Future trajectory
Green Links came to an end in 2006, when Dr. Schaefer left the Institute of Urban Ecology at Douglas College; the project was not pursued. The loss of a cohesive, single-objective network will likely mean that long-term community stewardship for creating ecological connectivity in Coquitlam will diminish in the future. Although Green Links heavily encouraged initiatives that cultivated stewardship, such as Adopt-a-Site, regional school programs, Earth Week celebrations, and Nature’s Havens, the transient nature of urban societies makes long-term management of such projects difficult (Schaefer, V., personal communication, February 23, 2015).
The geographical components of Green Links are still in place and still do carry out their role in connectivity (see Appendix Figure 2: Existing “Green Links” in 2015 - Utility Corridor Connecting Urban Parks), even if the social network has eroded. The increasing significance of urban parks, the ever-increasing reliance on power transmission through the utility corridor, and the overwhelming support of salmon habitat suggests that these components will likely persist into the future (Watershed Watch Salmon Society, 2011; Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, 2014; Grove, Haubensak & Parker, 2012). However, without protected status, they still could be subject to future development. The continued inclusion of backyard habitat will likely pose a challenge, as programs promoting the use of backyards, such as Nature’s Haven’s, are no longer running.
There exists the possibility that the Coquitlam Demonstration Site utility right-of-way could begin to show characteristics of a ‘novel ecosystem’ into the future, given a lack of active site management and a persistence of certain biological or abiotic characteristics. A novel ecosystem is one in which shifts in biotic and abiotic factors have driven change to the point that a threshold has been surpassed, and the ecosystem has shifted into a new, self-sustaining, stable state. In this state, novel characteristics are persistent and historical conditions are impossible to return to (Hobbs, Higgs & Harris, 2009). BC Hydro currently manages the Coquitlam utility corridor regularly by pruning and mowing vegetation (BC Hydro, personal communication, March 9, 2015). Therefore, with continued active management of this nature, this site would not quite merit the title of a ‘novel ecosystem’, despite the possibility of extensive shifts in ecosystem structure and composition. Regardless, the presence of invasive species within the site certainly demonstrates potential for novel characteristics to arise. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), an invasive species to this region, could not be effectively eradicated from this site due to its high disposal costs (Schaefer, V., personal communication, February 23, 2015; Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, 2014). This species alters soil conditions through the release of alkaloids, which can inhibit the growth of tree seedlings (Grove, Haubensak & Parker, 2012). Due to this quality and the plant’s status as a low growing shrub, scotch broom is considered ‘Desirable Vegetation’ by BC Hydro’s management standards (BC Hydro, 2010b). In the absence of management for the presence of this particular species’ spread, scotch broom populations have the potential to grow and persist, altering soil conditions along the way. This could lead to the surpassing of an irreversible threshold and the achievement of a new stable state, in which an entirely new and unprecedented structure and function is present (Hobbs, Higgs & Harris, 2009; Hallet et al., 2013). It is uncertain as to whether the novel characteristics that may arise in this situation would result in valuable ecosystem functioning; scotch broom is known, for example, to attract pollinators, and could serve as a provider of habitat for other species (Schaefer, V., personal communication, February 23, 2015).
Further research and monitoring is needed to determine the shifts in species composition over time within this site, and to observe whether novel characteristics – be they beneficial or harmful to healthy ecosystem functioning – begin to arise under current management regimes. Continued study of the area is needed in order to determine the ecological value and integrity of this space in its current condition in order to better understand some of these changes and their implications.
The geographical components of Green Links are still in place and still do carry out their role in connectivity (see Appendix Figure 2: Existing “Green Links” in 2015 - Utility Corridor Connecting Urban Parks), even if the social network has eroded. The increasing significance of urban parks, the ever-increasing reliance on power transmission through the utility corridor, and the overwhelming support of salmon habitat suggests that these components will likely persist into the future (Watershed Watch Salmon Society, 2011; Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, 2014; Grove, Haubensak & Parker, 2012). However, without protected status, they still could be subject to future development. The continued inclusion of backyard habitat will likely pose a challenge, as programs promoting the use of backyards, such as Nature’s Haven’s, are no longer running.
There exists the possibility that the Coquitlam Demonstration Site utility right-of-way could begin to show characteristics of a ‘novel ecosystem’ into the future, given a lack of active site management and a persistence of certain biological or abiotic characteristics. A novel ecosystem is one in which shifts in biotic and abiotic factors have driven change to the point that a threshold has been surpassed, and the ecosystem has shifted into a new, self-sustaining, stable state. In this state, novel characteristics are persistent and historical conditions are impossible to return to (Hobbs, Higgs & Harris, 2009). BC Hydro currently manages the Coquitlam utility corridor regularly by pruning and mowing vegetation (BC Hydro, personal communication, March 9, 2015). Therefore, with continued active management of this nature, this site would not quite merit the title of a ‘novel ecosystem’, despite the possibility of extensive shifts in ecosystem structure and composition. Regardless, the presence of invasive species within the site certainly demonstrates potential for novel characteristics to arise. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), an invasive species to this region, could not be effectively eradicated from this site due to its high disposal costs (Schaefer, V., personal communication, February 23, 2015; Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, 2014). This species alters soil conditions through the release of alkaloids, which can inhibit the growth of tree seedlings (Grove, Haubensak & Parker, 2012). Due to this quality and the plant’s status as a low growing shrub, scotch broom is considered ‘Desirable Vegetation’ by BC Hydro’s management standards (BC Hydro, 2010b). In the absence of management for the presence of this particular species’ spread, scotch broom populations have the potential to grow and persist, altering soil conditions along the way. This could lead to the surpassing of an irreversible threshold and the achievement of a new stable state, in which an entirely new and unprecedented structure and function is present (Hobbs, Higgs & Harris, 2009; Hallet et al., 2013). It is uncertain as to whether the novel characteristics that may arise in this situation would result in valuable ecosystem functioning; scotch broom is known, for example, to attract pollinators, and could serve as a provider of habitat for other species (Schaefer, V., personal communication, February 23, 2015).
Further research and monitoring is needed to determine the shifts in species composition over time within this site, and to observe whether novel characteristics – be they beneficial or harmful to healthy ecosystem functioning – begin to arise under current management regimes. Continued study of the area is needed in order to determine the ecological value and integrity of this space in its current condition in order to better understand some of these changes and their implications.