Management plan for the Coastal Wood Fern in Canada [Proposed] 2011 : Approaches to Meet Objectives

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Actions have been categorized by the action groups of the Conservation Framework. Status of the action group for this species is given in brackets.

Very little is known about the reproductive capabilities of the coastal wood fern in Canada. Further studies are required to understand the conditions necessary for successful sexual reproduction, such as spore germination, successful reproduction of gametophytes, sporophyte seedling survival, and whether specific microsite conditions are required for sexual reproduction. Further understanding of dispersal capability and breeding system would be beneficial.

The genetic composition of B.C. populations and the differences between subpopulations, as well as how B.C. populations differ from those in the United States has not been studied. Such studies would determine the primary mode of reproduction (via spores or vegetatively by rhizome divisions). Determining the genetic composition can suggest which stage of the life-cycle is best protected for the survival of the species (e.g., protecting the habitat attributes that support spore or vegetative reproduction).

The population-level impact of natural disturbances such as erosion and exposure from sun, wind, and storms, as well as the impact of an altered fire regime, is not understood. The impacts of invasive alien plants, pests and diseases – in particular the impact of sudden oak death – are not known.

Essential habitat attributes for the coastal wood fern have not been determined; knowledge gaps include soil moisture regime, soil composition including particle size, organic matter, soil depth, vegetation composition (including presence and abundance of invasive plant species), slope, aspect, and elevation.

It is not known why this species has a limited distribution, whether there are specific habitat requirements as outlined above, and whether natural disturbance regimes contribute to the distribution of the species.

Further surveys should be conducted within the extent of occurrence to determine whether there are unreported populations that may be discovered on inaccessible rocky cliffs and steep dry forested slopes on the northern Gulf Islands and adjacent Vancouver Island.

Populations have not been monitored to determine population trends, and this should be in acted in an inventory, monitoring and assessment program at least every 10 years.

Table 3. Recommended management actions for coastal wood fern in British Columbia
Priority Obj # Threat or concern addressed Broad strategy to address threat or concern Management Action
Urgent 1 Habitat loss
(IUCN #1.1)
Habitat protection Establish protection for private (x9) populations through stewardship approaches and/or voluntary land acquisition on private land. Monitor populations ( Hornby Island 1 and 2) that have an existing conservation covenant and a common protected area (strata).

Ensure the occupied habitats of populations in provincial parks are monitored to ensure the special management zones and area descriptions are recognized and implemented.

Determine and develop best management practices for coastal wood fern habitat to guide stewardship activities.

Engage the cooperation of all involved landowners and managers in habitat stewardship where protection is not currently in place.

Initiate stewardship with the owners of the camping co-operative and conservation organization on Hornby Island 1 (Norman Point) to decrease mowing at the site.
Necessary 2 Recreation
(IUCN #6.1);
Erosion
(IUCN #11.4); Exotic species
(IUCN #8.1)
Threat mitigation Determine effects of recreation, erosion from winter storms, invasive alien plants.

Monitor encroachment and remove exotic shrubs and low trees as necessary to prevent shading of species.
Necessary 3, 5 Knowledge Gaps;
All threats
Inventory,
monitoring and assessment
Re-inventory populations not recently inventoried.

Conduct inventories in suitable habitat not previously surveyed to determine if additional populations exist.

Monitor each population every 10 years at a minimum, to determine population trends and impact of threats.
Necessary 3, 5 Exotic species
(IUCN #8.1)
Inventory and monitoring Monitor encroachment of exotic shrubs.
Beneficial 3, 4,
5
Recreation
(IUCN #6.1);
Erosion
(IUCN #11.4);
Exotic species, (IUCN #8.1)
Outreach and communication Develop education and outreach material for the coastal wood fern.

Develop on-site interpretive material for populations in provincial parks threatened by recreational activities.

In conjunction with GOERT, increase public awareness of the coastal wood fern by delivering public education and outreach.

Increase public awareness of sudden oak death to minimize the spread of potentially contaminated species.

Develop education and outreach material for the coastal wood fern.

Distribute outreach material and best management practices to private landowners/land managers of 9 populations (1 is shared with a provincial park), 4 provincial landowners/land managers, and one federal landowner/land manager.

Distribute outreach material to Islands Trust representatives on Denman and Hornby Islands.

Distribute outreach material to hiking/naturalist groups on Denman and Hornby islands.
Beneficial 5 Knowledge gaps Research Identify essential habitat attributes for the coastal wood fern.

Determine the genetic composition of subpopulations in B.C. and how they compare to the populations in U.S. Determine the primary mode of reproduction for the species.

Determine the level of impact of natural disturbance.

Determine effects of invasive alien plants and sudden oak death.

Determine if habitat attributes and natural disturbance contribute to limited distribution.

