Habitat Protection Areas (HPA) are large tree protection areas in which a complete habitat of plants, soils, water regimes, animal life and nutrients work together to produce clean air, pure water, rich soils, and a population of animal life living and growing off of the biological productivity and diversity of the place.
Forest floors are among nature’s most efficient forms of storm water management methods. Rain falling on tree canopy begins to be managed as soon as raindrops fall on leaves and continues until root uptake water hours after the storm event. One of the most effective storm water best management practices that will preserve trees and manage storm water is to preserve natural habitat and remnant forest stands on development sites.
Rain that does make it to the ground is immediately absorbed into the forest duff, a thick organic four (4) to six (6) inch layer of fallen leaves, decaying leaf matter and native soil mulch. Finally, when rain actually gets to the surface soil level it too is quickly absorbed due to the natural porosity of the soil caused by root growth soil insects and ground creatures who mine the soil for food and nutrients.
