Kejimkujik

Forest biodiversity plots

© S. O'Grady, Kejimkujik N.P.

The Smithsonian Institution's Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program (MAB) began working with a team from Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia in 1993. Park staff were trained in MAB research methods and then applied these methods in their research work in Canadian forests.

In 1994 two one-hectare biodiversity plots were established. Research teams identified, measured, permanently labelled and recorded all trees above a minimum diameter in Plot 1 and Plot 2.

A local timber company, N. F. Douglas Lumber, became interested in the work being done and asked whether they could be involved. Similar one-hectare plots were set up on N. F. Douglas land. The effects of various forestry practices could now be studied in areas where trees were harvested, in contrast to the park plots, where no harvesting took place.