02/27/2008 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• IV. Restoration and Management Needs and Recommendations Foxborough Restoration and Management Goals • Restore, manage, and improve pre- existing moderate and low quality natural communities and natural resources within Foxborough's conservation areas; • Re- establish and/or restore native vegetation cover within highly disturbed and non- native landscape areas within the conservation areas that is ecologically appropriate and suited to the environmental conditions of the site and is suitable to proposed human uses and desired site aesthetics; • Establish trails and conservation signage (and other infrastructure) that help facilitate sustainable natural resource management and other programmed activities. Trails should offer access and provide opportunities for passive recreational opportunities, such as walking, jogging, cross - country skiing, wildlife observation, and nature interpretation; • Provide recreational and educational opportunities for the residents of Foxborough and trail users that are compatible with sustaining, restoring, and improving the natural vegetation and ecological functions of Foxborough's conservation areas; • Implement surface water and public infrastructure planning and development within the site and adjacent landscape that compliments (and does not further degrade) the natural resources of the site; • Identify and capitalize on opportunities to connect Foxborough's restored natural areas with adjacent natural areas, either through reestablishing and improving ecological/habitat connections and pedestrian/recreational connections, or through developing educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and collaborative relationships with adjacent landowners, future conservation developments, and/or local and state government agencies. Prescribed Native Plant Communities Much of the existing vegetation of Foxborough's conservation areas is currently in a moderate to low quality natural condition or degraded semi- natural condition. All natural areas within the designated conservation areas will require considerable resources to restore and/or manage vegetation as natural plant communities well into the future. Furthermore, areas of very disturbed semi - natural vegetation and non - native cover (i.e. degraded wet meadows, old- fields, and buckthorn - infested woodlands and forests), will require restoration tasks such as invasive and exotic vegetation removal, chemical and manual treatments and/or biological controls of noxious weed species, and replanting /reseeding with native plant community cover. To minimize the resources require for restoring and managing native Vegetation within Foxborough's conservation areas, pre - existing natural communities will not be converted to other natural community types. Figure 6 illustrates the location and extent of prescribed natural and semi - natural vegetation types within Foxborough's conservation areas. Rather, existing natural communities will be managed, improved, and augmented with appropriate native species seed mixes and plantings when necessary. Non - native landscape types, such as old- fields and Foxborough Conservation Development Restoration and Management Plan 14