Open Government Portal

Banff National Park monitors invasive alien plants with the use of permanent, random stratified, belt transects established in the alpine. Occurrence frequency of all detected non-native species is recorded along a belt transect.

Only 2.1% of the Foothills Parkland ecoregion is protected within any federal or provincial park in Canada. Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) is the only national park where this scenic and biologically diverse ecoregion is protected. Scarcity of fire and lack of bison grazing have contributed to encroachment of aspen forest and homogenization of the fescue grassland. This area also has the highest occurrence of non-native invasive plants.

Invasive plants can reduce biodiversity and compromise ecosystem function by out-competing native species, altering nutrient cycling, destabilizing soils and causing erosion, among other impacts. Prevention of colonization by weedy invaders is achieved through rapid restoration and reduced disturbance, both providing an advantage to native species to resist future invasions by non-natives. Jasper National Park monitors non-native species and carry outs control measures where non-native species have the potential to threaten vulnerable habitats and ecosystem in the Park.

Non-native mammal species are monitored annually in areas critical for the protection important seabird islands. Remote cameras are deployed for 15-days to annually detect any changes to the mammal community at key sites. Non-native species pose the greatest ecological threat in Gwaii Haanas. Deer dramatically alter the vegetation and rats, racoons and squirrels impact native species both directly (predation) and indirectly (competition).

Yoho National Park monitors invasive alien plants with the use of permanent, random stratified, transects established in each of the three management zones, in close proximity to vectors of spread (highways, trails, campgrounds, etc.). Percent cover of all detected non-native species is recorded along each transect using the line intercept method.

Kootenay National Park monitors invasive alien plants with the use of permanent, random stratified, transects established in each of the three management zones, in close proximity to vectors of spread (highways, trails, campgrounds, etc.). Percent cover of all detected non-native species is recorded along each transect using the line intercept method.

Banff National Park monitors invasive alien plants with the use of permanent, random stratified, transects established in each of the three management zones, in close proximity to vectors of spread (highways, trails, campgrounds, etc.). Percent cover of all detected non-native species is recorded along each transect using the line intercept method.

Kootenay National Park monitors invasive alien plants with the use of permanent, random stratified, belt transects established in the alpine. Occurrence frequency of all detected non-native species is recorded along a belt transect.

Yoho National Park monitors invasive alien plants with the use of permanent, random stratified, belt transects established in the alpine. Occurrence frequency of all detected non-native species is recorded along a belt transect.

Terra Nova National Park monitors non-native mammal browse pressure on forest plant communities on transects and plots.