Victoria_Park_Re port Final.pdf - City of Charlottetown

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VICTORIA PARK COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN Final Report • June 2013 5.8 Nature Conservation The Victoria Park ecological management plan must consider the broad and long-term forest management objectives within the specific context of an urban environment. The urban context is essential for ensuring the management approach, specific techniques, and measurement metrics are relevant, and integrate the necessary balance between form and function, and art and science. An overarching series of goals have been outlined for the natural conservation of the forest in Victoria Park: »» A naturalized Acadian-forest woodland can and will be created in Victoria Park. »» A naturalized woodland contains natural distributions of tree-species composition, understorey plant composition, community structures, and deadwood. It also contains a diversity of tree sizes and ages for each species. »» Dead trees will be left standing unless they are a safety hazard in relation to visitors on maintained paths. No dead wood will be removed from the woodland. Standing dead wood that must be cut down will be left in natural patterns on the forest floor. »» A naturalized Acadian-forest woodland contains no alien species. All alien species will be removed from the Victoria Park naturalized woodland, with emphasis in invasive alien species. »» Active learning by park visitors about the Acadian forest depends of information provision by park managers. Nature Conservation Matrix Biodiversity Natural forests on Prince Edward Island are Acadian forests. For the most part, these forests would have a heterogeneous canopy composition with a rich array of understorey species. The focus here is on plant species because these, as opposed to animal species, can be controlled by human intervention. Below, in association with ecological integrity, the focus should be on the species composition of the urban forest. In considering biodiversity, the focus is on cultivating and restoring a broad number of native species. This list could include all species native to the Acadian forest region, including the Saint John River Valley, desired be represented (and perhaps should) in the Victoria Park naturalized woodland. By including the Saint John River Valley, the species consideration is expanded to include additional species that would be found in the urban forest in anticipation climate change (the Saint John River Valley being warmer than PEI). The species in particular include American basswood (Tilia americana), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and butternut (Juglans cinerea). Schneider (2006) has good proposals for species to be introduced if they are not now in the naturalized woodland. Schneider’s (2006) proposal to remove cankered beech is sound, but white birch plantings should not be favoured, especially if it is now well represented in the canopy. Zone Assumed Values Intention Indictor Target Nature Conservation Biodiversity Ecological Integrity Well Being Knowledge •Proportion of native PEI woodland plant species •100% •Build up and maintain as natural an array of species possible. represented in Victoria Park. •Diversity of tree sizes and ages •Representation of all native tree species with reproducing populations in Victoria Park •Build up and perpetuate a native, resilient Acadian forest ecosystem. •Give citizens a strong sense of connection to PEI nature when they visit the forest. •Provide park visitors with strong opportunities to learn about native PEI woodlands. •Number of alien invasive species with reproducing •0 populations. •Proportion of citizens whose sense of well being is •80% heightened when they visit the park. •Proportion of visitors who have a discernible •80% learning experience in the Victoria Park forest. 50
Final Report • June 2013 VICTORIA PARK COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN It will take many decades to achieve the diversity of tree sizes and ages called for here. Of course it begins with ensuring a seedling supply in the immediate future. Over the next several decades, it may require continued planting of the implicated species, or, if there is potential for natural regeneration, ongoing vigilance with competition control to allow the desired natural seedlings to survive for the long-term. Ecological Integrity A naturalized Acadian forest ideally contains no alien species. Some of these are tree species - e.g., Norway maple, Lombardy poplar - while others are perennials such as buckthorn and Japanese knotweed. None of these belong in this zone, and the management prescription is to get rid of them as aggressively as affordable. Well-being PEI is only about 50% wooded, and the central part of the province is lower in forest cover than the provincial average. Given the clear indications from research that city residents become psychologically uplifted when they spend time in naturalized areas, particularly woodlands, it is essential to consider that the urban forest in Victoria Park can become an important provider of an increased sense of personal well-being for PEI residents. The actions associated with improving biodiversity and ecological integrity are the main ones to give park visitors an opportunity for up-liftment in a naturalized woodland. Also important is the creation of trails that invite park visitors to stroll within the woodlands. The key additional action needed for the well-being value is to canvass visitors, using reliable social-science research methods, to determine whether they are indeed feeling a heightened sense of personal well-being when visiting the naturalized woodland. Knowledge Only the keenest and most well-prepared park visitors can become successful active learners about natural PEI forests in the absence of assistance in the form of helpful information and active programming. No doubt, the Victoria Park urban forest can serve the purposes of university-level education, but at this level the sophistication of learners is relatively high. The City should expand upon existing programs to enhance learning opportunities for school groups and citizens. Creating a naturalized woodland is, of course, the first step. Cognizant of the need for frugal programming, a strategy for exploration is the use of QR coding to allow park visitors to call up relevant information on their smart phones. The information should start with helpful descriptions of tree and other plant species considered important in the Acadian forest region. Further information can be added about soils, site history, climate change, etc. The information can be provided in text and photo form, but wave files containing informative narrations can capture the trend among young people to be listeners using their portable technology. 51
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Victoria_Park_Re port Final.pdf - City of Charlottetown

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