Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

5.0 Research and Monitoring Needs
Several of the proposed management activities provide significant opportunities for
research and monitoring. By monitoring the responses of the earliest phases of
management activities, these activities can be modified to improve their results through
an adaptive management process.
Specific management activities and responses that should be monitored are listed
below. Park staff or external researchers can work with the zone ecologist to develop
appropriate monitoring protocols if they are not provided in this document.
• Removal of non-native conifers from plantations has the potential to have adverse
impacts. Site disturbance may stimulate growth of undesirable species, which may
inhibit the regeneration of desirable species (Implementation Schedule B)
• Experimental control of non-native invasive plants should be conducted in a way that
allows the success of control techniques to be assessed, and to determine the rate of
spread of invasive species (Appendix D)
• The impact of Woodlands Campground on the native understorey in the surrounding
forest needs to be assessed (Appendix F)
• Restoration of damaged vegetation communities in Outlet Campground should be
periodically monitored.
• Restoration of former field areas (Implementation Schedule G). Monitoring needs are
also detailed in North-South Environmental’s 2003 Vegetation Restoration Strategy.
Research and monitoring needs will be promoted to other agencies and institutions
whenever possible. When research is conducted in partnership with other agencies or
institutions, research permits will require that summaries of findings or copies of final
publications be provided to park and zone staff.
Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan 24 of 28
Ontario Parks, SE Zone
2009