John Lusby Marsh National Wildlife Area Management Plan, 2016: chapter 4

4 Goals and objectives

4.1 Vision

The long-term vision for John Lusby Marsh National Wildlife Area (NWA) is conservation of the salt marsh habitat for the benefit of migratory birds. Natural processes, such as marine sediment deposition or loss (accretion or erosion), will be allowed to continue.

4.2 Goals and objectives

Specific goals and objectives are as follows.

Goal 1: Conservation of salt marsh habitat so that populations of migratory birds and resident flora and fauna are sustained.

1. Objective: The overall composition and relative abundance of flora within the NWA does not change significantly over time.
2. Objective: Illegal activities are identified and prevented within the NWA.

Goal 2: Controlled water level impoundments mimic an ecosystem driven by shallow but relatively stable water levels, so that populations of migratory birds and resident flora and fauna are sustained.

1. Objective: The composition and relative abundance of flora in controlled water level impoundments does not change significantly over time.
2. Objective: There is an even ratio of open water to emergent vegetation in the impoundment with a high degree of interspersion.

Goal 3: Acadian forests are conserved and maintained within the NWA so that populations of migratory birds and resident flora and fauna are sustained.

1. Objective: The extent of Acadian forests in the NWA will be between 2 and 5 ha.

4.3 Evaluation

Annual monitoring will be performed within the limits imposed by the availability of financial and human resources. The management plan will be reviewed 5 years after its initial approval, and reviewed and updated every 10 years thereafter. The evaluation will take the form of an annual review of monitoring data obtained from the monitoring and research projects outlined below. This monitoring will be used to establish priorities for action and to allocate resources.