In the spring of 1995 450 grades 3-8 students in 15 classrooms under the jurisdiction of the Norfolk and Oxford County Boards of Education profited from an hour-long program presented by Wendy Fisher, a recent graduate of the University of Waterloo and employed by LPBR as a Community Action Plan education coordinator. The focus of the program was the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve, showing how the diverse ecosystem of Long Point developed, why it was assessed as an ecological haven worthy of protection and nurturing, and how and when the Reserve was established. The program had three components: a short slide show; a classroom discussion; and an activity period providing students with an opportunity to demonstrate in a group what they had learned from the other two components. Each participant received a copy of the Biosphere's large attractive poster, which captures the diversity and complexity of our ecosystem, together with further aids to understanding the natural features of the Long Point area. The program was designed to complement the curricula of the Norfolk Board and Oxford County of Education, enhancing awareness of LPBR among children, but with the added hope that information would be conveyed to parents who, in general, are often difficult to reach. The students were exposed to new environmental terminology (or had their previous knowledge reinforced) and skills applicable for use both in and out of the classroom were strengthened.Schools visited were based on requests from teachers. The 15 schools were in Port Dover, Port Rowan, Simcoe, Tillsonburg and Walsh. The feedback from both teachers and students has been favourable and several teachers have enquired about the availability of the program in the 1995-96 school year.
Norfolk County is the latest site in a program to establish meteorological climate monitoring towers across the country.
The Norfolk site is the first in Ontario and was chosen because of data already collected on the area by the Long Point World Biosphere’s climate monitoring project. The tower was erected as a partnership between the Biosphere, Environment Canada’s Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) and the Long Point Region Conservation Authority.
Biosphere president Brian Craig explained the tower has a variety of sensors on it to present a temperature profile from the forest canopy down to 100 centimetres into the soil. It also measures photosynthetic active radiation at three meters above the ground and humidity at one meter above the ground.
Adam, Fenech, a director with EMAN, explained the purpose of the tower. “We’re trying to understand what’s in Canada’s ecosystems and why,” he said. “The climate data will be used for studying Canada’s changing biodiversity and understanding the different levels of habitat, or where different species live throughout the forest canopy.”
He further explained the only way changes will be understood is if there is already lots of data on the location. With the tower in place, Fenech is hopeful other researchers will concentrate their work in the area.
Craig said the site where the tower was erected is one of four biodiversity monitoring plots in Norfolk County. A project that has been ongoing for the past couple of years, the monitoring focuses on taking inventory of the trees, plants and other vegetation in the area. The program has been a joint effort from the Smithsonian Institute and United Nations Environmental Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Program (SI/MAB). The data gathered by the station will compliment current biodiversity monitoring the LPWBRF is conducting in conjunction with the SI/MAB program.
Dr. Alan Tomlin, a director of the Mixed Woods/Plains Ecological Science, based out of the Pest Management Research Station in London, added the information will be highly valuable in many facets of research. “The data collected from this Norfolk County forest represents the types of temperatures, humidities and sunlight that would have been common over much of this part of southern Ontario up to about 150 years ago before extensive land clearing for farming,” he said. “We can compare current meteorological conditions in this forested area with data from farmed areas and determine the change of different conditions and the effect these changes will have on carbon and nitrogen cycles and the rate of soil formation.”
For further information, contact Craig at Box 133, Vittoria, N0E 1W0. Courtesy The Delhi News-Record
A group of 11 students from ages 13-15 and their teacher from the Annandale Biodiveristy Monitoring Club at Annandale school in Tillsonburg Ontario attended the Leading Edge Conference in Collingwood. We stayed at the Blue Mountain Inn where the conference was held. After unpacking we were notified by Mr. Craig, that we were to get dressed up and go down to the banquet room and mingle with the other people such as artists, scientists and environmentalists attending the conference. Every person we met had something interesting to say. We also had to set up our poster display of the monitoring we conducted over the summer at Backus Woods for the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation of Canada. We talked to as many people as possible then retreated back up to our rooms where we would get a good nights sleep for the upcoming busy day.
