Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE G – Restoration Implementation Plan
• A tally of all planted individuals should be conducted by species in the following
categories to determine total mortality of the planted material: healthy, mild damage
(some defoliation), medium damage (dead/broken leader), severe damage (only
epicormic branches), and dead.
• Five plots measuring 10m by 10m should be permanently marked and the coordinates
determined by GPS within each restoration site to monitor the growth and survival of all
planted material. Within these plots:
• Four photographs should be taken from the centre point of the plot looking out in
each of the cardinal directions.
• Heights and diameters should be taken of each tree so that they can be tracked over
time.
• Any new “volunteer” trees or shrubs that were not planted (ie: naturally established)
should be noted as such and measured as above.
• Cover estimates should be made for each woody species within the plot as well as a
total percent cover of all woody species for the entire plot, as this provides an
indication of progress towards canopy closure.
• A complete species list for the plot should be created to measure changes in plant
diversity. These data can be analyzed using an appropriate diversity index.
• One 1m by 1m plot should be located in each of the four corners of the larger plot to
measure the percent cover of all herbaceous and graminoid species. Calculate
importance values for each species to note changes over time
• Additional information should be recorded on water levels, wildlife use, damaging agents
(disease, insects, browse, etc.) and signs of disturbance.
Annotated Resources
Barry, W.J., A.S. Garlo, C.A. Wood. 1996. Duplicating the Mound-and-Pool
Microtopography of Forested Wetlands. Restoration and Management Notes
14:1, 14-21.
• provides construction details for pits and mounds method
Bellemare, J., G. Motzkin, and D.R. Foster. 2002. Legacies of the agricultural past in
the forested present: an assessment of historical land-use effects on rich
mesic forests. Journal of Biogeography 29: 1401 – 1420.
• describes effect of historical uses on soil chemistry, even when forest cover is reestablished
– see fewer nutrient-demanding herbs with more recent disturbance
• forest herbs need to re-establish through seed-dispersal – dispersal method can affect reestablishment
success, along with rates of seed production and establishment requirements
• establishment also depends on distance from primary forest and refugia (hedgerows)
• provides good species lists and seed dispersal classification
McLachlin, S.M. and D.R. Bazely. 2001. Recovery patterns of understorey herbs and
their use as indicators of deciduous forest regeneration. Conservation Biology
15: 98-110.
• describes microsite needs of native understorey herbs
Verheyen, K., O. Honnay, G. Motzkin, M. Hermy, and D.R. Foster. 2003. Response of
forest plant species to land-use change: a life-history trait-based approach.
Journal of Ecology 91: 563-577.
• describes how specific life-history traits of different species affect regeneration
Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan A-29
Ontario Parks, SE Zone
2009