PROJECTS

     Dark Sky

     Watershed

A Learning Community Initiative – Dark Sky Committee
For the past ten years there has been a major effort to develop and enhance a variety of programs which seek to preserve  the night sky on the beautiful Bruce Peninsula. There are presently as many reasons for doing this as there are individuals involved in this effort. View the Video Interviews of Local Dark Sky Champions. See our information and media files (here)The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association (BPBA) as part of its Learning... 

Since 2003, a benthic monitoring program has been implemented in three local cold-water streams to monitor the health of these aquatic ecosystems. Benthic monitoring involves collecting bottom samples from the streams to identify and count the macroin-vertebrates, or aquatic insects, present in the water. Since some of these species are sensitive to disruptions in their environment they are good indicators of the health of the streams.

     Forest Monitoring

     Salamander Monitoring

In 2002, a long-term monitoring program was initiated to assess the health of forest ecosystems on the Bruce Peninsula. Sixteen monitoring plots have been established on both private and protected lands throughout the municipality to observe changes in the health of our forest ecosystems by monitoring mature tree species, seedling and sapling regeneration, decay rates, lichens, and salamanders.

Since 2003, salamander monitoring protocols have been implemented at eight of the forest monitoring plots throughout the municipality. Coverboards, or layered wood, were used to monitor salamanders since they act as artificial habitat, making it easier to count them.

     Youth Involvement

For four years, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has provided local youth with an opportunity to gain hands-on employment experiences under the mentorship of re-source professionals.