Report on the Ecological
Reserves Wardens’ Gathering,
The Ecological
Reserves Wardens’ Gathering, held Sept. 5-7 in
:
·
an opportunity for current
wardens to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest and concern
·
Information about the warden’s
program to people interested in becoming wardens
·
clarity to wardens about the
current Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection’s (WLAP) organization, where
ERs and the wardens’ service fit, and government’s
interpretation of allowable public activities in ERs;
·
an opportunity to
discuss key topics of concern such as the status of research in ERs, improving communication between wardens and government
staff, the role of Area Supervisors. and organizational
issues regarding the wardens’ service.
The organizers were
pleased with the interest in the Gathering.
Total attendance was
about 55. Approximately
45 wardens and people planning to become wardens attended along with members of
the Kamloops Naturalists Club who helped with the
on-site organization, the Presidents and newsletter editors of both the
Federation of BC Naturalists (FBCN) and the Friends of Ecological Reserves, the
FBCN office manager, two local (Kamloops and Penticton) Area Supervisors with WLAP, and interested
observers. Invited guests were Rick Searle, Friday evening keynote
speaker, and Nancy Wilkin, Assistant Deputy Minister.
Dr. Bert Brink’s presence was particularly
appreciated as well as the value of his wisdom and many years of experience and
observations to the discussions.
·
Keynote address on
importance of wild lands, promotion of ERs, and the wardens’ service – Rick
Searle, teacher, writer, and nature interpreter
·
ERs and the Wardens Service
from a Ministry perspective – Nancy Wilkin, ADM, Environmental Stewardship
Division, WLAP
·
Government
Panel on Provincial and local communication issues – Nancy Wilkin, Laura
Darling, (Terrestrial Ecologist, Protected Areas Conservation Section), John Trewhitt, Area Supervisor, North Okanagan,
Bruce Petch, Area Supervisor, Kamloops
·
Panel
of wardens addressing research, history, education, future of ERs and the
wardens’ service, and some effects of staff cutbacks on Kamloops-area
ERs. Speakers–Jenny Balke,
Tom Reimchen, John Riley, Malcolm Martin, Karen
Willies
·
Small
group discussions and presentations:
o
First
Nations and ERs and land use adjacent to ERs;
o
communication
with government staff and updating of Handbook for wardens and staff;
o
handling
of use and misuse of ERs and safety issues in the field,
o
looking
to the future for ERs, the wardens service and activities, and the Friends of
ERs –
·
Facilitators: Peggy Frank, Bill Merrilees,
Jeremy McCall, Don Eastman; Presenters:
Linda Kennedy, Sandra Kinsey, Jan Whitehead, Genevieve Singleton
·
Wrap-up
and actions over next year – Eva Durance
·
Sunday
morning walk on private land proposed as an ER,
Keynote address – Rick Searle
·
‘Bad news’ that there
is a general lack of knowledge of and support for ERs from government, staff,
and the public which makes them vulnerable to policy and value shifts, that the
loss of many senior protected area specialists means a loss of corporate memory
of the ERs, and government is now focused on revenue generation from public
lands not ecological integrity
·
‘Good news’ that
their lack of profile can protect the more remote ERs and their role as
biodiversity benchmarks and wildlife sanctuaries and that the wardens service
and dedicated wardens provide opportunities for public education; in many cases
they are the keepers of the history of ERs and the ER system
·
remarkable level of
dedication of ER wardens (# of hours, # of years and # of volunteers); wardens are eyes and ears for public
trust; in many cases they are the keepers
of the history of ERs and the ER system;
no other protected area affords such a high level of protection
·
Message: wardens are
indispensable to the protection of ERs and should congratulate themselves on a
difficult job well done. Need
recruitment of younger people as future wardens. Should look at ways to
publicize the existence of ERs and their importance using the media, the
Internet for ‘virtual ERs’, the Friends of ERs and the FBCN, and perhaps an encyclopaedia of ERs on CD, but still avoiding specifics on
where they are and emphasizing that they are not for recreation; take
initiative and hold more Gatherings
Government Perspective – Nancy Wilkin, ADM
·
Gordon McAtee is new Deputy Minister for WLAP
·
Stress importance of
ER and Wardens - that's why she's here
·
Ministry developing
‘Parks for People 2010’ , including Lodge Strategy
(not for ERs) from the Recreation Stewardship Panel’s recommendations which
would see expansion of lodge and resort services in or near major parks. Focus is revenue generation.
