Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada, 2016 to 2021: action plan implementation report 2022

Official title: Implementation Report: Multi-species Action Plan for Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada (2016 to 2021)

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996)^{Footnote 2}  agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), action plans outline measures that will be taken to implement recovery strategies for SARA-listed Extirpated, Endangered and Threatened species. Parks Canada's multi-species action plans address a suite of species of conservation concern within one or more Parks Canada managed areas, including species that require an action plan under SARA.

The Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency (the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change) is the competent minister under SARA for species found in Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada, and in 2016 published the Multi-species Action Plan for Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada.

Under section 55 of SARA, the competent minister must monitor the implementation of an action plan and the progress towards meeting its objectives, and assess and report on its implementation and its ecological and socio-economic impacts five years after the action plan comes into effect. A copy of the report must be included in the Species at Risk Public Registry. The Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency has prepared this Implementation Report: Multi-species Action Plan for Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada (2016-2021).

The achievement of population and distribution objectives identified within the recovery strategy or management plan for a species may require a long time frame. In these cases, a five-year reporting window may not be sufficient to show demonstrable progress towards meeting site-based population and distribution objectives identified for that species within a Parks Canada site-based action plan. Parks Canada monitors, evaluates and, as necessary, adapts measures taken to achieve species survival or recovery, and will report on progress towards meeting site-based population and distribution objectives every five years.

Acknowledgments

Parks Canada would also like to acknowledge those who have contributed to the implementation of the Multi-species Action Plan for Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada. Thanks are extended to: Jen Rock (Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada), Nicolas Lecomte (Canada Research Chair in Polar and Boreal Ecology, Université de Moncton), Sean Blaney and David Mazerolle (Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre), Dave Mcruer (Parks Canada and Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island), Christian Lacroix (University of Prince Edward Island), Donnie McPhee (National Tree Seed Centre), Kurt Samways (Parks Canada Chair in Aquatic Restoration, University of New Brunswick), Scott Pavey (University of New Brunswick), Mike Rushton (Les Amis de la Kouchibouguacis), Hugh Broders (Saint Mary's University), as well as Abby Lewis and Lori Phinney (Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute).

Executive summary

This document reports on implementation of the Multi-species Action Plan for Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada between 2016 and 2021. It reports on implementation of measures identified in the plan, assesses progress towards meeting site-based population and distribution objectives, and evaluates socio-economic impacts.

Species addressed^{Footnote 3} 

The action plan addressed 22 SARA-listed species and 6 species of conservation concern. Measures and site-based population and distribution objectives identified within the action plan were focused on 9 species, for which management actions within Kouchibouguac National Park could have a substantive impact on survival or recovery: Piping Plover (melodus subspecies), Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster, Beach Pinweed (subcylindrica variety), Wood Turtle, Atlantic Salmon (southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population), Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Short-Eared Owl and Barn Swallow.

Implementation of the action plan

10 measures (recovery actions) were identified in the multi-species action plan. Implementation of the action plan is assessed by determining progress towards completing each measure, and is outlined in Section 2 of this report. During the five-year period, all 10 measures were initiated^{Footnote 5}  and 9 were completed. An additional 13 measures identified in the action plan were initiated (12 of them completed) because resources and/or partnerships became available to support the work.

Ecological impacts

9 site-based, population and distribution objectives (PDOs) were developed in the action plan. Ecological impacts are assessed by measuring progress towards achieving each of the site-based population and distribution objectives and are outlined in Section 4. Progress was made on all objectives^{Footnote 6}  including 8 that were fully achieved.

Socio-economic impacts

Direct costs of implementing this action plan were borne by Parks Canada. Indirect costs were mostly visitor access restrictions to protect piping plovers, Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster and Beach Pinweed. Benefits included improved ecological integrity and increased visitor awareness of species at risk and conservation efforts in the park.

1. Context

This document reports on implementation of the Multi-species Action Plan for Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada^{Footnote 7}  between 2016 and 2021, assesses progress towards meeting its population and distribution objectives, and evaluates its socio-economic impacts. It addresses 28 species, including 17 SARA-listed Endangered and Threatened species (for which an action plan is required) as well as 5 SARA-listed Special Concern species^{Footnote 8} . Although not a SARA-listed species, Atlantic Salmon (Gaspé-Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population) is included in this action plan as it is a culturally significant species for the Mi'kmaq of Sigenigteoag.

