Forever Forested: Protecting Rich Ecosystems on Scotch Lake
Forever Forested: Protecting Rich Ecosystems on Scotch Lake
WRITTEN BY LAUREN AARTS, CONSERVATION COORDINATOR
As I walked through a peaceful forest of mature cedar and spruce trees on a beautiful summer day, I found the perfect spot on the banks of a stunning lake to pause and take in my surroundings. Sitting in the shade of towering hemlocks, I listened closely to the melodic birdsong to try and make out who was with me amongst the trees. I instantly knew I had found myself in yet another New Brunswick treasure.
I ventured further into the property’s diverse habitats and stumbled into an eastern white cedar swamp. Here, I revelled in the feeling of my boots sinking in the vibrant green moss and kept an eye out for the rare lichens that love this type of ecosystem. I also tried to see if I could find a threatened Canada Warbler, as this was the ideal refuge for this species that likes to nest in the uneven mossy ground and perch in the few trees that tower above the rest.
I moved on to the grassy wetlands along the shore of the lake, where I spotted a truly fascinating plant. I am certain I am not the only one who was thrilled by the idea of feeding flies to Venus flytraps as a kid and begged their mom to buy one at the grocery store. Well, here, on this property, was the northern purple pitcher plant, a native carnivorous plant in New Brunswick. This plant traps invertebrates (and sometimes vertebrates like salamanders!) in a pitcher-like leaf where they drown in rainwater, and the plant digests them for energy. It is not only incredibly cool but also beautiful too! In encounters like these, I am always reminded just how interesting nature truly is.
Making my way back to the forest, I saw countless tree species of different assemblages, including hemlock, birch, ironwood, and ash. Over 80% of the property contains climate-resilient forest stands, which means these trees have a better chance of surviving through the upcoming climate shifts. These types of stands are important to conserve, as they will continue to provide critical habitat and carbon storage far into the future.
Due to all of these exceptional ecological features, we identified this place as a high priority for protection in our new Conservation Plan. It was critical that we act fast to protect this property as we know beautiful, forested lakeshores and mature stands like this one are the perfect candidates for development and logging.
This past holiday season, we asked for your help to conserve this 36-hectare (89-acre) property of mature climate-resilient forest and Provincially Significant Wetlands located on the southeastern shore of Scotch Lake in York County.
As of February 23rd, we are thrilled to announce that, thanks to your generous help, we have raised the funds necessary to secure this rich ecosystem. Because of you, this stunning natural space teeming with life will provide a habitat for unique species to thrive in perpetuity.
Conservation successes like this one give me hope. When we protect pockets of land, we offer refuge for wildlife in the face of climate change and contribute to slowing the increasing rate of biodiversity loss we face today. I am filled with warmth walking past trees I know will live out their full lives, from seedlings to deadwood on the forest floor, and organisms that will never have to lose their home. Thank you for protecting this special natural treasure, forever.