·
Ecological Reserves
and the wardens’ service fit in the Environmental Stewardship Division under
the Ecosystems Section with local Area Supervisors responsible for the ERs and
the wardens; budgets developed within Service Plans for each Section signed off
by the Minister
·
Not only are Wardens
the eyes and ears of ERs, but also the soul
·
Wardens critical to
ER protection and management; change in focus to revenue generation means
Regional attention not on ERs
·
Need for more local
information on ERs and their importance available to public, MLAs, business councils, etc.; lack of public support all
protected areas in danger of being compromised
·
Wardens should have
input to management plans for ERs
·
Need to formalize
events like the Gathering and have regular contacts with ADM and other
upper-level managers to monitor progress and maintain dialogue, develop list of
proposed ERs and a plan for their creation over the next year
Discussion With Government Staff
·
ADM agreed to commit
staff time to help revise Handbook to reflect current realities and will
discuss with Regional Directors
·
Government-maintained
graphics and photo catalogue of ERs may be able to be made available to
wardens, possibly on line
·
Possibility of
government developing standards for baseline information gathering in ERs that
wardens could use to develop inventory data bases
·
Question of allowed
or appropriate public use of ERs discussed without any resolution;
site-specific nature of issue was noted, the need to look at why an ER was
created and how it will be affected by use in question; other questions that
should be asked were suggested from the floor such as whether any given
activity could equally well occur outside the ER
·
Discussion without
resolution on how monitoring of public activities, reports required, etc. to be
carried out with greatly reduced staff
·
Discussion without
resolution on question of protecting ecological integrity in both parks and ERs
·
Observation that
wardens appear not to be authorized to make public presentations without
government staff present will be discussed and clarified with Regional
Directors
·
Wardens encouraged to
think of ways to “take magic off Reserves to people, if you can’t take people
to the Reserves”
·
Package of general
information on ERs needed for public presentations as well as material specific
to individual ERs (may already be in
·
People wishing to
become wardens should apply through Area Supervisor responsible for ER in
question
·
Government agreed to
post on web site list of Area Supervisors with the ER for which they are
responsible so that wardens and prospective wardens will know who to contact
Wardens’ Panel
Research:
·
Jenny Balke emphasized the importance of research in ERs and the
role that wardens can play in that; suggestion from floor that template for
surveys in ERs be developed, if protocol not already available through Fish and
Wildlife, so less experienced wardens could carry out such work under
supervision
Research/History:
·
Tom Reimchin presented detailed account of two-decade research
on habitat/preditor/prey interactions - including
salmon-bear-forest life interrelationships in Kutzamateem
ER; started with stickleback research in Queen Charlottes ER and will continue
in examination of vegetation and song birds in coastal forests
·
Digital camera photos
taken from same position over period of time a great way to document change
·
Discussion on
high-resolution LandSat photos and whether these
available to wardens to document change
Education:
·
John Riley discussed
his many years of awakening young people and adults to nature’s wonders in
parks and the
Future Possibilities:
·
Malcolm Martin
proposed radical action to re-galvanize ERs and the wardens service and provide
greater stability: look out of the current framework, solicit support from
World Union for Nature and associated World Wildlife Fund, for Parks and other
protected areas as well; approach geography or ecology program at BC university
of college to set up long-term research projects in ERs; approach The Nature
Trust or the Land Trust Alliance of BC to take over ERs and their management;
expand the wardens service to include monitoring of other conservation areas
such as ones under regional districts or municipalities; recruit wardens-to-be
to assist wardens with aim of assuming wardenship of
an ER
·
Karen Willies
outlined main problems as lack of enforcement (cattle removal, trees cut,
etc.), lack of direction and communication with Area Supervisors, need for plan
for each ER included in the regional service plan, and ever-increasing human
use and misuses
·
Comment that
involvement of district staff made resolution of issues easier
Discussion Groups Main Points
1.
Land uses adjacent to ERs and First Nations issues:
·
Two types of ER situations - Rural: industrial, First Nations,
cattle ranching; Urban: housing,
parking, access, First Nations, recreation
·
Issues:
authority of wardens to limit or define uses; lack of local planners’ knowledge
of ERs, wardens excluded from planning around ERs; wardens not notified of activity in ERs; First Nations not involved in original designation
·
Actions:
develop a stewardship model; define responsibilities of those involved with and
affecting ERs, develop relationship with local bands
and gov’t personnel, include wardens in land treaty
processes, support including local bands’ knowledge in ER management plans
·
Issue:
written and visual material needed for presentation, general to ER framework
and specific to local ERs
·
Action:
2. Communication and Handbook revision
·
Issue:
need to update Handbook and orientation kit
·
Action:
subcommittee struck to prepare draft revisions for government approval
·
Issue:
wardens unsure who to contact and what is expected of them when issues arise in
their ER
·
Action:
WLAP to post names of Area Supervisors and the ERs
they are responsible for; wardens can approach FER and/or FBCN for support if
no resolution at local level
·
Issue:
need for more regular communication with government at all levels
·
Action:
annual Regional meeting of wardens and staff and Provincial meeting every two
years with updates on staff changes, recognitions, reinforcement of
staff-warden relationship; wardens to be involved in whole planning process for
ERs, management statement, plan, and service plan for
each region; wardens informed of use permit requests and outcome; wardens
responsible for contacting Area Supervisor concerning their ERs
3.
