Five-year invasive species management plan : Royal Roads property
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Issue Date
2015-05-06
Editor
Authors
Rietkerk, Jeff
Francis, Alyne
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Subject
Abstract
Ornamental plant species, such as English holly (Ilex nquifolium) and English ivy (Hedera
helix), which are maintained in the formal gardens and grounds of the Royal Roads
property, have spread as invasive species into the surrounding forest. Other invasive
species, such as Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and gorse (Ulex europneus) have been
introduced from outlying areas to opportune locations on the property. Invasive species
are drastically affecting the ecology and heritage values of the property and the
surrounding community.
Consistent management of these invasive plant species has not occurred on the
property, and an inventory of the current distribution of invasive plants was conducted
in January 2003 as part of a five-year Invasive Species Management Plan. The
Environmental Office of Physical and Environmental Resources at Royal Roads
University commissioned the project through the Department of National Defence
(Directorate of Realty and Engineering Policy) and the CFB Esquimalt Natural Resources
Program. This Management Plan is one of several ecological studies currently being
conducted on the property.
The management plan included survey and ecological information on six prominent
invasive plant species on campus, and removal and remediation methods for each
species. A Geographic Information System (GIS) component aided with the ranking and
prioritizing of the infestations, based on their site characteristics, and was used later in
prescribing the removal method.
Results from the inventory indicated that approximately 80% of the property now has
some degree of invasive species infestation, not including the invasive plant species
present on the formal university grounds. The inventory found Scotch broom,
Himalayan blackberry and gorse growing in open areas and along forest and road
edges; English ivy and Daphne present along forest edges and undermixed canopy; and
English holly growing throughout the entire property, including forested areas with
dense canopy.
Unlike a Garry Oak ecosystem, the closed canopy associated with a coniferous forest at
Royal Roads is a limitation for broom and gorse; but ivy, Daphne, and holly were found
to be spreading into most sections of the forest interior. These shade tolerant species
pose the biggest threat to the defining ecology of the Royal Roads property, which also
includes some smaller Garry Oak sites.
Removal is anticipated to be a long-term management commitment and includes
methods such as hand pulling, brush cutting, herbicide applications and site soil
remediation. This report, combined with a GIS theme and database of the survey and
work plan, is a tool to assist the Department of National Defence and Royal Roads
University in adaptively prescribing and monitoring removal and remediation of
invasive plant species infestations, and recording and tracking the progress.
Description
This work was digitally reproduced from a print copy held by Royal Roads University Library. It forms part of a digital collection of locally significant reports and land surveys. The copyright holder has granted the Royal Roads University Library the non-exclusive right to digitize and make this work electronically available via DSpace@RRU. Copyright of this material is fully retained by the copyright holder, and this work should not be copied, modified, or distributed further without permission from the copyright holder. Please contact the RRU Copyright Office copyrightoffice@royalroads.ca for more information.