Ecosystems in Change and Ecological Restoration The BC Parks Experience
Presented by: Lyle Gawalko Forest Ecosystem Officer Ministry of Environment Parks and Protected Areas Branch Victoria, B.C.
Presentation Overview
I. Climate Change and Changes to Natural Disturbances II. Planning and Research for Management and Restoration III. Management and Restoration Examples IV. Emerging Management Issues
1 I. CLIMATE CHANGE AND CHANGES TO NATURAL DISTURBANCES
Climate Change
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report – 4th Assessment Report • Indicators of Climate Change for British Columbia 2002
2 Climate Change and Natural Disturbances
Natural disturbances predicted to increase in frequency, scale and intensity:
• Mountain Pine Beetle/Insect Outbreaks • Wildfires • Floods • Droughts • Storm events
3 MPB Landscape Level – Manning Park
MPB Stand level – Manning Park
4 Wildfire - Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park 2003
Area burned in BC
300000
250000
200000
150000 hectares 100000
50000
0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
5 Wildfires 2006
Storm Damage – Windthrow 07
6 Encroachment Kal Lake Park – 1935 to 2005
1935 2005
Encroachment Churn Creek Park – 1965 to 1995
7 Climate Change – Other Impacts
• Variability in water flows – volume, timing, quality, temperature • Increase in invasive species/naturals becoming invasive • New plant community assemblages • Current vegetation communities become “offsite” – e.g. red cedar • Rapid habitat changes • Wildlife/species “winners” and “losers”
II. PLANNING AND RESEARCH FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION
8 Impact
0246810 Narcosli Lake Ecological Reserve Entiako Park White Pelican Park Kluskoil Lake Park Schoolhouse Lake Park Itcha Ilgachuz Park Dahl Lake Park Trembleur Lake Park Finger Tatuk Park Lac Le Jeune Park Nazko Lake Park Jackman Flats Park Nechako Canyon Protected Area Chilako River Ec ologic al Res erve Tunkw a Park Little Andrew s Bay Marine Park Meridian Road (Vanderhoof) Ecological Reserve Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Corridor PA Tw eedsmuir Park Stuart River Park Sutherland River Protected Area Takla Lake Ecological Reserve Ts'yl-Os (Ts'il?os) Park Carp Lake Park Francois Lake Park Crooked River Park Eskers Park 2004 Cathedral Park Edge Hills Park Chasm Ecological Reserve 2005 Roche Lake Park Rearguard Falls Park 2010 Arrow stone Protected Area Uncha Mountains Red Hills Park Three Sisters Lakes Park 2020 Chas e Park Mackinnon Esker Ecological Reserve Mount Blanchet Park Rubyrock Lake Park Moyie Lake Park Nation Lakes Park West Arm Park Nechako River Ecological Reserve Sutherland River Park Akamina-Kishinena Park Bearhole Lake Park Chas m Park Bearhole Lake Protected Area Brandyw ine Falls Park Fraser River Park Bednesti Lake Ecological Reserve E.C. Manning Par k Norbury Lake Park Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park Mount Pope Park Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Park Omineca Protected Area Mount Robson Park Silver Star Park West Lake Park Takla Lake Marine Park Fort George Canyon Park Harry Lake Aspen Park Dunn Peak Protected Area Beaumont Park Momic h Lakes Par k Purden Lake Park Wapiti Lake Park Foster Arm Protected Area Kakw a Park Skagit Valley Park Aleza Lake Ecological Reserve Omineca Park Babine River Corridor Park Monkman Park Horsefly Lake Park Tacheeda Lakes Ecological Reserve Whipsaw Creek Ecological Reserve Lac Du Bois Grasslands Protected Area West Tw in Protected Area Dryw illiam Lake Ecological Reserve Garibaldi Park Giscome Portage Trail Protected Area Jimsmith Lake Park West Tw in Park
9 10 11 III. MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION EXAMPLES
Challenge of Ecosystem Restoration in Parks and Protected Areas Balance Ecosystem perspective • Allow natural processes to prevail to maintain natural ecosystems
• Determine when ecosystems require active management to offset human induced changes (e.g.: fire suppression resulting in encroachment, loss of habitat or forest fuel accumulations)
Social and economic perspective • Recognize and mitigate social and economic issues associated with the frequency and nature of natural disturbances (e.g.: visitor safety, urban interface wildfires, recreation management, forest health)
12 Mt. Robson Prescribed Burn August 2004
Mt. Robson Prescribed Burn – August 2004
13 Prescribed Burn- Grassland restoration Churn Creek Park Spring 2004
Combination Treatment - Kikomun Creek Park interface fuel reduction/forest restoration Before Treatment
14 Kikomun Creek Park – after treatment
15 16 Urban Interface Fuel Reduction/Mountain Pine Beetle Management – Silver Star Provincial Park
Grassland Restoration – Churn Creek - Before
17 Grassland Restoration – Churn Creek - After
IV. EMERGING MANAGEMENT ISSUES
• A system assessment of parks and natural values most vulnerable to climate change impacts is required. • A provincial assessment of landscape corridors for species migration is required– what is the role of parks and how should they be managed? • Planning for park ecological adaptation/resiliency to climate change based on predicted climate change impacts should start now. • Baseline monitoring to assess speed of climate change impacts is essential.
18 Natural Processes Prevail; however, park managers may be faced by future management challenges…….
– Wildfire control to prevent loss of a critical habitat for endangered/threatened species? – Initiate reforestation after fires/MPB to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change? – Manage parks as climate refugia/lifeboats for species/ecosystems threatened by climate change? – Allow parks to serve as genetic reservoirs for critical restoration needs outside of parks?
THE END/BEGINNING
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