CHILDREN’S FOREST SPECIES INVENTORY 2020
Cortes Island, lying at 50 degrees north latitude in the northern reaches of the Salish Sea, marks:
1. the dynamic transition between the coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) and coastal western hemlock (CWH) biogeoclimatic zones,
2. the rich marine convergence of tides flooding in from the Pacific Ocean around the northern and southern reaches of Vancouver Island and
3. the diverse cultural overlap of three coastal First Nations: Klahoose, Tla’amin and Homalco.
The wilds in the northern half of Cortes Island form a relatively unfragmented and undeveloped landscape boasting a tapestry of sensitive ecosystems with strong cross-island linkage.
The provincially designated sensitive ecosystems present include: herbaceous, woodland, old forest, riparian and wetland. These sensitive ecosystems provide oases for provincially listed species and ecological communities at risk.
Mature forest, provincially designated as, an other important ecosystem, buffers the sensitive ecosystems and provides for landscape level connectivity; gene flow and wildlife travel corridors.
Significantly, in the islands of the Salish Sea, Cortes Island continues to support healthy, large predator-prey relationships between grey wolf, cougar and Columbia black-tailed deer.
The ~600 acres (~243 hectares) of forest lands identified for purchase by the Forest Trust for the Children of Cortes Island Society (FTCCIS) and affectionately known as the Children’s Forest by Cortes Island youth, lie within the northern wilds of Cortes Island and as such, represent ecologically significant and biologically diverse lands.
These lands are identified within the Sayward Land District, Cortes Island as:
NW ¼ S38, NE ¼ S38, NW ¼ S39, NE ¼ S39 and the NE ¼ of SW ¼ S39.
The FTCCIS has initiated research to document the biological diversity of these lands, in support of the FTCCIS conservation mandate.
The FTCCIS Children’s Forest Species Inventory 2020, attached here, is a working list consolidating data collected in the Children’s Forest during four BioBlitz events (April 16/17, 2016 & April 29/30, 2017 & May 5/6, 2018 & May 4/5, 2019), monthly Nature Study Days (2014 – 2020) and inventories prepared by local and visiting expertise (2010-2020).
FTCCIS is fortunate and grateful to have had the expertise of these professional researchers and naturalists in the identification of species:
AVIS, Libby & Rick Citizen Scientists/ Moths of BC
BARON-PRESTON, Liam Naturalist/ Ecology
BENNETT, Rob Arachnologist/ Associate RBCM
BJORK, Curtis Botanist/ Beaty Biodiversity Center
BOAS, Frank Bryologist/ retired UBC Botany
BOHART, Laurel Taxidermist/ CIMAS
COPLEY, Claudia Entomology Collections Manager/ RBCM
COPLEY, Darren Mammals & Bird Preparator/ RBCM
DOMBROWSKI, Connie Naturalist/ Mycology
ELLIOT, Peter Zoologist/ retired UBC Okanogan
EWERT, Dave Fisheries Biologist/ retired DFO
GOVINDARAJULU, Purnima Small Mammals & Herpetofauna Specialist/ BC MOE
GOWARD, Trevor Lichenologist/ UBC Botany
GRONAU, Christian Naturalist/ Zoology
HARVEY, Tosh Naturalist/ Botany
JUMEAN, Zaid Entomologist/ BC MOE
KELLHAMMER, Oliver Naturalist/ Ecology
KENDALL, Nancy & Ray Naturalists/ Ornithology
LEADER MENSE, Sabina Naturalist/Ecology
MACKINNON, Andy Forester & Mycologist/ retired BC MFLNRO
MILTON, Jill Naturalist/ Mycology
NETTLE, Tamias & Dera Naturalists/ Botany & Entomology
NEWTON, Mike Conservation Officer/ COS NVI
NURSALL, Ralph Zoologist/ retired UA Zoology
OCHSENBEIN, Anna Naturalist/ Botany
RICHARDSON, Liz Naturalist/ Botany
SIRK, George Naturalist/ Ornithology
STAMETS, Paul Mycologist/ Fungi Imperfecti
TREMBLAY-LOISEAU, Luna Naturalist/ Lepidopteran Entomology
WEYLER, Rex Naturalist/ Ecology
WOOD, Charlene Entomologist/ LGL
ZWICKEL, Fred Ornithologist/ retired UA Zoology
Children’s Forest Species Inventory 2020 is arranged in files by kingdom; with kingdom, phyla, class and genera arranged alphabetically. Provincially designated species at risk (red, blue and yellow) are highlighted in their respective colours.
FTCCIS Children’s Forest Species Inventory 2020 was collated by Sabina Leader Mense with assistance from Cortes youth:
Liam Baron-Preston/Arthropoda, Laara Huuskonen/Plantae and Katie Wheeler/Aves.
This is a working list and will be updated annually.
