Wildlife Viewing

BC Parks Newsletter June 2000 Volume 11, Number 3 Guide Earns $50,000 Strong sales of the new BC Marine Parks Guide are paying off for the B.C. Marine Parks Forever Society (BCMPFS). Pacific Yachting presented the BCMPFS with a $50,000 cheque at the magazine’s annual Vancouver Boat Show exhibitors’ party. The funds are proceeds from the sale of nearly 5,000 copies of the guide since it was published last October. The BCMPFS is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to acquire land for future parks. Published in partner- ship by Pacific Yachting, the BCMPFS and BC Parks, the guide is a full- Undisturbed flood plain ecosystems colour official reference to more than Gitnadoix River Provincial Park. 80 coastal parks; all net proceeds Ecological will go to BCMPFS. Many thanks go Recently, many government agen- to Parks staff, both in Headquarters Integrity: A cies and conservation organizations and in the District, for their across the globe have begun to rec- assistance in supplying information Conservation ognize that in order to achieve or for the publication and ensuring that maintain preservation of biodiversity the material was accurate. Direction for and natural processes in protected The book is available for $16.95 areas, one must effectively manage plus taxes at selected chandleries BC Parks for ecological integrity as the funda- and bookstores, or direct from Pacific mental objective of the park system. Yachting (604) 606-4644. I by Brandin Schultz, Victoria L Ecological Integrity Project Manager (continued on page 2) Are we at a crossroads in the conservation, preservation and management of protected areas in British Inside Columbia? Currently there are over E-Teams Battle Weeds in Okanagan Parks ……3 600 parks and ecological reserves now in the system – and more on the Wildlife Viewing ………………………………4 way – and almost 12% of the province Wildlife Viewing Code of Ethics………………4 is classified as a protected area and Dreams Do Come True ………………………5 PHOTO: SEAPHOTO: SNAPS under the jurisdiction of BC Parks. Special Visitors to Manning Park ……………5 Pacific Yachting publisher Rex Armstead Now more than ever this organiza- Feed the Tree Program ………………………6 (right) presents B.C. Marine Parks tion must subscribe to sound, pro- Conservation or Recreation? …………………6 Forever Society president Keith Stockdale gressive conservation management (left) with a cheque for $50,000, assisted principles to adequately conserve and An Ecosystem Creating Its Own Space? ……7 by Vicki Haberl of BC Parks (second protect the land and environments Scoutrees for Canada …………………………8 from left) and PY editor Duart Snow. entrusted to the agency. Tenth Annual MELP Squash Tournament……8 (“Ecological Integrity…” continued from page 1) for it. The intention is to provide In fact, one of the major conclusions staff with the skills and tools to man- VISIONS is produced six times per from the final report of the Legacy age for and protect the integrity of year by BC Parks, Ministry of Panel in 1999 was that the protection the natural and cultural values and Environment, Lands and Parks to and maintenance of the ecological features of the park system. As well, maintain commitment to quality integrity of provincial parks and it is hoped the course material will service and stewardship and to protected areas should be the be able to better equip personnel encourage innovation by everyone priority in managing and planning with information and material need- directly involved or interested in for British Columbia’s protected ed to develop and deliver appropri- BC Parks. area system. ate outreach messages related to eco- VISIONS Newsletter is posted on In recognition of this message, our logical integrity. BC Parks’ web site: www.elp.gov.bc. agency has initiated a number of Why is managing for ecological ca/bcparks/whatsnew/what.htm. new programs, including developing integrity important? As VISIONS is now available on the a staff training plan, designed to internet, please let us know if you bring the objective of managing for Given the scale of human influence would like to be removed from our ecosystem conservation and ecologi- affecting parks and protected areas, mailing list. cal integrity to the forefront of our BC Parks must increasingly engage To contact us regarding changes park management efforts. in active management in order to to the VISIONS mailing list or to maintain ecological components and What is ecological integrity? receive a free subscription: processes where they are needed. I call (250) 952-6709 Ecological integrity refers to Human activities and facilities such whole and complete biological sys- as roads, urbanization and high levels I send an email note to tems, including species, landscape of visitation in and around parks may [email protected] elements, and natural processes. have serious consequences on the I write to: VISIONS, BC Parks, A more technical definition used animal and plant communities that PO Box 9398, Stn Prov Govt, by Parks Canada suggests that make up these ecosystems. Increasing Victoria, BC V8W 9M9 Canada ecological integrity is: “the condition impact on