Forest invasive species management to begin this fall
During this fall and winter, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and contractors will be removing invasive, non-native Scots pine and locally non-native red pine from plantations near Backus Woods.
This is part of an ongoing stewardship and restoration effort that began nearly two years ago to transition monoculture pine plantations to a more biologically diverse Carolinian forest. In 2020, red and Scots pine were removed from 11 hectares (27 acres) of the plantation. Seed from this plantation was beginning to invade important nearby habitat. By removing the seed source of these problematic trees, NCC is helping to restore a native, diverse Carolinian forest to ensure more habitat will be available for rare and at-risk species.
Monoculture tree plantations, especially those that contain invasive Scots pine, are less biologically diverse than natural, mixed forests and are more susceptible to disturbance from fire and pests.
Beginning November 1, 2021, the forestry management operations will occur on seven NCC properties, near Backus Woods in the Highway 24 and East Quarter Line area of South Walsingham. No tree removal will occur outside of the pine plantations or within Backus Woods.
Backus Woods trail closure map - click to enlarge
Throughout the duration of this work, the Four Oaks and Dogwood trails within the Backus Woods trail system will be closed. All other Backus Woods trails will remain open. Signs will be posted at trail entrances to inform the public of the work and trail closures. Once the work is complete, the signs will be removed.
To learn more about NCC’s work in Backus Woods, visit www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/ontario/featured-projects/backus-woods/
About
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation's leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect 14 million hectares (35 million acres), coast to coast to coast, with more than 84,000 hectares (207,000 acres) in Ontario. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.
Contact
Liv Monck-Whipp, Coordinator, Conservation Biology
liv.monck-whipp@natureconservancy.ca
519-865-4693
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