Dynamic landscapes: A call for stronger integration of the landform shaping processes in protected areas science and management

Dynamic landscapes: A call for stronger integration of the landform shaping processes in protected areas science and management

- Dr. Piotr Cienciala, Independent

ABSTRACT:

Despite appearances, the iconic terrestrial and aquatic landscapes within the protected areas are dynamic and are continually reshaped by various biophysical processes. Sediment – the detrital matter derived from physical and chemical breakdown of the underlying bedrock – forms a deformable mantle (which includes the life-giving soil), readily sculpted by erosional and depositional landscape processes such as, for example, landslides or riverbank erosion. Landform changes resulting from these processes provide diverse living organisms with a heterogenous and ever-shifting habitat mosaic. Protected areas researchers and managers appreciate the fundamental role that varied landforms play in maintaining biodiversity and attracting visitors seeking scenic vistas. In contrast, far less attention is given to the landscape processes that maintain these features. In this presentation, I will argue that these dynamic landscape processes should be better integrated into the conservation science, monitoring, and management in protected areas for three main reasons: (1) because they are highly relevant – both to the public and protected areas themselves – in their own right; (2) because they are an integral part of ecosystem dynamics and are important for conserving biodiversity, connectivity, and ecological integrity; and (3) because they co-determine how protected areas and their ecological assets may respond to the accelerating climate change. I will conclude by providing specific examples of approaches which have the potential to facilitate dynamic landscape data collection and analysis in support of evidence-based conservation planning and decision-making.

National Urban Parks Strategy

National Urban Parks Strategy

- Charles Shulman, Parks Canada Agency

Presentation Recording (EN)

French version below

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Health and wellbeing outcomes associated with visits to coastal protected areas: A regional case study in New Brunswick, Canada

Health and wellbeing outcomes associated with visits to coastal protected areas: A regional case study in New Brunswick, Canada

- Mhairi Chandler, Wilfrid Laurier University

ABSTRACT:

Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Canadians’ mental health and well-being and motivated many to seek nature for stress relief, relaxation, and socializing. While recent studies have shown that spending time in nature has measurable positive benefits to one’s health and well-being, there is a lack of evidence linking health and well-being outcomes to experiences provided by coastal ecosystems housed in protected areas (e.g., beaches, wetlands, seagrass, etc.). Coastal areas are a highly dynamic interface between land and sea and are important spaces for both biodiversity and humans. This presentation reports on the findings of a study conducted at Fundy National Park, New Brunswick. Over 400 people participated in the study. The results highlight that the role of place attachment in is more substantial among female park visitors than males. The presentation will discuss patterns of park visitors’ interactions within coastal areas through outdoor recreation activities and how these activities have impacted their mental health and well-being. Finally, the presentation will provide policy and management planning recommendations focused on developing stronger conservation efforts that protect coastal areas while providing benefits to people and nature.

Presentation Recording (EN)

French version below

Presentation Recording (FR) - COMING SOON

Use of Camper Reservation System to Understand Recreational Angling Effort in the Backcountry of Algonquin Provincial Park

Use of Camper Reservation System to Understand Recreational Angling Effort in the Backcountry of Algonquin Provincial Park

- Nick Lacombe, Ontario Parks

ABSTRACT:

Algonquin Provincial Park covers 7,630km2 of central Ontario and has long been a destination for recreational anglers, particularly for those targeting brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Most of Algonquin Provincial Park is remote and only accessible via multiday canoe trips into the backcountry. To understand how angling effort is distributed both temporally and spatially, the Algonquin Provincial Park camping reservation system was utilized in conjunction with a voluntary angler survey. Upon arrival, campers were asked whether they intended to angle and what species they intended to target (trout, bass, other, and unsure). Responses were recorded in the reservation system along with the camping parties’ itineraries. This yielded daily data on park-wide distribution and number of backcountry angling parties. If camping parties indicated, they would be targeting “trout” or “bass” they were provided with a voluntary angler survey package. This data showed that angling parties represented 35.3% of total backcountry camping nights. Seasonal use patterns of Algonquin Provincial Parks backcountry were similar among years (2014-2018). The only time angling parties outnumbering non-angling parties was during early spring. Trout angling parties began using the Algonquin Provincial Park backcountry before all other angling parties each year while backcountry use by angling parties targeting bass and other species peaked in summer. The voluntary angler survey provided insight into lake specific effort, harvest, release behaviour, and harvest size. This method may prove useful for other protected areas currently utilizing a camper reservation system (Ontario Parks reservation system service provider is Camis).

