Assisting Forest Recovery
When a disturbed site lacks adequate seed fall to re-establish typical forest communities, seedlings may have to be planted by hand. In some cases, site preparation prior to planting may be necessary to provide adequate growing conditions and remove competing vegetation.
Fill Planting © Parks Canada
Blue Hill West—A Black Spruce Forest
In May 1986, a forest fire was caused by a power line malfunction in the Blue Hill West area of Terra Nova National Park. At that time, there was snow on the ground and little to no ground vegetation was consumed. Due to site conditions, the fire did not burn deeply enough to create adequate ground and soil conditions to support regeneration of a native black spruce forest. Consequently, the area was dominated by kalmia. Sections of Blue Hill West have been replanted with black spruce and red pine. The tree seedlings were grown from local seed stock in a nearby tree nursery.
Severe Moose Browsing in Balsam Fir Forests
Planting may be required when balsam fir saplings have been completely removed by moose browsing. These areas are often overtaken by kalmia, bracken fern, or other herbaceous cover. In Terra Nova National Park, several square kilometres of disturbed balsam fir forest has been converted to savannah-like habitats with little or no seed fall. To help these places recover, balsam fir will be replanted once moose population numbers are brought down to a level that does not impede forest regeneration.