At November 23 – The Northern Malaspina Peninsula: a GIS analysis
Sunshine Coast, B.C. Tla’amin First Nation lands qathet Regional District
Prepared by Baden Cross, GIS Analyst
Applied Conservation GIS
With Input and Support from Elphinstone Logging Focus
The GIS analysis in this report covers an area close to 5,000 hectares on the Malaspina Peninsula located in the Bunster Landscape Unit within the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District. The Malaspina Study Area (MSA) in this analysis includes a region that runs from approximately Sarah Point in the northwest to southeast of Larsons Landing and Malaspina Road. (MAP 1)
The majority of the landscape is forested and lies within the Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Very Dry Maritime Subzone. Major tree species include Douglas fir, western redcedar, western hemlock with some elements of grand fir, red alder, lodgepole and white pine. read more
At June 16 – Bear Den Creation in the xwesam (Roberts Creek) Watershed
Helen Davis, MSc, RPBio
Artemis Wildlife Consultants
Duncan, BC
Black bears (Ursus americanus) require suitable den sites that provide security and thermal cover to successfully survive the winter denning period. In coastal BC, bears prefer to use cavities associated with large‐diameter hollow trees or structures derived from trees (i.e., cavities in or under logs, root boles and stumps) as den sites (Davis 1996). Extensive harvesting of coastal forests has reduced the availability of natural den structures such that their supply may affect population sustainability because dens in hollow trees are a finite resource necessary for population recruitment (Forest Practices Board 2020).
The modification of large, hollow cedar stumps has been used successfully on Vancouver Island (Davis 2022) and Haida Gwaii (unpub. data) to increase the supply of dens for black bears in areas where den supply is limited. As such, this technique appears to be a valid restoration technique in areas of coastal BC that have a history of extensive forest harvesting. These “stump dens” can be a stop-gap measure to temporarily supply den structures while natural den cavities form in trees retained through proper landscape planning. read more
Bear Den Restoration Project: Image gallery
At April 7 – Red-legged Frog Assessment, Spring breeding period 2025 – TA0521
Aimee Mitchell, MSc. RPBio,
Principal – Athene Ecological
Surveys conducted in late March 2025 have confirmed breeding of Red-legged Frogs at two sites (Pond #1 and #2).
Since water temperatures were only 4 degrees (the coldest temperature egg masses are usually laid at), it is highly likely that breeding is currently active in this area. Active laying of egg masses may still occur over the next month which means that there will be adult frogs in and around the pond during this time. In addition, due to the likely colder temperatures in the quarry ponds development of eggs and larvae is likely to be slow. The limited information shared regarding the BCTS contractor report appears to indicate there were still tadpoles (larvae) in late July and August 2024, suggesting larvae are likely not to transform until late
summer and may still occupy the site into the fall…
…Measures
Access:
• Do not construct roads.
Harvesting and silviculture:
• Do not harvest in the core area.
• In the management zone, use partial harvesting systems that maintain 70% basal area. Maintain forest
structure and cover by retention of large diameter trees, multi-layered canopies, snags, and coarse woody
debris.
•Retain as much understorey trees, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation as ispracticable.
• No salvage should be carried out.
Pesticides:
• Do not use pesticides. read more