Site-based population and distribution objectives were developed for 9 species for which implementation measures within Kouchibouguac National Park could have a substantive impact on recovery at a national, regional or site level: Piping Plover (melodus subspecies), Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster, Beach Pinweed (subcylindrica variety), Wood Turtle, Atlantic Salmon (southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population), Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Short-eared Owl and Barn Swallow.

2. Implementation of the action plan

Implementation of the Multi-Species Action Plan for Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada is assessed by measuring progress towards completing the recovery measures identified in the action plan (Table 1). Refer to the original action plan for a description of each measure, the desired outcomes, and the threat(s) that each measure addresses. A more detailed description of the implementation of some of the measures is outlined in Appendix A.

In 2020 there were several restrictions put in place at Kouchibouguac National Park to combat the spread of COVID-19. While there were temporary restrictions on park management activities, this had a negligible impact on the park's ability to implement its action plan.

Additional measures were identified in the action plan that would be beneficial to complete should resources become available. Table 2 describes the actions that Kouchibouguac National Park was able to initiate between 2016 and 2021. Measures from the action plan that were not initiated will be carried forward for consideration in a revised action plan.

3. Action plan highlights:

Atlantic Salmon Recovery – Return of the King

In 2018, we developed a 5-year Atlantic Salmon population restoration project for Kouchibouguac National Park and secured funding through the Parks Canada Agency's Conservation and Restoration (CoRe) program. The park's project was part of wider effort involving other national parks in the Atlantic provinces (Fundy, Cape Breton Highlands, Gros Morne and Terra Nova).

The project's implementation period is from 2019 to 2024 and includes habitat surveys, trapping and tagging of adult salmon, electrofishing of juvenile salmon, genetic sampling of the population, and deployment of fertilized eggs in protective trays in the park's riverbeds.

The project also created the Agency's first Parks Canada Research Chair (in Aquatic Restoration) and includes public engagement goals to educate the public on Atlantic Salmon conservation work in national parks.

4. Ecological impacts

Ecological impacts of the action plan are assessed by measuring progress towards meeting the site-based population and distribution objectives described in the action plan (Table 3). See the original action plan for national Population and Distribution Objectives (where available) and General Information and Broad Park Approach for each species. A more detailed description of progress made towards the site-based population and distribution objectives for some of these species is outlined in Appendix B.

5. Socio-economic impacts

The Species at Risk Act requires the responsible federal minister to report on the socio-economic costs of the multi-species action plan and the benefits derived from its implementation. The Multi-Species Action Plan only applies to protected lands and waters under the authority of the Parks Canada Agency, which are often subject to fewer threats (e.g., industrial activities) compared to other areas as the lands are managed to preserve ecological and commemorative integrity. This section does not include socio-economic impacts of existing permitted activities that may be occurring in Parks Canada places as those have been addressed through other processes (e.g.: impact assessments). This socio-economic assessment is narrow in scope, as it is focused on the measures implemented within the action plan, and primarily focuses on Indigenous partners, leaseholders, licensees, residents and visitors. The overall socio-economic impacts of the multi-species action plan for Kouchibouguac National Park and associated National Historic Sites, described as costs and benefits, are outlined below.

Costs

Action plan measures were integrated into the park's operational management. These costs to the Parks Canada Agency were covered by prioritization of existing funds and salary dollars and did not result in additional costs to society.

The majority of costs to implement this action plan was borne by Parks Canada out of existing salaries and goods and services dollars. This includes incremental salary costs, materials, equipment and contracting of professional services for measures outlined in Tables 1 (Recovery measures that will be conducted) and 2 (Other recovery measures that will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources become available) of the action plan. No major socio-economic costs to partners, stakeholders or Indigenous groups were incurred as a result of this action plan. Additional in-kind support was provided by partners such as the Canada Research Chair in Polar and Boreal Ecology at the Université de Moncton (Measure 6 in Table 1), the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (Measure 6 in Table 1), Saint Mary's University (Measure 6 in Table 1), the University of Prince Edward Island (Measure 13 in Table 2) and the National Tree Seed Centre (Measure 14 in Table 2).

 The action plan applies only to lands and waters in Kouchibouguac National Park and National Historic Sites managed by the Northern New Brunswick Field Unit, and did not bring any restrictions to land use outside of these sites. This action plan placed no extraneous socio-economic costs on the public. However, some restrictions were placed on visitors to the Park. Visitors were prohibited from accessing part of the park's coastal dune ecosystem annually during the Piping Plover breeding season in order to protect nests. To protect Beach Pinweed from being trampled, Park visitors were prohibited from walking on vegetated portions of dune ecosystems. While no endangered bat species were found to occupy park structures, such discoveries would have limited visitor access to these assets as a result of conservation measures listed in the plan.

