Conifer Restoration Project

THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY

Environment Committee

Conifer Plantation Restoration Implemented Thanks to Volunteers

As the Bruce Trail Conservancy protects an increasing amount of Escarpment land, the amount of work involved in managing this land increases too. Whether it be trail maintenance, bridge building, or invasive species control, completion of critical tasks would not be possible without the hard work of the hundreds of volunteers that so generously donate their time and effort. The spring 2009 issue of the Bruce Trail Magazine included an article titled The Bruce Trail Conservancy Restores Biodiversity to Conifer Plantations: A Call for Volunteers. The article included a brief history of conifer plantations in Ontario and a description of a conifer restoration project designed by the

BTC Environment Committee, the purpose of which is to increase biodiversity by planting native deciduous trees and herbaceous plants in a recently thinned conifer plantation. Over 30 volunteers answered the call, including individuals from the BTC Flying Squad and a hiking club from Toronto, and we were able to plant 200 trees and 1000 herbaceous plants. Thanks to the efforts of the volunteers, the first stage in Land Stewardship By Sal Spitale, BTC Environment Committee, www.btcenvironmentcommittee.org Conifer Plantation Restoration Implemented Thanks to Volunteers restoring this conifer plantation was a great success. The next step in the project will be to monitor the health and growth of the plantings over the next five years. This will be completed as part of a graduate student research project and by BTC Environment Committee volunteers. Many thanks again to the volunteers, without whom the BTC would not be able to manage the valuable ecosystems under our care, and projects such as this would not be possible.

- Sal Spitale

This article appeared in the Bruce Trail Magazine – Spring 2009