Development and application of an ecosystem management approach for protected natural areas |
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Authors: | Denyse Lajeunesse Gérald Domon Pierre Drapeau Alain Cogliastro André Bouchard |
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Institution: | (1) Institut de recherche en biologie végétale Jardin botanique de Montréal, 4101 est Sherbrooke, H1X 2B2 Montréal, Québec, Canada;(2) Present address: école d'Architecture du Paysage, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succ. A, H3C 3J7 Montréal, Québec, Canada;(3) Present address: Groupe de recherche en écologie forestière, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succ. A, H3C 3P8 Montréal, Québec, Canada |
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Abstract: | Preservation of small natural areas is not in itself a sufficient measure to maintain the integrity of the ecosystems for
which they were initially set aside. Intense pressure from recreational use is just one of the many human-caused stresses
that may degrade natural areas. Therefore, land-use planning and management from an ecological perspective is necessary to
assess, ensure, and in some cases increase, the ecological integrity of protected natural areas. An ecosystem management approach
for small protected natural areas with high recreational use is presented, based on three interrelated components: an ecological
evaluation procedure of ecosystems, the implementation of management interventions on ecosystems, and the development of a
monitoring scheme of ecosystem components. The ecological evaluation procedure combines two concepts: the biotic value of
vegetation and wildlife and the abiotic fragility of the soils. This combined evaluation process results in the creation of
a sensitivity map that can be used as a management tool for planners and managers. Management interventions, the second component
of the management approach, are derived from concepts of ecological succession. Intentional human interventions are used to
maintain the ecological integrity of ecosystems or in some cases to restore degraded sites. For the third component, only
the basic principles of the monitoring program will be discussed. A pilot project in one of the Montreal urban community protected
areas is presented to illustrate aspects of the proposed ecosystem management approach. |
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