Benefits

Measures presented in this action plan for Kouchibouguac National Park contributed to meeting recovery as well as population and distribution objectives for Threatened and Endangered species, and also contributed to meeting management objectives for species of Special Concern. The measures sought a balanced approach to reducing or eliminating threats to species of conservation concern, and included protection of individuals and their habitat (e.g., access restrictions imposed on visitors and ongoing research and monitoring), species reintroduction (i.e., Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster) and increasing public awareness and stewardship (e.g., signage, visitor programs and publications in traditional and social media). These measures had an overall positive impact on ecological integrity and enhanced opportunities for appreciation of the sites and the species by visitors and the general public. Working with regional partners, staff deployed large quantities of fertilized Atlantic Salmon eggs in river systems that span beyond the park's borders, hence bolstering the population of this culturally important species on a regional scale. With the technical expertise of academic partners, staff restored the presence of Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster in the park and improved the natural legacy protected by Kouchibouguac National park for the benefit of Canadians.

Partnering with the National Tree Seed Centre, the park was able to preserve seeds of Gulf of St. Lawrence Beach Pinweed for use in future conservation efforts. Measures taken as part of the action plan also provided benefits to other species of conservation concern that depend on habitats protected by the Northern New Brunswick Field Unit, including Piping Plover, Beach Pinweed, Wood Turtle, Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark and Shot-eared Owl. This action plan included measures that likely resulted in benefits to Canadians, such as positive impacts on biodiversity and the value that Canadians place on preserving biodiversity.

Potential economic benefits of the recovery of the species at risk found in Kouchibouguac National Park cannot be easily quantified, as many of the values derived from wildlife are non-market commodities that are difficult to appraise in financial terms. Wildlife, in all its forms, has value in and of itself, and is valued by Canadians for aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, recreational, educational, historical, economic, medical, ecological and scientific reasons. The conservation of wildlife at risk is an important component of the Government of Canada's commitment to conserving biological diversity, and is important to Canada's current and future economic and natural wealth.

Implementing this action plan had positive benefits for park visitors, local residents, and Indigenous groups. During this implementation cycle, we applied best management practices and associated precautionary guidelines diligently in contexts involving locations and infrastructures used by park visitors for various species, such as Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, Barn swallow, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Short-Eared Owl and Barn Swallow. Technical, material and logistical support offered by park staff bolstered Atlantic Salmon conservation efforts on a regional scale, by facilitating and supporting similar projects with Indigenous partner Kopit Lodge and local watershed group Les Amis de la Kouchibouguacis

We worked with local communities, namely with the harbour authority committee at the Loggiecroft commercial fishing wharf situated inside the national park to ensure the protection of nesting barn swallows amid renovation projects. Visitors to Kouchibouguac National Park now have the possibility to participate in the park's monitoring programs and gain insight on conservation work in a national park setting thanks to the Biologist for a Day program that was developed.

Summary

The measures proposed in the action plan had limited socio-economic impact and placed no restrictions on land outside the boundary of the national park and associated National Historic Sites. Direct costs of implementing this action plan were borne by Parks Canada. Indirect costs were minimal and were limited to restrictions to visitor access, while benefits included positive impacts on park ecological integrity, greater awareness of species and enhanced opportunities for engagement of visitors, local communities and Indigenous groups.

Appendix A: Technical compendium – recovery measures

Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster

Habitat inventory and reintroduction

Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster (Symphyotrichum laurentianum) is a small annual pioneer species of brackish coastal sands that typically occurs along the shores of barachois ponds and in barrier dune salt marshes. A rare endemic to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, the species is only known from a small number of sites on the Magdalen Islands (QC), the northeastern coast of New Brunswick and the northern coast of Prince Edward Island. The species was extirpated from Kouchibouguac National Park in 2000 after storms, which have been increasing in frequency and intensity, wiped out the remaining populations in the park.

In 2016, Kouchibouguac National Park, in collaboration with the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre and the University of Prince Edward Island, mounted a two-year (2016-2017) project focused on reintroducing the species to the park using greenhouse-produced seeds and transplants^{Footnote 9} . The project was funded through the Parks Canada Agency's Conservation and Restoration (CoRe) Program. Its goal was to determine if suitable habitat still existed in the park and to test the feasibility of reintroducing the species.

