Woodlot Biodiversity & Conservation:
Your Space, Your Challenge
How will planned development on the UofG campus affect urban woodlot biodiversity and the protection of natural areas?
Space and land within urban areas is often at a premium in southern Canada. Within urban areas space to develop is precious and highly valued. When space is needed for new living spaces natural areas is often sacrificed for expansion.
How will planned development on the UofG campus affect urban woodlot biodiversity and the protection of natural areas?
Space and land within urban areas is often at a premium in southern Canada. Within urban areas space to develop is precious and highly valued. When space is needed for new living spaces natural areas is often sacrificed for expansion.
Urban forests are critically important to the maintenance of biodiversity, the water quality and the overall health and quality of life for our species, living in that space! In the video below, you will meet Martin Neumann, the Manager of Forestry for the City of Guelph where we will learn about the value of urban forests while standing in the Dairy Bush.
The following narrative will be grounded in real woodlot forests on your campus: the Dairy Bush, Brown’s Woods, the North Campus Ravine and the Arboretum (Victoria Woods and Goose Walk woods).
As a new member of the University of Guelph
community – it is up to you assess the city and the University’s protection of
Natural areas and woodlot/forest biodiversity.
This job requires you to evaluate the criteria for making a decision regarding which of the University Natural areas will be developed.
You are expected to consider biological and ecological criteria and place these in the context of the views of those in society who have concerns.
In the following pages, you will use the digital resources we’ve collected to explore the diversity for each of the forests. You will also meet members of respective groups that have concerns about this development.
Your first task is to familiarize yourself with the forests in question.
Please make notes of what you consider the key characteristics of each of the woodlots and bring these notes to lecture.
This job requires you to evaluate the criteria for making a decision regarding which of the University Natural areas will be developed.
You are expected to consider biological and ecological criteria and place these in the context of the views of those in society who have concerns.
In the following pages, you will use the digital resources we’ve collected to explore the diversity for each of the forests. You will also meet members of respective groups that have concerns about this development.
Your first task is to familiarize yourself with the forests in question.
Please make notes of what you consider the key characteristics of each of the woodlots and bring these notes to lecture.
Brown’s Woods
Brown’s woods is a small woodlot (1.31 hectare (ha)) but has importance that is not predicted by its size. By following the link below, you can read about the history of Brown's woods as written by emeritus professor, Doug Larson.
Larson, D. W. (1996) Brown's Woods: An Early Gravel Pit Forest Restoration Project, Ontario, Canada. Restoration Ecology 4:11-18.
Visit the Brown’s woods using the GigaPan and the snapshots, photographs and videos below. You can visit Brown's woods in June or May. These will provide a snapshot of the plant diversity and other features of Brown’s Woods. Take notes and record snapshots of what you observe about this woodlot and bring them to the next class. Beneath the GigaPan you will meet Dr. Doug Larson and hear him recount the history of Brown's Woods.
Brown’s woods is a small woodlot (1.31 hectare (ha)) but has importance that is not predicted by its size. By following the link below, you can read about the history of Brown's woods as written by emeritus professor, Doug Larson.
Larson, D. W. (1996) Brown's Woods: An Early Gravel Pit Forest Restoration Project, Ontario, Canada. Restoration Ecology 4:11-18.
Visit the Brown’s woods using the GigaPan and the snapshots, photographs and videos below. You can visit Brown's woods in June or May. These will provide a snapshot of the plant diversity and other features of Brown’s Woods. Take notes and record snapshots of what you observe about this woodlot and bring them to the next class. Beneath the GigaPan you will meet Dr. Doug Larson and hear him recount the history of Brown's Woods.
North Campus Ravine
Description: You’ll find the North Campus ravine is nestled behind the MacDonald Institute and south of the Cutten Club.
Many of the species abundant in this small campus woodlot (1.43 ha) known are introduced: For example: European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/156386/snapshots/397879 and
the non-native beetle (Polydrysus) http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/156386/snapshots/397852 . The other dominant tree species is the
native early succession species, Manitoba maple (Acer negundo).
Explore the GigaPan below to see some of these species.
Description: You’ll find the North Campus ravine is nestled behind the MacDonald Institute and south of the Cutten Club.
Many of the species abundant in this small campus woodlot (1.43 ha) known are introduced: For example: European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/156386/snapshots/397879 and
the non-native beetle (Polydrysus) http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/156386/snapshots/397852 . The other dominant tree species is the
native early succession species, Manitoba maple (Acer negundo).
Explore the GigaPan below to see some of these species.
The Arboretum
The University of Guelph Arboretum has been an integral part of the University of Guelph since 1970 (Arboretum_masterplan_dec04) and it has “a mandate to promote education, research and outreach”. In the video below, you will be introduced to Chris Earley, the Interpretive Biologist and Education Coordinator for UofG Arboretum. There are several distinct areas of the Arboretum including collections, gardens and natural areas. Outside of the restricted research area, the two largest wood lots are the Victoria Woods (adjacent to Victoria Road) and the Wild Goose Woods (adjacent to the entrance from the main campus. You can visit Victoria woods in May or June and Goose Walk in June.
The University of Guelph Arboretum has been an integral part of the University of Guelph since 1970 (Arboretum_masterplan_dec04) and it has “a mandate to promote education, research and outreach”. In the video below, you will be introduced to Chris Earley, the Interpretive Biologist and Education Coordinator for UofG Arboretum. There are several distinct areas of the Arboretum including collections, gardens and natural areas. Outside of the restricted research area, the two largest wood lots are the Victoria Woods (adjacent to Victoria Road) and the Wild Goose Woods (adjacent to the entrance from the main campus. You can visit Victoria woods in May or June and Goose Walk in June.