Most of the coastal wood fern populations (9 of 13) occur at least partially on private lands. Habitat protection on private land will include a variety of initiatives, such as working with private landowners to develop appropriate stewardship activities, establishing conservation agreements/easements, and limiting development through development permit areas (DPAs). All populations of the coastal wood fern, except Dorcas Point, are in the area covered by the Islands Trust. Islands Trust is a federation of independent local governments that plan land use and regulate land development within the Gulf Islands to preserve areas for the local residents and for the province. In provincial park locations, the occupied habitats of populations should be monitored to ensure the Special Management Zones and area descriptions are recognized and implemented. Only one of the populations on private land (Denman #3) is currently protected by a stewardship agreement in place with the Denman Island Conservancy.

Landowners should be contacted through local land trusts in conjunction with the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) landowner contact program and should be advised of appropriate habitat management and stewardship activities for the coastal wood fern.

The populations on Amelia, Gerald and Mistaken islands should be reinventoried because it has been nine years since they were systematically examined. A thorough inventory is also required because some populations (e.g., Hornby #1, Hornby #3, and Denman #1) may be more extensive than initially reported (Martin, pers. comm. 2007). Each population should be monitored every 10 years to assess the status of the population and determine population trends.

Inventories should also target potential habitat of the coastal wood fern (e.g., southwest, southeast, or south-facing dry slopes or rock outcrops) on the Gulf Islands and appropriate coastlines of Vancouver Island to search for undocumented populations.

Management activities should include monitoring the effects of recreational activities, invasive alien plants, and erosion associated with winter storms. For the federal lands, ingrowth of exotic shrubs and low trees are encroaching into parts of the habitat of the species, and should be monitored and removed if necessary (Fairbarns 2006).

There needs to be continued communication to increase public awareness of the coastal wood fern and other species at risk.

Public education should also focus on building community and stakeholder awareness of the link between sudden oak death and coastal wood fern in order to limit the potential spread of the disease from offsite nursery plants.

Research is required to address key knowledge gaps. Research to determine essential habitat characteristics for the coastal wood fern could be done in association with inventory and monitoring. Research should also identify appropriate invasive plant management, and the impacts, if any of sudden oak death.

The coastal wood fern occurs in the vicinity of species at risk in Garry oak woodlands, as well as in maritime meadows and vernal pools/ephemeral wet areas associated with Garry oak and associated ecosystems. Therefore, the habitat protection and stewardship of Garry oak will contribute to the protection of other species in these habitats.

This management plan is one component of the recovery strategy for Garry oak and associated ecosystems, in particular, strategic approach D: “protection and recovery of species at risk” (GOERT 2002). Species at risk in these adjacent habitats are addressed in several multi-species recovery strategies (Parks Canada Agency 2006a, 2006b, 2006c).

Since coastal wood fern occurs on private lands, stewardship efforts will be the key to their conservation and recovery. It is recognized that to successfully protect many species at risk there will have to be voluntary initiatives by landowners to help maintain areas of natural ecosystems that support these species of risk. Examples of this stewardship approach for landowners include: following guidelines or best management practices to support species at risk; voluntarily protecting important areas of habitat on private property; establishing conservation covenants on property titles; ecogifting of private property, in whole or in part; and sales of part or all of their property to protect certain ecosystems or species at risk; or selling their property for conservation. For example, both government and nongovernmental organizations have had good success in partnering with private land owners to conserve private lands in B.C. This could be aided by stewardship programs and local land trusts in British Columbia, such as the Islands Trust, the Land Trust Alliance, Conservancy Hornby Island, and the Denman Island Conservancy.

Balke, J., J. Booth, K. Dunster, and B. Penn. 2001. Helliwell Provincial Park ecosystem based plan. Subm. to B.C. Parks, Strathcona District, BC.

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Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 1998. Status report on coastal wood fern (Dryopteris arguta) in Canada. Ottawa, ON.

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Parks Canada Agency. 2006a. Recovery strategy for multi-species at risk in Garry oak woodlands in Canada. In Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series, Environment Canada, Ottawa, ON.

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Paula Bartemucci, Gentian Botanical Research, Smithers, BC.
Tracy Cornforth, Natural Resources Coordinator, Department of National Defence, CFB Esquimalt, Victoria, BC.
Marta Donovan, Conservation Data Centre, Victoria, BC.
Matt Fairbarns, Aruncus Consulting, Victoria BC.
Dave Fraser, Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC.
Paul Furman, Horticulturalist, Bay Natives Nursery, San Francisco, CA.
Richard Martin, Botanist, Denman Island, BC.
Norm Mogensen, Heron Rocks Camping Co-operative, Hornby Island.
Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wild. 1972A 36th Avenue, Oakland, CA.
Patrick Williston, Gentian Botanical Research. Smithers, BC.
Bert Wilson, Horticulturalist, Las Pilitas Nursery.

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