Climate change and its enormous impact are a top concern in the country and worldwide. Today, we observe a sudden increase in the frequency and severity of natural weather phenomena, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Apart from the weather patterns, there is a growing concern about the impact on wildlife from processes such as construction, human disturbance, and soil erosion.
In recent years, the construction industry has experienced exponential growth nationwide. The cities are becoming overpopulated, and construction has shifted to remote areas where there is ample land and a greater availability of natural resources. However, the remote areas are home to various distinctive wildlife that are categorized as ‘threatened’ and ‘endangered.’
The Need to Conserve the Piping Plover Population
Nearly all types of construction have an impact on the surrounding environment. However, the government construction project includes buildings and infrastructure constructed on different surfaces and terrains. For example, building a dam involves extensive planning and the use of machines, materials, and labor. Moreover, the worksite is carefully selected after analyzing all the design and development parameters.
The construction operation along the streams, lakes, rivers, and seas is quite challenging, not only due to topography but also due to the impact on the surroundings. For example, a dredging operation is necessary for new construction, expansion, or maintenance of ports, harbors, and shipping channels. The dredging process disturbs the sediments that directly impact marine wildlife and other ecosystems.
Apart from the aquatic animals, certain birds settle in coastal locations. One such bird is the ‘Piping Plover’ that is counted as an endangered species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The plover is a small shorebird similar to a sparrow that settles and feeds along the coastal shores of North America. It has a unique black line across the front of the chest across the forehead from one eye to the next. Also, the color of the legs is a combination of yellow, orange, and red.
The plover can easily blend in with its surroundings, making it difficult to spot on the wide, sandy beaches. The piping plover population is estimated to be around 7500 – 8400 and can decrease if proper conservation activity is not implemented.
eCertify offers mandatory environmental compliance courses for a federal government construction project. The Piping Plover Monitor for Beach Construction is an online course developed to prevent the potential risks to the natural habitat of Piping Plover.
All types of government construction contracts and USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) include an Environmental Manager who oversees all the environmental aspects of a particular construction. There are certain modules or lessons that individual needs to study in the Piping Plover Monitoring course, such as
- Details about the Piping Plover and its population
- The living and eating habitats
- The difference between the classification of ‘Endangered’ and ‘Threatened’
- Reasons for the decline in its population
- Protective steps to improve the Piping Plover population
- Activities such as construction that pose a threat to the critical habitat
The Piping Plover Monitoring course is ideal for most professionals and workers involved in USACE projects regarding construction or expansion in harbors and ports. The SSHO (Site Safety and Health Officer), Quality Control Manager, and workers on dredging or disposal sites can also take this course.
Why Take the Piping Plover Monitoring Course?
The purpose of the course is to inform you about the potential risks that Piping Plovers face due to the construction process in their habitat. Some of the steps that you will get to know about are
- Listing
In 1986, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Great Population in the ‘Endangered Species’ category. Also, the population in the Atlantic and Northern Great Plains was termed as ‘Threatened.’
- Recovery Plans
This step covers all the plans to be implemented to help the Piping Plover survive and grow.
- Habitat Protection
The focus of the conversation efforts is on various measures to protect the birds’ living and nesting habitat. Human access or intervention is minimal in the bird’s nesting areas. Industrial and commercial development needs to be limited. One of the biggest concerns for industrial buildings and factories is the disposal of waste.’ In the state of Michigan, many residents have pledged to save the habitat of the piping plover.
- Public Awareness
A comprehensive awareness campaign is conducted in states where piping plovers are present. The emphasis is on providing information about conservation to communities along coastal locations.
- Research
The federal and state agencies have certain research groups that work on the numbers of Piping Plover, determine how the birds breed in different seasons, and monitor any long-term changes in the birds’ population.
The common threats that the Piping Plover face include construction projects, human disturbance, and predation from other wild and domestic animals. There is also a significant threat from ACM (Asbestos-Containing Material), which can be any material containing more than 1% asbestos. Any building that requires renovation or is slated for demolition involves the removal of hazardous materials that may be stored.
Bottom Line
The Piping Plover population is susceptible to loss due to coastal development projects, erosion, rising sea level, and recreation activities.
eCertify offers environmental expertise to numerous clients in the government construction industry. The ecological compliance courses are purposefully developed considering the potential threats to wildlife and endangered species. You can easily create an online account and enroll in the classes. To get a certificate, you will have to pass the quizzes at the end of every lesson and secure 70% marks or more in the final examination.
