The February meeting of

The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Dr. Ian Goudie, an environmental scientist and consultant, will address the topic “Re-defining Old Growth and Biodiversity in the Boreal Forest: A Context for Globally Rare Lichens in the Newfoundland Landscape” 

Where and When:  MUN Botanical Garden (306 Mt. Scio Road), February 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Increased scientific research into the boreal forest demonstrates the important presence of old-growth stands that support species and species assemblages not found in post-industrial forests. With increasing trends toward international certifications of various forest industry corporations, defining and managing for the pre-industrial forest condition (PIC) has become a major objective in some jurisdictions of Canada. Old growth forests play an important role in sustaining biological diversity of the boreal forest. Cyanolichens and other poorly studied taxa are endemic to old growth forests, and the increased listing of these species under endangered species legislation is evidence of a fragmented forest landscape in trouble in Newfoundland. Ecosystem-based management and protection of high value forest (HVFs) are viewed as steps toward evolving forest management into the new millennium.

For further information, please contact R. E. Anderson (Past-president), 864-8771