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FOREST ECOSYSTEM MONITORING PROGRAM
Project Description
With the largest remaining intact forest in southern Ontario, it is important that we understand these ecosystems so 
that we can ensure their future sustainability on the Bruce Peninsula. By monitoring changes within our forests over a long period of time, we can gain valuable information on the structure and composition of our forests, the impacts of natural and human stresses, and furthermore, an early warning of potential ecological problems. With this information, our community can make more informed decisions to manage our forests in a way that ensures both their ecological and economic sustainability. Good decisions based on good information are ultimately what “building capacity” is in the biosphere reserve concept.
In 2002, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association initiated a forest ecosystem monitoring program on the Northern Bruce Peninsula to compare the state of the forests in the protected core area within the Bruce Peninsula National Park and the surrounding working landscapes of the Municipality of the Northern Bruce Peninsula. Based on protocols from the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), sixteen permanent monitoring plots have been established on both private and protected lands throughout the municipality (See Map). These monitoring plots are stations designed to examine various aspects of forest ecosystems using forest species as indicators of changes to the ecosystem.
Forest Biodiversity. 
In 2002, a long-term monitoring program was initiated to assess the health of forest ecosystems on the Bruce Peninsula. Monitoring these plots over an extended period of time allows the community to better understand forest ecosystems, detect local and regional environmental changes, and furthermore, make informed land management decisions. Several aspects of trees are inventoried, including structure and composition of mature trees, tree health, seedling and sapling regeneration, and decomposition.
Lichen Diversity.
It is thought by many people that lichens are simple organisms, much like any other type of plant but, in fact, lichens exist as a special relationship between a fungus and algae. Lichens easily absorb chemicals from air and rainwater, which can affect this delicate relationship, causing the lichen to die. Because of this sensitivity to environmental stress, lichens are good indicators of changes to forest ecosystems, particularly in air quality. Through continuous monitoring of lichen diversity and abundance, trends in environmental change can be assessed over time.
Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Reports
Our Partners
- Parks Canada
- Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN)
- Bruce County
- Private Landowners: Lynn and Carol Robins, Bruce Krug, Birch and Becky Behmann, Rob Edighafer, Lance and Laurie Golden, Shirley Johnstone, John and Ethel Greig, Laurie Adams, and E’Terra
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