Suitable habitat microsites for seed and transplant plots were identified based on prior field observations, examination of aerial imagery and field surveys conducted in 2016 and 2107. Habitat suitability was evaluated based on biotic and abiotic characteristics of known Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster occurrence sites throughout the species' range. A series of 31 seeding plots and 19 transplant plots were then installed along the park's coastline. Each seeding plot received a single input of roughly 1,000 seeds and transplant plots were each populated with 30 to 50 plantlets^{Footnote 9,  Footnote 10} . Over both years, approximately 31,000 seeds and 800 plantlets were used. The sites are monitored yearly since 2016 to determine plot productivity. Fifty-five percent of seeding plots were productive in the year of seeding and 16% of plots consistently produced substantial numbers of individuals over a three- or four-year period. From 2016 to 2021, seeding plots are confirmed to have produced a total of roughly 8,000 individuals which successfully reached reproductive maturity^{Footnote 9} . Survivorship of plantlets averaged 72% in transplant plots and overall, approximately 620 transplanted individuals successfully completed their life cycle, blooming and setting seed before senescing^{Footnote 9} .

This project has been highly successful in providing evidence that the park still contains habitat suitable for the species and that reintroduction is feasible and cost-effective. Efforts resulted in the establishment of a small number of occurrences, two of which were still extant in 2021^{Footnote 10} . Summary site checks in coming years will confirm whether established occurrences are indeed self-sustaining or if further seeding is needed. Along with similar efforts carried out in Prince Edward Island National Park, this project represents one of the first attempts to establish viable occurrences of this endangered species from seed and transplants, and the first attempt in New Brunswick. Knowledge gained and results obtained from this project will inform future recovery efforts throughout the range of the species.

Appendix B: Technical Compendium - Population and Distribution Objectives

Gulf of St. Lawrence Beach Pinweed

Population monitoring, protocol development and seed preservation

Beach Pinweed (Lechea maritima) is a mostly coastal perennial plant ranging from North Carolina to the Canadian Maritime provinces. Its Canadian distribution is entirely restricted to coastal dune systems along the eastern coast of New Brunswick and the northern coast of Prince Edward Island. Canadian occurrences are disjunct from the species' main range and are considered to be of a variety endemic to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, referred to as Gulf of St. Lawrence Beach Pinweed (Lechea maritima var. subcylindrica). The coastal barrier dune systems of Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada were estimated in 2016 to support approximately 60% of this endemic variety's global population. Resource conservation staff carried out a single-year project funded by Nature Legacy funding in 2019 to update the population status of the species in the park and its region, and ensure its long term protection^{Footnote 11} .

Extensive population surveys were conducted over 19 days from late September to early November 2019. Systematic sweeps of all potential habitat on the South Kouchibouguac, the North Richibucto and the South Richibucto dunes resulted in the precise documentation of over 1,700 distinct occurrences of the species. Approximately 57,500 individual plants were documented, 44,000 of which were situated within the park^{Footnote 11} . Comparison of the 2019 survey outcome with the last detailed survey of 2012 suggests a decline of almost 60% in the park's population. Preliminary investigation suggests that the sharp decline is related to the loss of a few small patches of habitat which contained high densities of plants in 2012. Erosion, overwash and saltwater encroachment related to storm surges appear to be the causes of habitat loss. In a context where climate change is driving a regional increase in storm frequency and intensity, further declines in habitat are expected.

In late November 2019, seeds were collected from a total of 250 individual plants among six sites within the park^{Footnote 11} . Collected material was prepared and submitted to the National Tree Seed Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick. This will provide material for use in future recovery efforts and for research focused on the species' biology, ecology and life history.

Using a variety of flight transect arrangements and altitudes, we conducted field trials with a drone along an 800-metre-long section of the North Richibucto Dune in October 2019, with the goal of developing a drone-based monitoring protocol for the species. Acquired geospatial data were processed to produce orthomosaic and digital elevation models, and resulting geo-referenced imagery was examined to determine the potential of this technology for surveying the species and its habitat. The drone-based survey proved insufficient for detecting individual Beach Pinweed plants, but highly effective at mapping suitable habitat for the species. This confirmed the technology's potential for producing reliable habitat models to assess the species' vulnerability to sea-level rise. A drone-based monitoring protocol for acquiring and processing geospatial data was developed^{Footnote 11} .

By collecting extensive occurrence data, securing the long-term preservation of seed and laying the groundwork for habitat monitoring, the various components of this project made significant contributions toward achieving priority objectives identified in the federal Beach Pinweed management plan. The information collected through this project, in conjunction with recent declines detected at other population sites, may provide sufficient justification for a reassessment of Beach Pinweed's status in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.