The next day arrived, we had to wake up at 6:30, it's a good thing that we went right to bed after mingling, otherwise we might have been a little cranky with Mr. Craig when he woke us up. After we were all dressed up we headed down to a delicious, cooked to perfection breakfast. After our breakfast we could look forward to the enjoyment of educational, interesting, presentations. We did so and all of the presentations were as spectacular as we expected. At lunch we conversed amongst each other about the very educational presentations we had heard that morning. All of us looked forward to the afternoon presentations. After those presentations that we all enjoyed so much, we headed back to our hotel rooms and put on the old swimming trunks for our swim in the hotel pool. After our swim we got dressed up again to attend what was supposed to be the best meal we had ever eaten. IT WAS!!! After our delicious supper there was a couple more presentations about the Niagara Escarpment which until then we knew little about.
Unfortunately that day had to end, but we could still look forward to the panel discussion tomorrow. We went to bed early again so that we would be up again at 6:30. Tomorrow came and we were wide awake and ready to learn. Two people from our group named Jodie Merrill and Christine Attack, were on the panel, who represented our group great. They did exceptionally well in answering all the questions with great thought. Only one question was passed.
Our car ride home didn't feel long at all because of our discussions on everything that we had learned during the last few days.
We felt privileged to be invited to the conference and we will remember this one and hope to be invited to another. We hope that we made a good impression on all of those who attended the conference because they made a life long impression on us.
A desire to learn about environmental monitoring work being done in the Long Point/Haldimand-Norfolk region spurred the Biosphere committee to undertake the Long Point Area Monitoring Assessment Project (LPAMAP).
The necessary first step was to compile information on current or recent monitoring work by government agencies and non-governmental organizations. In order to collect this information, approximately 90 surveys were sent out in August 1995 to groups that might be conducting monitoring in the area. In December, the collected survey information was summarized and published in a written report. Amazingly, about sixty monitoring projects were reported. This report was then forwarded to all participants in the survey, along with other interested individuals and organizations.
Now that the initial survey has been completed, the LPWBRF will be exploring opportunities to associate with local, national and international programs monitoring environmental change. The desire is to explore what else might be done to round out or strengthen environmental monitoring activities in the region.
Funding for this project was provided by the University of Waterloo, Faculty of Environmental Studies. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the published report should contact the LPWBRF.
During the past 2 months I have had the opportunity to work with the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation with a team of two other Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Environmental Youth Corps Summer Students. My experience gained has helped me with my ongoing studies at Sault College, Sault Ste. Marie.
My duties included assisting with vegetation maintenance on LPWBRF planting sites and working on the Forest Corridor Project. These two activities provided myself with insight into just one small area of what the LPWBRF is doing locally.
Being originally from Delhi and knowing the area, I thought that this job would be a good experience. What I did not expect was that it turned into a rewarding, educational and GREAT experience! Being from the area many of us take for granted the environment that surrounds us and take little time to explore the diverse surroundings that lie right our backdoors.
I have learned a great deal about the complexity of our area and the great interest that exists amongst our community to manage our resources to the best of our abilities. With this in mind the Forest Corridor Project is assisting landowners to understand the piece of nature that they own, so that through this education they can manage their resources for future generation.
My activities this past summer dealt with increasing my technical field skills, improving my communication abilities and learning how to work with a team. My fellow workers, also local students, all assisted each other with the learning process and through our Project Co-ordinator, Steve Scheers we were able to better understand what we were appreciating each day.
I believe that programs like this that offer local students an opportunity to hone their skills while helping their communities are very important. Our work helped our neighbours and through doing so helped our future. To say I enjoyed my summer employment would be an understatement and I would recommend to any student interested in learning more about our area and what we can do to maintain it, they should consider working or volunteering with the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation.
In August of 1996, we were invited by Graham Whitelaw to help work at the Biosphere Monitoring Plot in the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve near Highway 401. I was amazed at the differences between Backus Woods and the Niagara Escarpment. Backus is filled mostly with Carolinian trees and the soil is mostly sand. The Escarpment is mostly maples and the soil is mostly rocks. Also, the Escarpment has no bugs whereas Backus Woods is filled with them. We worked at the Escarpment in shorts and tee-shirts instead of long pants and sweaters.
