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AN DA HIGHW n w C a - a Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping of the Coastal Douglas-fir Zone

S S S y N pec A tacle R C re T e 1:50,000 k T o d I n l e t The Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB) retained Madrone Environmental Services Ltd. (Madrone) H of Duncan, B.C. to conduct Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) for the Coastal Douglas-Fir moist maritime a (CDFmm) biogeoclimatic subzone. TEM consists of the stratification of landscape features into biophysical r o and ecological map units reflecting climate, physiography, surficial material, bedrock geology, soil, vegetation, and disturbance. S t The objective of this project is to provide baseline data that can be used to support planners, scientists, and r a other decision makers within local, regional and provincial governments to coordinate conservation efforts, F G o w l l a n d To d P a r k i prepare sustainable growth strategies, and promote science-based, ecologically sensitive decision making i t n around land use within the CDFmm. l

a y The CDFmm covers approximately 252,000 hectares stretching along the east coast of Island, the s o Sunshine Coast, the and the . The study area for this project did not include the n

A Lower Mainland. A total of 200,000 hectares was mapped including the communities of: Powell River, r , Bowser, Qualicum, Parksville, , Ladysmith, , Crofton, Cowichan, m Elk and the ; the Gulf Islands: Thormanby, Savary, Hernando, Harwood, Texada, Lasqueti, Hornby, Denman, Gabriola, Valdes, Thetis, Kuper, Galiano and Saltspring. Lake The thematic map displayed at left is the result of a number of queries performed on the final TEM database to classify the mapped ecosystems into eight broad categories: old forest, mature forest, young forest, immature forest, garry oak, non-forested, wetland and anthropogenic. These categories illustrate an overview perspective of the natural and non-natural ecosystems occurring within the CDFmm zone.

C o r d o v a MAP AND ECOSYSTEM LEGEND Prospect B a y Lake OLD FOREST

Old forest ecosystems are structurally complex stands comprised mainly of shade-tolerant and regenerating tree species. Snags and coarse woody debris, in all stages of decomposition, and patchy understories are common. These forests are categorized C O R M O R A N T P O I N T as structural stage 7 and are generally greater than 250 years in age.

MATURE FOREST

Gordon Head Mature forests are made up of trees that have matured since the last disturbance and are typically 80 to 250 years of age. These forests are structural stage 6 and are characterized by well developed understories and a canopy differentiated into distinct layers. A second cycle of shade tolerant trees may become established in mature forests.

YOUNG FOREST

Young forest ecosystems can begin as early as 30 years of age but typically T h e t range from 40-80 years old. These forests are structural stage 5 with is L a k self thinning evident and a forest canopy which has differentiation into e TRANS-CANA distinct layers. Young forests have vigorous growth and are more open DA H I than immature forests. Portage GH WAY Inlet C a d b o ro B a IMMATURE FOREST y Te n M i l e P o i n t E c o l o g i c a l R e s e r v e Immature forests are structural stage 4 and consist of trees taller than 10 m. These forests are typically dense and less than 40 years of age. La E ng s Self thinning and vertical canopy structure is not evident in these forests. fo q rd u This category also includes recently harvested areas and other disturbed La i ke m Langford a forested ecosystems. l t

H a O a k B a y I s l a n d s r b E c o l o g i c a l R e s e r v e o u r Oak GARRY OAK G le Bay n La ke Colwood Garry oak ecosystems include mosaics of woodlands, meadows, grasslands, scattered Douglas-fir stands, and open rocky areas. In Oak Bay these ecosystems are red-listed and support high numbers of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. r ou Lagoon b r D i s c o v e r y I s l a n d a M a r i n e P a r k H Victoria a i r t o ic NON-FORESTED V Non-forested ecosystems are made up of herbaceous, shrubby, bryoid and sparsely vegetated units with less than 10% tree cover.They range from structural stage 1 to 3 and are generally maintained by environmental conditions or disturbance. Some of the typical non-forested units are cliffs, Ross beaches, gravel bars, and rock outcrops. Bay

C L O V E R Tr a i l I s l a n d s P O I N T E c o l o g i c a l R e s e r v e WETLAND Wetlands are characterized with a water table at, near, or above the surface, daily, seasonally or year-round. Soils in wetlands are water- saturated for enough periods that excess water and low soil oxygen concentrations create conditions necessary for water-tolerant plants to dominate. This unit includes fens, swamps,marshes, bogs, shallow open water and estuaries.

NON-NATURAL

Areas that have been cleared or altered permanently for human settlement or industry. These are anthropogenic units such as cultivated fields, gravel pits, mines, golf courses, orchards, vineyards, road and railway surfaces as T well as rural and urban areas. I A R T S BASE MAP FEATURES Parry A Bay Protected Areas (Provincial & Municipal Parks) Major Roads C U Crown Land (Municipal, Federal & Provincial) CDFmm Boundary F

0 750 1,500 3,000 4,500 6,000 7,500 E Meters D

N KEY MAP 1:1,500,000 A U Campbell River

J B R I T I S H N E D P O I N T MAP 1 C O L U M B I A Pedder Bay MAP 2 V A N C O U V E R I S L A N D

MAP 4 MAP 3 Sechelt

Becher Bay MAP 5 Vancouver

Tofino MAP 6 Whirl Bay MAP 7

R a c e R o c k s E c o l o g i c a l R e s e r v e MAP 8

P A C I F I C O C E A N MAP 9 Victoria 0 25 50 100 Kilometers 8

0 0 2

Lead Bioterrain: Wanda Miller, Michelle Trommelen, Pamela Williams , 3

Bioterrain Q/A: Sid Tsang & Deepa Filatow e

Lead Ecologists: Helen Reid, Claudia Houwers, Jodie Krakowski & Caroline Astley n u J

Ecosystem Q/A: Jo-Anne Stacey, Carmin Cadrin, Corey Erwin & Kim Everett : e

Project Managers: Jane Thomson, Jackie Churchill & Tania Tripp t SAANICH PENINSULA AND GREATER VICTORIA a

Data Entry and QA: Julie Cowie, Jackie Churchill, Sonia Meili, Kyle Rezansoff D

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GIS/Map Production: Jane Thomson, Dana Luxmoore & Brett Korteling o i s Monorestitution: Chartwell Consultants i TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM MAP MAP 9 OF 9 v Funding: ILMB, The Islands Trust Fund, Ministry of Environment, The Centre e R

Contract Monitor: Bill Zinovich, Planning Officer, ILMB p a

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