News/Reports
Friends Board Members at BC Protected Areas Research Forum
On Dec 5- 7, 2011 Four members of the Friends of Ecological reserve attended the BC Protected Areas Research Forum at UBC campus in Vancouver.
FoER Board members Mike Fenger and Rick page convened a special session entitled:
Ecological Reserves Where do we go from here? Management of Ecological Reserves
Panelists Vicky Husband, Briony Penn and Don Eastman presented provocative arguments leading to an engaging discussion with the audience on the future of Ecological Reserves in BC. The session was recorded and the FER will prepare a summary paper for BC Parks.
- What is the special role of Ecological Reserves for research that distinguishes them from other Protected Areas in BC?
- Should Ecological Reserves be managed for ecological attributes or managed to protect rare species?
- Should succession be allowed to operate under the influence of climate change?
- What are the impediments to scientific research in ecological reserves?
The room was challenged to think how we can provide for sustainable futures of Ecological Reserves. We were heartened to hear the response from the scientists, university grad students and BC Parks representatives in attendance.
- that ecological reserves were more important than ever as benchmarks in ongoing climate change
- that they must be documented thoroughly
- that invasive species presented problems which have to be dealt with wisely
- that climate change presents many unknowns and more research is neede to know how to handle succession problems wisely.
- that the ridiculous length of the permit process for research and education on reserves must be dealt with quickly, so as not to discourage any more scientists from carrying out valuable non-consumptive research.
We will link the video of this session and a final report here in the future.