Since the earliest period of European contact, many species have been purposefully or accidentally introduced to the coastal islands of British Columbia. Gwaii Haanas, a National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site located in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), and Gulf Islands National Park reserve, located in southern British Columbia, offer 2 contrasting case studies to illustrate both introduction history and current management challenges. Some species are perceived negatively by local communities while others have become highly valued in the local landscape for aesthetic and utilitarian reasons. In many cases, significant ecological impacts have resulted from these introductions. Given the mandate of Parks Canada to ensure the maintenance or restoration of ecological and commemorative (cultural) integrity, several management challenges must be overcome to deal with these invasive species. This paper provides an overview and comparison of historic and current management challenges for these 2 sites.
|