Presentation Recording (EN)

French version below

Presentation Recording (FR) - COMING SOON

The Effectiveness of Social Media Communications for Visitor Behaviour Management in Ontario’s Parks and Protected Areas

The Effectiveness of Social Media Communications for Visitor Behaviour Management in Ontario's Parks and Protected Areas

- John Foster, Brock University

ABSTRACT:

Parks and protected areas in Ontario have long been bastions of conservation while also providing critical outdoor recreation opportunities for the health and well-being of the people. This was particularly evident during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, where parks and protected areas agencies around the world experienced drastic increases in visitation as people sought opportunity to spend time in the natural world. However, the balance of environmental conservation and the provision of outdoor recreation opportunity are often seen as competing interests given the potential degradation that is associated with human use of these natural spaces. As a result, it is crucial for park managers and protected areas agencies to mitigate negative visitor behaviour issues as much as possible. Communications in their various formats (signage, in-person, etc.) have long been utilized by park agencies to share safety, regulatory, and interpretive information with park visitors. While the study of these communications is an underserved field of research, even less attention has been paid specifically to the utility of social media communications at delivering park agency messaging to visitors, especially in the context of addressing visitor behaviour issues using social media communications. This study contributes to this identified research gap by exploring the experiences of both park visitors and park managers with respect to the effectiveness of social media communications for park visitor behaviour management. To do so, this study applied interpretive description methodology to support semi-structured interviews that incorporated a modified discrete choice experiment with park visitors and individuals who work for park agencies in Ontario in park management roles. 17 participants participated in the research project throughout the course of the data collection process. Four classifications of park agencies were represented by both visitors and managers, including Canada’s national parks; and Ontario’s provincial parks, conservation authorities, and parks commissions. Conversations with participants revealed that the utility of social media communications for visitor behaviour management varies widely depending on the sophistication of the park agency’s social media strategy. Park visitors often expressed a desire for more specific, authentic, and discussion-oriented communications, while park managers frequently expressed a need to improve and increase the resources and logistics dedicated to social media communications to meet park visitor expectations. This session seeks to present the above in a manner that satisfies the knowers, doers, and learners by providing scientifically sound, interesting conclusions that are applicable to real-world parks and protected areas contexts in Ontario. The presentation will occur verbally in an engaging manner, supported by a slideshow that encourages interaction using the same discrete choice experiment that was utilized in interviews with research participants, which asked participants to identify preferred social media communications examples that were issued by park agencies. Ideally, 15 minutes would be allotted for the presentation but this is highly flexible.

Presentation Recording (EN)

French version below

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Biodiversity and Biosphere Regions – from a globally complex problem to local action and everywhere in between

Biodiversity and Biosphere Regions - from a globally complex problem to local action and everywhere in between

- Kate Potter, Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association

ABSTRACT:

Biosphere reserves/regions are a UNESCO designation because they are places at the forefront of sustainable development and the area’s significant biodiversity. The nonprofit organizations behind the designations are multi-faceted organizations. They have a connection to the Convention on Biological diversity through the international Man and the Biosphere Program and the 700+ BRs worldwide. Within Canada, the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association disseminates information across the network and uses peer-to-peer learning, that is BR-to-BR learning, to leverage successes and understanding of biodiversity. At the local level, each BR is conducting on-the-ground examples of biodiversity projects to restore, maintain, and enhance the areas of biodiversity that make them unique.

Presentation Recording (EN)

French version below

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Assisted migration as a climate change adaptation tactic: An evidence map and synthesis

Assisted migration as a climate change adaptation tactic: An evidence map and synthesis

- Alexander MacDonald and Rik Van Bogaert, Parks Canada Agency; William Twardek, Carleton University

ABSTRACT:

Assisted migration (i.e., the human assisted movement of individuals to more climatically-suitable areas within or outside their current species range) has been proposed as a conservation tactic to help species respond to climate change. To better understand the potential for assisted migration to benefit species threatened by climate change, we conducted an evidence synthesis to map examples where assisted migration has been implemented around the world. With this mapping exercise, we collate and describe the quantity and key characteristics of the available evidence base, including the taxa, species conservation status, locations, and contexts relating to the use of this conservation tactic. Findings from this exercise highlight that assisted migration has been implemented very few times as a conservation tactic, though assisted migration has been conducted experimentally (for research purposes) and inadvertently (e.g., for reforestation) much more frequently. Assisted migration was most common for plants (particularly trees), followed by birds, and was rarely implemented for other taxa. Our review highlights the need for more research on assisted migration, with particular emphasis on understanding the population- and community-level outcomes of these actions. Our discussion focuses on the potential for assisted migration of Canadian species but will be informative to those considering assisted migration in other jurisdictions.

During the Q and A, there was a valid question from the audience if there was any document on general guidance in terms of this complex issue.

In response, we referred to a recent report by the US National Park Service (USNPS) that provides some context and a Risk Assessment Protocol Tool on Assisted Migration as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

It is important to note that Parks Canada does not have a formal policy or guidance on assisted migration and therefore does not endorse (or its viewpoint is necessarily aligned with) this report in any means.

“Karasov-Olson, A., M. W. Schwartz, J. D. Olden, et al. 2021. Ecological risk assessment of managed relocation as a climate change adaptation strategy. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/CCRP/NRR—2021/2241. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.”

These protocols facilitate evaluation of the ecological risk of species managed relocation as part of planning and decision making. Again, this is not a policy document and neither serves to interpret or resolve current policies regarding managed relocation (or assisted migration) as a natural resource management strategy.

Presentation Recording (EN)

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