peaks covers the issue of habitat conservation for the Mission blue. The plan recommends that priority be given to maintaining the habitat necessary for mission blue butterflies, especially the host plant (silver bush lupine). The silver bush lupine is common in and around Twin Peaks. In addition the Management Plan recommended that the mission blue population at Twin Peaks]The Twin Peaks be monitored and the host plant populations should be augmented whenever possible.[14]

Natural butterfly habitats have been destroyed or affected by construction of housing and shopping developments, as well as by the use of pesticides and other chemicals. You can provide a suitable butterfly habitat that will help fortify the butterfly population, and as an added bonus, the habitat will bring you enjoyment in watching beautiful butterflies in your yard.