Myself and a friend, Leslie Free, were honoured at the age of 14 to be asked to work with university students. We had a lot of fun, made some new friends, and would do it again if asked. I would like to thank Graham Whitelaw for the tour of the breathtaking landmarks of the Escarpment and for giving us the opportunity to work with him. I would also like to thank Debbie Ramsey for the wonderful dinner and party after a hard day’s work. We had a great time!
The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation (LPWBRF) in cooperation with Environment Canada's Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), and the Smithsonian Institution and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) Man and Biosphere Program (SI/MAB) has established two biodiversity monitoring plots, one in Backus Woods and the other in the Wilson Tract, with the permission and support of the Long Point Region Conservation Authority who own and manage both woodlots. Located in Canada's Mixed Wood Plain ecozone, Backus Woods is the largest remaining woodlot in southwestern Ontario and, perhaps, the best example of a mature Carolinian forest in Canada.
The goals of EMAN and SI/MAB are to employ long-term monitoring and research to:
- Identify and define ecosystem effects resulting from environmental changes;
- Measure ecosystem responses to control measures such asthe Canadian Acid Rain Control Program;
- Provide an early warning system to identify new stresses;
- Provide the scientific basis for the development of environmental indicators.
The Smithsonian Institution (SI) and UNESCO's MAB program (SI/MAB) have developed, and support, a protocol for conducting biodiversity monitoring. The initial phase involves identifying and mapping saplings and trees in a one hectare plot. A group of fourteen highly motivated and capable senior elementary students attending Annandale School, Tillsonburg, Ontario were invited to assist with the field work. The Long Point Region Conservation Authority donated the use of a group camping site for student and chaperon use during data collection, the last week of August. The field camp was carefully structured to support the objectives of collecting accurate data and providing a meaningful, enjoyable and rewarding learning experience. As an Annandale Biodiversity Monitoring Club project, the students have continued to assist by entering the field data into the SI/MAB BIOMON computer program.
EMAN is establishing a network of monitoring sites in each of the 15 terrestrial and 5 marine ecozones in Canada. The SI/MAB program intends to have a global network of 300 permanent, long term, biodiversity monitoring plots in biosphere reserves and other protected forest areas by the year 2000. The information collected at monitoring sites will then be shared with scientists, researchers and host-country educators worldwide.
The LPWBRF is seeking additional partners to implement the mapping and monitoring of shrubs, plants, fungi, mammals, birds, insects and other arthropods. If you are interested in assisting with this project please contact the LPWBRF.
The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation biodiversity monitoring project received financial and in kind support from Environment Canada, Canada Trust's Friends of the Environment, the Royal Bank of Canada, the Smithsonian Institute/Man and Biosphere, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority, Kim Husted Surveying Ltd., Thornton's Lockworks, and Tillsonburg and Springford Scouts Canada's Troops.
Located along the North shore of Lake Erie within the Carolinian forest zone is the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation (LPWBRF). Long Point was one of two sites chosen across Ontario to be classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) as a World Biosphere Reserve. In cooperation with UNESCO, the Smithsonian Institution/Man and Biosphere Program (SI/MAB) and Environment Canada's Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), the LPWBRF has established four biodiversity monitoring plots. These four plots are located within boundaries of the Long Point Region Conservation Authority and the Turkey Point Provincial Park. Both organizations have allowed the LPWBRF access to their lands and have ensured preservation of the plots.
The protocol established by the SI/MAB project is an international standard to ensure continuity within the existing biosphere reserve network. This protocol includes the initiation of a one hectare plot for monitoring and research. This plot is then further sub-divided into 25 20m X 20m quadrats.
The first phase of the LPWBRF biodiversity monitoring project involves identifying, mapping, and collecting structural characteristics of the trees in each quadrat. A consistent SI/MAB protocol is employed to document information in detailed user and field guides.
