Biodiversity

Welcome to the Biodiversity page for the Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club!

What Biodiversity Is
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth, its interdependence, and how it interacts to support all of us.

What We Do
Our Biodiversity Committee is thrilled to be celebrating our first year, planning events and activities focussed on how each of us as trail users can contribute to the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s mission of Preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever

Our committee’s mission is “Biodiversity education through action and activities,” which we address through Education and Stewardship.

Why We Do It
A loss of one species through habitat destruction affects the lives of other species, including human beings. Protecting and reintroducing species helps us all thrive. 

 How We Do It
Our activities include education, monitoring native and invasive species, removing invasive species, replanting native species, and any combination of the above. And having a great deal of fun while we do it!

We are currently planning our 2025 activities. Return to this page often for details.

Also check the Dufferin Hi-Land Hike Schedule for regular updates. 

Learn more about how you can become involved by emailing biodiversity@dufferingbrucetrailclub.org. We’d love to see you!

Find more resources on the Bruce Trail Conservancy site.

Boot Brush Station Installation
iNaturalist Hike
American Chestnut Tree planting and Seed Orchard Installation
Buckthorn Busting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


American Chestnut: A Revival Project

In the early 1900s, the Carolinian forest (which includes the Dufferin Hi-Land area) was home to the American Chestnut tree (Castanea dentata). The American Chestnut could live up to 500 years, grow to over 100 feet tall, and produce between 3,000 – 6,000 nuts per season! These majestic trees played an integral role in both the ecosystem and the economy. Woodland mammals and birds had shelter and a reliable food source. The timber was used for barns, houses, and furniture.

This marvelous tree species is believed to have made up twenty-five percent of the trees in the Southern Ontario forests (an estimated two million chestnut trees). Unfortunately, by the late 1940s, the chestnut population was decimated, with only small numbers of isolated trees remaining. Most recent surveys estimate only 2,000 American Chestnut trees remain in Ontario, firmly entrenching it as an “endangered species” under the Ontario Endangered Species Act.

What happened?

An accidental introduction of fungal disease Cryphonectria parasitica, commonly known as “Chestnut Blight” occurred. American Chestnut trees have no natural resistance to the blight. Once infected, the leaves, branches, and stems die off. The roots often remain unaffected and new shoots will resprout, however, the new growth becomes infected, and the sprouts do not survive. Some sprouts will survive long enough to flower, but if there are no other chestnut trees nearby to pollinate with, no viable seeds are produced. The cycle continues.

What’s being done?

In 1998, The Canadian Chestnut Council (CCC) was established. This charitable organization’s mission is “to help restore the American Chestnut tree to areas of Canada it once occupied.” To achieve this, the CCC is working with the University of Guelph to produce fungal resistant American Chestnut trees of a Canadian origin.

As a result of successful American Chestnut plantings on other Bruce Trail Conservancy BTC) protected areas, the CCC is providing the BTC with 120 trees, to be planted within Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club (DHBTC) boundaries. The DHBTC Biodiversity Committee will be hosting a tree planting event on September 14, 2024, and we need your help.

“Alone each of us can do a little, together we can do much.”

To participate in this important event, please register through the Hike Schedule.

For more information: The Canadian Chestnut Council and Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club.

Article contributed by: Cathy Hughes


Boot Brush Stations

The article Limit the Spread of Invasive Species on the Bruce Trail listed numerous ways Bruce Trail users can play a role. This post will focus on how to use one of those methods—Boot Brush Station—to limit their spread.

Invasive plant species are those that have become established outside of their natural range and have a negative impact on the environment, economy and/or human health where they are introduced. Trail users inadvertently transport seeds from one ecosystem to another when these opportunistic organisms hitchhike on footwear, pets, and gear. Once introduced, they quickly become established and compete for light, nutrients, and water, usurping the resources native plants need to grow and thrive. By degrading natural areas, they pose a threat to habitats, agriculture, and forest regeneration.

Read more about Boot Brushes and the BTC Trail Conservancy Project to limit the spread of invasive species…


iNaturalist Project

Join the Bruce Trail project on iNaturalist and collect biodiversity data. Cataloging your observations helps track invasive species, identify new species, and record native species. This provides detailed, relevant, and scientific data on which to base effective stewardship strategies.

Making this valuable contribution is as simple as downloading the iNaturalist app, joining the Bruce Trail Project, and uploading photos and audio recordings during your hike.

Learn more at: brucetrail.org/what-we-do/#iNaturalist


How to Limit the Spread of Invasive Species on the Bruce Trail

Invasive species are defined as non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive species are one of the top threats to biodiversity because they have few natural predators, reproduce quickly, thrive in disturbed systems, and can outcompete native species for food and habitat.

Read more about how you can help 


Enjoy some of the Bruce Trails Biodiversity Videos!