White Covenant: Wildlife and Culturally Modified Trees

Fruit on the hazel tree. Photo credit Torrey Archer.

TLC’s White Covenant is a small covenant located in the Highlands, just off Finlayson Arm Road. Bought by the owners in 1969, it was logged once in the 1990’s and left as a protected area ever since. Though small, it houses a surprisingly diverse set of ecosystems: a rocky ridge/meadow area, a swamp area, and a general Douglas-fir forested region. It even has at least one hazel tree! Volunteer Nathan Cox spotted this tree complete with developing fruits which will become delicious hazelnuts. Perhaps we will come back later in the fall when they are ripe!

TLC’s covenant monitoring crew also spotted two very large wildlife trees. Wildlife trees can be alive or dead and have special characteristics that provide valuable habitat for wildlife of all forms. More than 80 vertebrate species and countless invertebrate species depend on these for at least part of their lives. Woodpeckers and other birds often come to mind when you see a large, dead tree (also known as a “snag”) with holes bored into the tree trunk as they are often looking for insects or to use the tree for nesting. Wildlife trees can also host a multitude of fungi, which are the great decomposers of the wild and help return nutrients back to the earth to be used again. Wildlife trees are one of the best parts of covenants as public parks often remove these trees due to safety – a dead tree waiting to fall on someone just isn’t worth the risk. However, since many covenants are closed to the public, rather than designated as parks like Ayum Creek, Mt. Work or the Sooke Hills, wildlife trees can remain and serve their important functions.

Continuing on, TLC staff and volunteers came upon a Culturally Modified Tree (CMT). An old Western red cedar tree had the tell-tall sign of bark stripping from many years ago. Here in British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest First Nations would strip the bark from cedar trees and use them for food storage, clothing, and shelter. By carefully stripping a piece lengthwise along the tree, no more than 1/3 the total circumference, the tree would be able to continue living. Now, many years later, this wound is still visible but healing, and the tree is most definitely still thriving. CMT’s are a wonderful example of how people can use their resources wisely and sustainably.

You can help TLC continue to protect important ecosystems sustainably across BC by supporting the monitoring and enforcement of our covenants. Please complete our online donation form to show your support today!