Phase two of the project focuses on the identification and mapping of shrub species. Shrub species are classified as those woody plants with a diameter at breast height (dbh) less than 4cm. Documentation of the shrub species is carried out by a 20m X 100m belt transect through the plot and by 4 random quadrat samples.
The third phase of monitoring includes the collection of data pertaining to herbaceous plants and seedlings. Sampling of this data is executed by completing a 1m X 60m belt transect through the plot and by random samples of 2m X 1/2m in each of the 25 quadrats.
Subsequent monitoring will include documentation of fungi, mammals, birds, insects and other arthropods through LPWBRF research and joint ventures with other organizations.
Recording of the collected data takes place by entering the information into a permanent database. The software includes programs from the SI/MAB This standardized database was established in order to facilitate information exchange so that data will be accessible to scientists, educators, and organizations worldwide. The link between Biosphere Reserves and other agencies will allow researchers to determine cause and effect of long term environmental change on a global scale.
For more information about this project or the LPWBRF in general, please contact Brian Craig, President LPWBRF, at (519) 586-2444.
The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation (LPWBRF) wishes to learn about monitoring work that is being done in the Long Point/Haldimand-Norfolk region. For this purpose, "monitoring" can be defined as the gathering of information from periodic observations and measurements to track changes in the environment and critical components of ecosystems. The necessary first step was to compile information on current or recent monitoring work by government agencies and non-governmental organizations. In order to collect this information, 80 surveys were sent out in August to groups that might be conducting monitoring in the area. Within the next few months, the survey information will be compiled in summary form. Once this summary is complete, the LPWBRF will consider convening a workshop to explore what else might be done to round out or strengthen monitoring activities in the region. The Biosphere committee will also explore opportunities to associate with local, national and international programs monitoring environmental change. To date, more than half of the surveys that were sent out have been returned completed. Most respondents have also indicated an interest in receiving a copy of the summary produced, as well as in participating in a follow-up workshop. Funding for this project has been provided by the University of Waterloo, Faculty of Environmental Studies.
The Carolinian forests of the Long Point area must be known as a national treasure. Why else would so many funding organizations want to support work on local forests? The Forest Corridor Project was initiated in 1995 to help landowners assess and enhance remnant forests in LPWBR’s zone of cooperation.
Since its inception, financial support has poured in from both private and public interests. Souces include Action 21-Environment Canada, Carolinian Canada, Ontario Hydro, Ministry of Natural Resources-Community Wildlife Improvement Program, Wildlife Habitat Canada and the Environmental Youth Corps. This funding has allowed for the employment of a project co-ordinator and six local students who have gained tremendous field experience from this opportunity.
The project aims to help landowners help themselves. By providing landowners with inventory data on their forests, and an opportunity to expand these natural areas where appropriate, LPWBRF is helping local people to make informed decisions about the future of their forest within the context of the larger forest ecosystem.
In addition to financial support, volunteer efforts have been impressive. Organized in partnership with Long Point Region Conservation Authority, over 40 members of the Norfolk Field Naturalists and Society for Ecological Restoration helped plant trees and acorns on private land this spring. Local youth also got their hands dirty when students from Port Dover Secondary School helped reforest another property, formerly planted to corn.
Support for the project has been terrific and we plan on having another successful year in 1997!
