| Conservation
Tools |
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2.0 Using Conservation Science as a Framework for
the Future
For many years, conservation effort in Carolinian Canada, as in most
regions, was oriented to the protection of remnant landscape fragments -
"islands of green." But over the past two decades,
conservationists have increasingly come to realize that by themselves
these islands of habitat cannot sustain the full suite of native species
in a region. As natural habitats are fragmented into smaller and smaller
pieces, and become more and more isolated from each other, species
requiring large blocks of habitat gradually die out. This pattern has
been well documented for forest interior species (Burke and Nol, 1998;
Wilcox and Murphy, 1985), and appears to hold true for marshlands and
grasslands as well.
Carolinian Canada provides a textbook case on the effects of habitat
fragmentation on wildlife species. At least 14 animals and 25 plants
have been extirpated from the region, and as noted above, many other
species are approaching the brink. A quarter of the region's mammal
species no longer occur, including half of the large mammalian
carnivores (Jalava et al., 2000). Even within the strictly protected
habitats of Point Pelee National Park, 9 species of amphibians and
reptiles have been lost, compared to a total of 29 species remaining in
the larger habitats at Long Point (Zammit, 1996).
The fundamental objective of The Big Picture project was to
address these concerns, and to extend conservation planning beyond
existing "islands of green." This approach recognizes that a
single-species approach to conservation, addressing each endangered
species individually, is too costly and impractical for this region. It
highlights the importance of relatively large core areas, where viable
populations of interior species can be sustained. And it endorses the
concept that restoring natural corridors to link together core areas can
be a valuable conservation technique.
The Big Picture approach is based on an understanding that
natural areas function best as part of an inter-connected system. This
network of green results in a whole that is greater than the sum of its
parts - a connected landscape that should be able to maintain viable
populations of species that would be doomed in isolated habitat patches,
and perhaps even provide conditions for the re-colonization of some
species now missing.
Creating the Big Picture involved the input of many of
Ontario's top conservation scientists, and the sophistication of a
multi-layered Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis carried out
at the Natural Heritage Information Centre. A series of principles
guided the development of the project, such as favouring large intact
natural areas as cores, and identifying for protection all viable
occurrences of globally rare species and communities. Broad targets were
also established, such as a science-based planning goal of significantly
increasing the extent of natural cover in each ecodistrict to support
the full suite of plants and animals native to the region (Jalava
et al., 2000).
The process began by identifying core areas of at least 200 hectares
wherever possible, and smaller significant woodlands for townships with
extremely low forest cover. A series of additional values was added to
help map "least-cost" connections among the cores through
corridors with a minimum width of 200 metres. The resulting map - Figure
1, the Big Picture - provides an overall goal for conservation
and restoration within Carolinian Canada. It provides a scientific
context and rationale for local conservation initiatives, and a source
of information to coordinate future activities across jurisdictions.
From Vision to Reality
A glance at the map of cores and corridors quickly shows that a
substantial increase in the size and quality of natural areas in
Carolinian Canada will be needed to achieve this vision of the future.
It is equally clear that the existing set of tools available to promote
conservation will not be sufficient. In a landscape where the demands of
ever-growing populations and industry dominate decision-making,
conservation needs have not been able to compete. New incentives, new
approaches, and new resources will be needed.
That's the purpose of this paper - to examine a broad spectrum of
possible new tools that could be added to the conservation toolkit with
the aim of making the Big Picture a reality. Some are
short-term; others might not be feasible for a decade or more. Some
build on programs or initiatives now underway in Ontario; others draw
from jurisdictions across the world. Some would not require new
spending; others require some new investment. The advice and input of
many people in various fields are gratefully acknowledged, but none of
these potential tools have any official sanction at this point, from the
Carolinian Canada Coalition or anyone else.
But all are intended to stimulate thinking and discussion about the
best bets for future progress. Think of this as a shopping list of
potential opportunities - which ones should be at the top of the list?
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