WILDLIFE
STUDIES
Research and monitoring projects are essential parts of the Central
Westcoast Forest Society's work to help restore BC's coastal
rainforest. Without information about the environment and the
species that live in it, there will be no way to measure the
benefits of restoration; no basis for comparison.
The Clayoquot Sound area is a unique part of Canada - an area already studied quite significantly. The CWFS works hard to bring research studies to the area while trying to build local capacity and ability in the fields of research and monitoring.
Projects
Listed below:
1. Marbled Murrelet
2. Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorant
3. Ungulate
4. Bat
5. Harbour Clean-Up
6. Wildlife Habitat Study
.
Marbled Murrelet
Habitat
1.
Marbled Murrelet
The Marbled Murrelet is a seabird, listed as threatened by the
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)
and red-listed, as a species at risk, in British Columbia. Murrelets
nest on large mossy limbs in coastal old-growth forests. Clayoquot
Sound is viewed as an important area to study this threatened
species.
The CWFS has administered a number of murrelet projects for the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Air Protection (formerly referred to as the BC Ministry of Environment)
Projects:
- 1999 Marbled Murrelet Activity Survey
- 2000 Marbled Murrelet Climbing Density
- 2000 Marbled Murrelet Habitat Mapping
- 1999 Marbled Murrelet Inventory
- 2000 Marbled Murrelet Inventory
- 2001 Marbled Murrelet Observation
- 2000 Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat
- 1999 Marbled Murrelet Tree Climbing Inventory
Cormorant in cliff-side nest
2.
Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorant
Due to suspected declines in the population of the Double-crested
Cormorant, British Columbia has blue-listed the seabird as vulnerable.
Population declines have also been noted for the Pelagic Cormorant.
The Cormorant is a fish-eating seabird that nests on rocky cliffs
and islands. The Pelagic Cormorant is found along the entire
coast of British Columbia, the Double-crested Cormorant nests
only in the Strait of Georgia.
In 2001 the Central Westcoast Forest Society administered an 'Investigation of Double-Crested and Pelagic Cormorant Declines in the Strait of Georgia' on behalf of the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Air Protection (formerly referred to as the BC Ministry of Environment).
Black Tail Deer on
Vancouver Island
3.
Ungulates
An ungulate is a mammal with hooves, such as deer.
For the Ungulate Winter Range Assessment Project, researchers worked to identify, map and confirm previously unknown ungulate winter ranges. Data analysis determined the total area originally set aside in ungulate winter ranges, the area of winter ranges lost to forest harvesting, and that portion lost to unauthorized harvesting. Scientific information was updated for critical ungulate winter ranges on Vancouver Island and was used to create a comprehensive database. Utilizing this database and other project findings, appropriate management actions will be more effectively implemented to conserve these species and maintain populations at sustainable numbers. Species of primary focus in this project included black tailed deer and elk. The project began in June 2003 and a final report will be completed by March 2004.
In 2000 the Central Westcoast Forest Society also administered 'Ungulate Winter Range Habitat Assessments' in the British Columbia South Island Forest District for the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Air Protection (formerly referred to as the BC Ministry of Environment).
An inventory of Roosevelt elk in Clayoquot Sound was also conducted in the summer of 1996 to provide information about the distribution and habitat use of the elk in Clayoquot Sound. The project was done in a cooperative manner with the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations.
Bats play an important role
in the ecosystem
4.
Bats
Bats are recognized as an important component of forest ecosystems,
but relatively little is known about bats in Clayoquot Sound.
In 1999 the Central Westcoast Forest Society administered a study of 'Habitat Use by Bats in Temperate Old-Growth Forests, Clayoquot Sound' for the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Air Protection (formerly referred to as the BC Ministry of Environment). This study aimed to inventory the bat community and identify critical habitat.
Finding
Reports
- visit the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands & Air
Protection website www.gov.bc.ca/wlap/
- look at the category "Popular Topics"
- click "Endangered Species"
- click "BC Species Explorer"
- click "Plant or Animal Search"
- type in the name of the species you are seeking
- click "Search Now"
5. Harbour Clean-up
The communities of the Ucluelet area recognize a healthy and sustainable working harbour is important to the region's future.
As part of the ongoing Harbour Management Program, the Ucluelet
Harbour Project took place in 2001 to assess past and current
uses of the harbour in order to identify the actions necessary
to bring the harbour back to a healthy condition. The Ucluelet
Harbour Project continued into Phase 2 with work to develop a
community action plan.
Funding for the project came from Human Resources Development
Canada through the Ucluelet Community Labour Initiative Program.
The Central Westcoast Forest Society administered the projects.
Both reports
are available:
Ucluelet Harbour Project - (October 2001)
Ucluelet
Harbour Project Community Action Plan.pdf (426kb)
Ucluelet Harbour Project - Community Action Plan (October 2001):
Ucluelet
Harbour Project Traditional Historical and Current Uses.pdf
(129kb)
6. Wildlife Habitat Area Study
The project titled: 'Identified Wildlife Species Inventory and Establishment of Wildlife Habitat Areas' focused on conducting inventory assessments and designating Wildlife Habitat Areas for Red and Blue-listed species (Red listed meaning being threatened or endangered, and Blue listed meaning being particularly vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions). The project served to increase knowledge of habitat requirements and species distributions, which are essential in order to select high quality habitats for threatened wildlife. Designating Wildlife Habitat Areas and other conservation areas throughout a species range is critical to the maintenance of a species distribution and to the prevention of population threats caused by catastrophic events. Marbled Murrelets, Coastal Tailed Frogs, Northern Goshawks, and Red-legged Frogs were the primary species of focus for this project. The project began in May 2003 and will be completed by March 2004.
