Balancing the needs of recreation and conservation: an evaluation of the state of invasive plant species at an Ontario summer camp property

Abstract

Camp Scugog is located in the northeast of Durham Region, in southcentral Ontario, on the shores of Lake Scugog. As it operates on private property, impacts to the surrounding forest ecosystem of the camp have never been quantifiably evaluated. This study evaluated the extent of the establishment of three invasive plant species throughout the Camp Scugog property: garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum) and common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), using Vegetation Sampling Protocol at 25 separate plots. Plots were evaluated for percent cover of each invasive species, and these values were compared against plot distances from the forest edge. Dense patches of invasive plant cover were also mapped and overlain with plot data, as well as trail locations. Plot distance from forest edge was not found to be correlated with any measure of invasive plant cover. However, there was some qualitative overlap between the locations of dense patches of common buckthorn and high buckthorn plot cover. There also appeared to be overlap between trail routes and plots with high cover of both common buckthorn and dog-strangling vine. Seedling establishment along trails may be facilitated by foot travel by campers, staff and a hunting group that operates on the property off-season. Recommendations for property stewards at Camp Scugog include establishing an annual monitoring strategy for invasive species, beginning the removal process of satellite individual of dog-strangling vine and garlic mustard, and finding ways to incorporate the environmental management of the Camp Scugog property into everyday camp activities.