This one of those cheery articles that looks deceptively like really good news for beavers but when you look more closely appears slightly ominous. There really aren’t many details about the project, even at the National Parks Website. All they’re specific about is roads, and banks which might mean asphalt and sheetpile. I’m not sure.
I guess it’s nice when National Parks decide to use beavers as window dressing?
Forillon Gets Funding Boost For Beaver Pond Area
Quebec’s Forillon National Park is getting funding to conserve, restore and present its beaver ponds area.
Funded through Parks Canada’s Conservation and Restoration Program, this $4.3-million ($3.3-million USD) project will restore ecological connectivity to the forest and waterways near a former section of Hwy. 132 by 2026.
“Habitats connected by natural corridors are home to a greater variety of plant and animal species,” Parks Canada said in a news release. “Ecological connectivity therefore contributes to the protection of biodiversity, making us more resilient to climate change.”
This project will showcase the importance of the beaver, an “ecosystem engineer that creates wetland habitats for other species, improves water quality, influences forest succession and promotes biodiversity.”
Conserve, restore and present. What in god’s name does that mean in english? I’m assuming when you get 3 and a half million dollars for beaver ponds you do not install 7 flow devices and boardwalks over the waterways. Restore? Beavers don’t need your help to restore their ponds so I’m assuming that’s not what you mean. Probably there was some erosion in a road by a pond and you’re going to dewater the pond and desilt the bank before you restore the paving? I cannot imagine the beavers will be allowed to stick around while the trucks work. But I’m a very suspicious soul.
The work includes asphalt and guardrail removal and the reforestation of 5.5 kilometres (3.4 miles) of old road. Waterways and soils will be redeveloped and restored, helping with the movement of animals and dispersal of flora. About 15,000 native trees will be planted.
Three portions of various types of trails will be developed and lead to the Visitor Information and Discovery Centre, beaver ponds and Cap-des-Rosiers creek areas, and La Chute Trail.
“Forillon National Park is a jewel of the Gaspé Peninsula,” Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, said in a news release. “By investing $4.3 million in the park’s biodiversity, the Government of Canada is demonstrating that the conservation of natural environments is at the forefront of efforts to fight climate change and stimulating the tourism industry, a critical sector of the Gaspé Peninsula economy.”
Well getting rid of old roads might be good. Letting wildlife move easier in the park is always a good thing, and fewer roads mean that beaver ponds are less likely to be a problem for them. Maybe this can really be good news for beavers?
At the end of the project, Parks Canada will have restored 133,000 square metres (1.4 million square feet) in surface area and will have connected six streams whose banks will have been rehabilitated, facilitating the passage of fish and amphibians.
Forillon is recognized for its efforts in the fight climate change. It was awarded the 2020 Canadian Parks Council Award of Excellence to an Agency for its Cap-des-Rosiers beach restoration project.
Parks Canada is one of the few national park systems that has a system-wide ecological integrity reporting and monitoring program. It’s based on about 600 science-based measures that support each park’s priorities and guide restoration actions.
Now there is a Le Castor parking lot where you can gather with park rangers to begin a Beavers Turf tour of the area so I guess there’s a chance in high heaven that this 3.3 million dollars will really benefit beaver habitat in some way. Let’s hope the replanting of native trees includes lots and lots of willow and they’ve already figured out a plan to protect tasty seedlings from curious castors.
Because if NP traps beavers for eating trees that they were given funds to replant in beaver habitat I will be most unhappy.