Future of ERs and wardens service
·
Issue:
need to clarify role of ERs among wardens to achieve
some security
·
Action: use
research as anchor for security, establish ecological baselines, explore ways
wardens can monitor and/or do research, build archives of voucher specimens,
digital photos, etc. (photo archive intact in Victoria)
·
Issue:
need some staff time in
·
Issue:
need replacement wardens and ones for ERs without
them
·
Action:
look for younger people interested in becoming assistants to wardens with aim
of taking over position
·
Issue:
lack of any financial support for wardens and basic equipment
·
Action: explore FER
providing tax credits for expenses and request reinstatement of hats, badges,
etc. for new wardens
·
Issue:
need for public education on nature and values of ERs
·
Action:
feature remote, inaccessible ERs to prevent overuse
of accessible ones
4.
Public (Mis)-Use of ERs and
Safety Issues
·
Issue:
need clarification of liability insurance coverage for wardens individually and
when leading groups; wardens’ safety-related conduct when in ER
·
Action:
leave word with someone whenever warden visits ER (especially remoter ones) and
be prepared, use camera and notebook to record infractions
·
Issue:
need updated ER brochure and map to include FER website and contact information
·
Issue:
use of ERs as recreational places
·
Action:
use positive message with people, such as soliciting their help to protect
values, provide alternative location for their activity
·
Issue:
permit system unclear
·
Issue:
need for signage specific to an ER about what is permitted or not in a variety
of sizes, but consistent in design, shape, etc., and an easily understood
colour-coded system to designate sensitivity level of an ER
·
Action:
write to Minister requesting such a system and signage
·
Issue:
need more networking among wardens
·
Action:
FER and FBCN updating information on ERs and wardens,
including contact information, which will go to all wardens with individuals’
permission
5.
Actions, Outcomes, and Requests for Government Support: 6
months-1 year
·
FER and FBCN websites
will post MWLAP, Stewardship Division, organization chart with names of Area
Supervisors with ERs each covers
·
Names of ER wardens
in their area will be sent to Area Supervisors
·
Process by which
people become wardens to be posted on FER
websites
·
Confirmation will be
made with government about annual Regional wardens and staff meeting and
Provincial meeting every two to three years
·
Cowichan
wardens to prepare draft public education materials on ERs for presentations
aimed at increasing awareness and appreciation of ERs and will circulate for
comments, initially to Eva Durance, Peggy Frank, and Bev
Ramey
·
Handbook and
orientation kit revisions to be drafted by committee: Eva Durance, Art Carson,
Peg Frank
·
FER/FBCN continue
updating of ERs and wardens’ information and work towards distribution to all
wardens
·
FER/FBCN continue
periodically to publish list of ERs lacking wardens and to solicit new wardens
and ‘assistant’ wardens
·
Explore issue through
Laura Darling of access on-line to government photo archives on ERs and future
storing of digital baseline and other photographs
·
Discuss with WLAP
staff the need for ER-specific signage and a sensitivity-level colour code system for ERs
·
Request clarification
through WLAP on the matter of liability insurance coverage for wardens
·
NOTED: at
E. Recognition Awards
·
Certificates of
appreciation for many years of dedicated service to ERs, signed by Minister
Joyce Murray, were presented by Nancy Wilkin to all wardens with 15 or more years
of service
·
Malcolm Martin,
retired biologist and ER warden for Cougar Canyon near Vernon, was given a
special gift from Judy Millar, Parks and Protected Area Specialist, Penticton in appreciation for many years of unstinting
field research into rare plant species and generosity in sharing information
F.
Support and Sponsorship
Grateful thanks to
the many individuals, agencies, and organizations that made the Gathering
possible:
Funders:
·
Friends of Ecological
Reserves
·
Federation of BC
Naturalists
·
Ministry of Water,
Land and Air Protection
·
Endswell
Fund of Tides
·
BC Grasslands Council
Organizers
and Supporters:
Sue Hammond and Gary
Hunt, Alan and Frances Vyse (Kamloops
support), Peter Bardon (catering), Denise deMontreuil (writing), Maria Hamann
(registration), Peggy Frank, Eva Durance, Bev Ramey
(planning), Jeremy McCall, Don Eastman (FBCN and FER Presidents), Karen McLaren, Margaret Graham, Bill Merilees
(assistance) and members of the wardens panel: Jenny Balke, Tom Reimchen, John
Riley, Malcolm Martin, and Karen Willies and the wonderful WARDENS!!