Presentation Overview

Transcription

1 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. III. IV. Planning and Research for Management and Restoration Management and Restoration Examples Emerging Management Issues 1

2 I. CLIMATE CHANGE AND CHANGES TO NATURAL DISTURBANCES Climate Change Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report 4 th Assessment Report Indicators of Climate Change for British Columbia

3 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

4 MPB Landscape Level Manning Park MPB Stand level Manning Park 4

5 Wildfire - Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park Area burned in BC hectares

6 Wildfires 2006 Storm Damage Windthrow 07 6

7 Encroachment Kal Lake Park 1935 to Encroachment Churn Creek Park 1965 to

8 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

9 Impact 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 Ecological Reserve 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 Cathedral Park Edge Hills Park Chasm Ecological Reserve Roche Lake Park Rearguard Falls Park Arrow stone Protected Area Uncha Mountains Red Hills Park Three Sisters Lakes Park Chase 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 Chasm Park Bearhole Lake Protected Area Brandyw ine Falls Park Fraser River Park Bednesti Lake Ecological Reserve E.C. Manning Park 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 Momich Lakes Park 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

10 10

11 11

12 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

13 Mt. Robson Prescribed Burn August 2004 Mt. Robson Prescribed Burn August

14 Prescribed Burn- Grassland restoration Churn Creek Park Spring 2004 Combination Treatment - Kikomun Creek Park interface fuel reduction/forest restoration Before Treatment 14

15 Kikomun Creek Park after treatment 15

16 16

17 Urban Interface Fuel Reduction/Mountain Pine Beetle Management Silver Star Provincial Park Grassland Restoration Churn Creek - Before 17

18 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

19 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 19