Val Deziel
Director of Restoration Programs, Forests Ontario
Forests Ontario measures biodiversity on newly planted sites using proxies like tree species, landscape connectivity, and indicator species.
Biodiversity contributes to the resilience and integrity of ecosystems by supporting soil formation, climate regulation, and air quality regulation – ensuring that ecosystems can adapt to changes and stresses.
Typically, biodiversity can be measured by the number of different animal and plant species. Measuring biodiversity on afforested sites, which have been barren for years, takes time. Since afforestation (which is just one of our many types of forest restoration approaches) is the first step in the long journey to diverse and mature forests, Forests Ontario uses other data as a proxy for biodiversity on newly planted sites.
We analyze the number of trees and tree species planted on thousands of planting sites each year and use geographic information system technology to look at sites that are planted near a watercourse, riparian area, or wetland, or that are near Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI).
Planting near water can provide regulating and supporting ecosystem services, while planting near ANSIs can contribute to the health and longevity of those areas by extending forest cover and creating connectivity. We also study connectivity in woodlands, protected areas, and the Greenbelt. Having larger connected areas maintains natural ecological processes and allows wildlife the space to access resources, breed, and find habitat.
Finally, we use Global Biodiversity Information Facility data to identify observations of indicator species near our planting sites. Indicator species are animals (including the Cerulean Warbler, pictured) or plants that are commonly associated with a particular tree species or ecosystems whose presence indicates strong ecological health and high forest quality.
Restoring our forested landscapes, finding ways to improve landscape connectivity, planting near areas of significant or ecological value, and identifying indicator species all help to strengthen biodiversity.
Learn more at forestsontario.ca.
