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What are Ecological
Reserves?
Ecological reserves are
permanent sanctuaries, located throughout BC, that have been selected to
preserve representative and special natural ecosystems, plant and animal
species, features and phenomena. The principal uses of ecological reserves
are for scientific research and educational purposes. Ecological reserves
are established for the:
·
preservation
of representative examples of British Columbia's ecosystems;
·
protection
of rare and endangered plants and animals in their natural habitat;
·
preservation
of unique, rare or outstanding botanical, zoological or geological
phenomena;
·
perpetuation
of important genetic resources; and
·
scientific
research and educational uses associated with the natural environment.
How did they originate?
Between 1964 and 1974 Canada participated in a decade of
research known as the International Biological Program (IBP), a worldwide
endeavor involving 58 nations. A subcommittee for the Conservation of
Terrestrial Communities (IBP-CT) was created, aimed at the establishment of
a system of representative terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems around the
world.
In Canada this was largely funded by the
National Research Council, and involved the description of biologically
important sites on standard international check-sheets. Nearly 1000
check-sheets were completed in Canada, placing this country at the
forefront of IBP-CT efforts, along with Australia and the United States.
Many such sites were
identified in British Columbia, and these became the nucleus of
our present ecological reserves system. The IBP check-sheets are still an
important, and in some cases, the only source of descriptive information
for many British Columbia ecological reserves.
The next step was to
legally and permanently protect the identified lands, as an effective
conservation program requires more than identification and description of
important ecosystems. Most public lands in British Columbia are under provincial jurisdiction
so the provincial government became involved.
Encouraged by the late Dr.
Vladimir Krajina (former professor at the University of British Columbia) and other scientists, the
government of BC agreed, in 1968, to form an Ecological Reserves Committee
that would advise on the selection of potential reserve sites. A year
later, the government formally embarked on setting aside ecological
reserves under the Land Act.
In 1971, the Legislature
gave unanimous approval to the Ecological
Reserves Act. With this act, British Columbia became the first province in Canada to formalize and give permanent
protected status to ecological reserves. Quebec, the second to do so, established
a similar act in 1974, and New Brunswick in 1975. Other provinces have
since enacted similar legislation, or use other legislation such as Land,
Park and Museum Acts for designation of natural areas.
On May
4, 1971,
the first 29 reserves received protective status by Order-in-Council-a
conservation landmark for the province. A full-time ecological reserves coordinator
was hired in 1974, regulations related to use and protection of the
reserves were enacted in 1975, and a volunteer warden program put into
effect in 1980.
By 1985, the Ecological
Reserves Committee had been dissolved and the Ecological Reserves program
had been moved to the jurisdiction of the Parks Branch, which currently
administers it.
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The Benefits of
Ecological Reserves
Ecological reserves are
established for the maintenance of biological diversity. They assist in
developing and promoting an environmental consciousness and provide outdoor
laboratories and classrooms for studies concerned with the natural
environment and they are benchmarks against which environmental changes can
be measured.
As many ecological
processes are as yet poorly understood, today's scientists cannot predict
some of the questions that will require research in unaltered ecosystems.
Ecological reserves keep our options open for the future. Ecological
reserves provide a "genetic data bank" which may hold the key to
new discoveries in forestry, ecology, agriculture and medicine.
Their Role
Ecological reserves
contribute to the maintenance of biological diversity and the protection of
genetic materials. Appropriate research and educational functions are the
primary uses of ecological reserves. They are not created for outdoor
recreation and should not be confused with parks or other recreational
areas.
Most ecological reserves,
however, are open to the public for non-consumptive, observational uses,
such as nature appreciation, wildlife viewing, bird watching and
photography. Parks and ecological reserves, although serving somewhat
different purposes, complement one another. Together they provide a wide
range of opportunities for people to experience and learn from the natural
world.
Managing and Protecting
Ecological Reserves
The management and
protection of ecological reserves is the responsibility of BC Parks.
All consumptive resource
uses, such as tree cutting, hunting, fishing, mining, domestic grazing,
camping, lighting of fires and removing materials, plants or animals, and
the use of motorized vehicles are prohibited in ecological reserves.
Visitors to ecological reserves are asked to co-operate in caring for these
areas and some reserves, notably seabird nesting colonies, are so sensitive
that access is only allowed under ministerial permit.
BC Parks staff are
assisted in the protection and management of ecological reserves by
volunteer wardens. Wardens contribute their knowledge, enthusiasm for
conservation and their natural history expertise to the protection of
specific ecological reserves. The wardens serve an invaluable role in the
long-term protection of British Columbia's ecological reserves.
More information is
available about ecological reserves at BC
Parks.
Research and Education
in Ecological Reserves
An important
characteristic of ecological reserves is their permanence. Accordingly,
scientific research is one of the principal functions of ecological
reserves. Ecological reserves are suited to long-term research, or
longitudinal study, where permanent plots or observation stations can be
established, allowing the scientist or researcher to return to often, over
time.
Such types of research and
other basic research related to the study of natural processes are
encouraged in ecological reserves, provided it is not detrimental to the
values of the ecological reserve. Researchers may prefer to use sites that
already have an existing stock of research data upon which to build, as
past research has established a foundation of data upon which new research
activities can be built.
Ecological reserves also
offer opportunities for a wide range of educational activities-ranging from
simple observation and nature interpretation to the teaching of complex
ecological processes. Under permit, all levels and institutions of
education may visit all but a few very sensitive ecological reserves. As
surrounding environments are progressively altered by human activities,
ecological reserves assume an ever increasing significance for the
demonstration and study of original ecosystems.
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