Encourage, promote and facilitate research on the biota, physical and chemical environment of the Sanctuary and other relevant Door County habitats

Rationale:

The Ridges and surrounding landscapes have been recognized as the most biologically diverse area in the State by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. To protect The Ridges, research initiatives must provide an understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics and connections to the larger landscapes or watersheds.

Strategies:

• Divide The Ridges property into management zones and develop a baseline assessment of the biota and physical-chemical environment of the Sanctuary. This includes a complete species list of all plants and multicellular animals present in the Sanctuary and baseline data on the water, air and soil.
• Collaborate with scientists and other organizations managing land in the Ephraim/Baileys Harbor Forest Corridor (North Bay south to The Ridges Sanctuary) to identify research needs for individual populations and ecosystems unique to this landscape.
• Collaborate with other organizations managing land in the Logan Creek watershed to understand changes in flora, fauna and water quality.
• With appropriate limits on sensitive information, maintain research results, data and specimen collections to be shared by visiting scientists, volunteers and members.