natural features and Articles from readers are welcome. of an ecosystem where the structure biodiversity means declining ecologi- Deadline for material in the next issue and function of the ecosystem are cal integrity which means the natural is July 1, 2000. unimpaired by stresses induced by processes and environmental value human activity, and the ecosystem’s of the protected area are diminishing Editor biological diversity and supporting as well. Nancy Chave processes are likely to persist”. And What are some threats to ecological finally, the 11 member Panel on the integrity? Contributors Ecological Integrity of Canada’s Kathie Eldred National Parks concluded that: “An Within parks, some infrastructure Dave Foreman ecosystem has integrity when it is such as visitor/tourism facilities or Andrew MacLeod deemed characteristic for its natural road networks tend to remove or Cheryl Noble region, including the composition fragment wildlife habitat and facili- Dave Richmond tate potential invasion of exotic Hans Roemer and abundance of native species and biological communities, rates of species, while high visitor use often Brandin Schultz leads to a reduction of native species Andy Smith change and supporting processes. Ecosystems have integrity when and an increase in foreign species. Minister they have their native components Outside protected areas, land use Joan Sawicki (plants, animals and other organ- practices such as mining, forestry or agriculture can also fragment Deputy Minster isms) and processes (such as growth and reproduction) intact.” wildlife habitat, create barriers to Derek Thompson natural movement patterns and Assistant Deputy Minister How can I learn about ecological allow new uncontrolled access points Denis O’Gorman integrity? to protected areas. As well, policies BC Parks has initiated the design of the past and historic practices and development of a staff training such as forest fire suppression have program scheduled to begin this fall interfered with natural systems and that will inform and educate staff resulted in significant changes in the about what ecological integrity is composition of the ecosystem. and how we may plan and manage L (continued on page 3) 2 VISIONS June 2000 (“Ecological Integrity…” continued from page 2) the various ecosystem components biodiversity and natural processes. and processes and how they work From proper accounting procedures How can we manage for ecological together. Threats and stresses to the for monitoring of conservation- integrity? ecological integrity of the park must related expenditures; to progressive It is important to recognize that be identified monitored and assessed. recruitment policies and practices parks and protected areas cannot be When changes or trends exceed which select highly qualified and managed as isolated places within the acceptable limits it is likely the knowledgeable personnel; to office greater landscape. Few parks are ecosystem is experiencing a loss in staff whom can supply related large enough to sustain a complete integrity. As there are limits to the information directly to the public; to and functioning ecosystem by amount of stress and impact an the various staff whom manage, plan, themselves. Therefore, managing ecosystem can absorb, acceptable uses develop and direct the ongoing for ecological integrity requires an and activities in each protected area operational and day to day programs ecosystem management approach must be determined. Recreational and projects of the agency. Learning which recognizes the interconnected- activities, developments and visitor about what ecological integrity is ness of ecosystems and their access to protected areas must be and how you can help maintain and components both within and outside evaluated in terms of their impact on protect it is an ongoing process, and of parks. Managers must also recog- ecological integrity and incompatible a challenging one for every staff nize the importance of allowing uses must not be permitted. member. The ecological integrity natural ecosystem processes to project is designed to help with this Whose job is it to manage for take priority over human use or learning and provide information ecological integrity? intervention. Information must be and guidelines for staff to assist them collected about the area to establish a Everyone in BC Parks plays an in this task. I baseline and basic understanding of important role in conserving the E-Teams Battle Weeds in Okanagan Parks by Andrew MacLeod, E-Team Communications Bull thistle, parasitic dodder, leaf work at Trout Creek, Sun-Oka, Summerland and Osoyoos crews will spurge and Russian knapweed are Vaseux Lake, Inkameep and include tick awareness, cactus avoid- thriving in BC Parks in the South Mahoney Lake parks. The second ance and rattlesnake safety. I Okanagan-Similkameen. Invasive crew, based in Osoyoos, will work in and tenacious, they’ve been success- Boundary, Johnstone Creek, Kettle ful enough to earn a spot on a list of River, Haynes Lease, Haynes Point 18 plant species Environment Youth and Fields Lease parks.

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