{"id":33726,"date":"2023-06-20T14:37:22","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T21:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/?p=33726"},"modified":"2023-06-20T14:46:31","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T21:46:31","slug":"our-park-biologists-favourite-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/2023\/06\/20\/our-park-biologists-favourite-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Our park biologists\u2019 favourite projects\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Home<\/a>\n \n Our park biologists\u2019 favourite projects\u00a0\n <\/span>\n
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Our park biologists\u2019 favourite projects\u00a0<\/h1>\n
BC Parks Licence Plate Program<\/a>, <\/span>Conservation<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n
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As part of our BC Parks team, we have eight amazing conservation specialists who work as park biologists across B.C. We asked 3 of them \u2013 Erica, Lori and Kirk – to choose just one of their favourite projects they\u2019ve worked on over the last few years \u2013 a tough ask!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First up: Lori, based in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coas<\/strong>t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Favourite project: mapping whitebark pine in protected areas in the Cariboo and Chilcotin<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Helicopter flight used for mapping of whitebark pine <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lori wanted to highlight this project because: <\/strong>whitebark pine are very unique trees that grow in really rugged, high elevations and it\u2019s one of her favourite landscapes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is this project all about? <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whitebark pine is an endangered species that has been impacted by pine beetle and blister rust, an invasive fungus that can kill the tree, as well as changing fire patterns and climate change. Whitebark pine are amazing \u2013 the cones don\u2019t open on their own, and the trees depend on Clarks\u2019 nutrackers, with their specialized beaks, to cache and disperse their seeds. The fat content in the pine nuts provides an important food source for many animals including grizzly bears.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Clarks\u2019 Nutcrackers cache and disperse the seeds of the whitebark pine <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most of the mapping of whitebark pine has taken place outside of parks and protected areas. There\u2019s a supposition that if it\u2019s in a park, it\u2019s protected, and mapping these areas is sometimes not the highest priority! But blister rust really doesn\u2019t care if the trees are in a park or not.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had heard anecdotal stories of healthy whitebark pine stands in Tweedsmuir South Park, so we hired a contractor to map and model habitat, and performed helicopter surveys to produce a detailed map of Tweedsmuir South Park\u2019s stands of whitebark pine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whitebark pine is very important to Ulkatcho First Nation and a natural resource tech from the Nation joined us on the helicopter survey.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most challenging hurdle was<\/strong> fires and weather conditions impacting when we could fly over the park. The first year a large wildfire season prevented us from getting helicopter access, and at the end of fire season, we were grounded by foggy weather twice. We eventually got up in the air the following spring for the survey, and it was well worth the wait.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest win was <\/strong>actually getting up in the air to see the whitebark pine stands \u2013 there are some healthy stands in Tweedsmuir South Park. It was really rewarding to look at a map of distribution of whitebark pine and have the once glaring \u2018no data\u2019 hole over the park finally filled in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next up<\/strong>: <\/strong>Erica, based on Vancouver Island<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favourite project: Restoring a coastal sand ecosystem on Cortes Island<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mansons Landing Park on Cortes Island <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Erica wanted to highlight this project because<\/strong>: the community is so passionate and are incredible partners\u2026 they play such a pivotal role in managing the park.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is this project all about? <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a very important spit in Mansons Landing Park on Cortes Island that includes a large archaeology site. The spit had been eroding away for years and was covered in swaths of invasive scotch broom (see yellow flowered plant in photo above). The community approached BC Parks concerned about the future of the spit, and this project was born.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We worked with Klahoose First Nation, partner organizations including Friends of Cortes Island, and a coastal engineer to restore the spit. The work included:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n