The zone of cooperation in the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve has become the focus of a new project which will monitor and hopefully, link up natural areas. The LPWBRF supports the protection and enhancement of these natural areas. This project considers a concentration of forest fragments stretching from Turkey Point through Spooky Hollow to the St. Williams Forestry Station Turkey Point, Spooky Hollow, St. Williams Corridor. This stretch of forest fragments was chosen for monitoring and possible connective plantings for a number of reasons: this area is within the zone of cooperation; it contains a Life Science A.N.S.I. (Area of Natural and Scientific Interest), Class 1 Wetland, Significant Natural Areas and ESAs (Environmentally Sensitive Areas), a Carolinian Canada site, a Provincial Park, and a Forestry Station. Creating an unbroken corridor would connect marsh, shoreline and inland ecosystems. The fact that the gaps between existing natural areas are relatively small makes the long term objective attainable.Progress To Date Work on the project to date has focused on forest inventory in key connecting areas within the corridor and meeting with local landowners. This inventory provides basic data on the current plant species and diversity existing in these areas, and can be used for long term monitoring. During the summer, two students were hired through the Environmental Youth Corps (EYC) Program, funded by the Ontario Ministries of Environment and Energy, and Natural Resources to help with field work on this project. They inventoried plant species in both private and publicly-owned forests. The students discovered that public lands tended to contain conifer plantations whereas privately- owned woodlots were of deciduous species. Overall, the dominant tree species encountered included red and sugar maple, black cherry, red and white oak, black ash and sassafras. During the landowner contacts, interested landowners were encouraged to consider restoring portions of their property back to natural vegetation. It was anticipated that some landowners with marginal or abandoned farmland would take advantage of this opportunity. The response has been positive. With potentia funding from Ontario Hydro, about 30 acres of key linkage areas are planned to be planted into native species during 1996. Planting of tree seedlings will be undertaken in partnership with Long Point Region Conservation Authority. Also, there will be ample opportunity for the local community to become involved in this restoration work. Throughout the life of the project, volunteers will be encouraged to help with seed collection and planting events, starting in the spring of 1996.Why Create Corridors? The advantages of creating unbroken, natural corridors far outweigh any potential disadvantages. Numerous studies have shown that increasing the size of and connecting natural areas improves the ecological integrity of the larger system. Specific advantages include the development of throughways for migrating wildlife, provision of improved interior forest habitat,facilitation of the flow of plant and animal genes between forest fragments and recolonization of areas where extirpations have occurred. However, there are potential disadvantages to be wary of: non-native invasive plants also may disperse along these corridors; edge-dwelling parasites and predators may thrive; and costs of constructing corridors could be high.Careful planning and monitoring are important components of the natural corridor project. Through undertaking a biological inventory and landowner contacts, LPWBRF aims to educate the local community about the valuable natural assets they possess. Long term monitoring will assess wildlife use and dispersal, and provide feedback on the value of plantings to connect natural areas. Progress to date on this project has been positive. By locating strategic connective planting sites, LPWBRF, in partnership with local landowners, hopes to continue to monitor and restore significant natural areas within the zone of cooperation. For more information, and to register for volunteer planting events, please contact the LPWBRF.
The Forest Corridor Project has entered its second year of implementation and continues to be an avenue for interested landowners to learn more about the resources they own. In 1996, approximately 2000 acres of private forest were inventoried at the request of local landowners. Further work is already lined up for 1997.
The project area is found within the zone of co-operation in the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve and is located within the southern half of both the former townships of Charlotteville and South Walsingham. This area is composed of a high concentration of forest, but of forest that is fragmented. This area was chosen for monitoring and possible restoration through connective or in-filling plantings for a number of reasons; it contains a Life Science A.N.S.I. (Area of Natural and Scientific Interest), Class 1 Wetland, Significant Natural Areas and ESAs (Environmentally Sensitive Areas), a Carolinian Canada site, Crown, Conservation Authority and Regional lands, and a high component of forested private land holdings. Creating an unbroken corridor through planting and in-filling would connect marsh, shoreline and inland ecosystems. The fact that the gaps between existing natural areas are relatively small makes long term restoration attainable.
Progress To Date Planting Trees Field work on the project began early in the spring with 4 landowners interested in participating in the site restoration process. Each site was assessed for specific requirements and a planting plan was developed in co-operation with Long Point Region Conservation Authority. With help from volunteers, Biosphere and Conservation Authority staff, over 20,000 seedlings were planted in an area equal to approximately 25 acres. These sites have since been monitored for success and have had, where required, vegetation control measures implemented.
Following the spring tree plant, funding was secured to hire a full-time Project Co-ordinator to move forward with the Forest Corridor’s goals and objectives for 1996-97. An individual was sought out that was both strong in the field of forestry, but had strong community ties and commitment. After searching for such an individual, Steve Scheers was selected as the candidate to lead the Forest Corridor Project S
