From the Field: Manitoba

Postcards from the Field: Sherry Hnatiuk and Alex Martin

Shell Conservation Interns Sherry Hnatiuk and Alex Martin

It is such a pleasure to have the opportunity to work in the beautiful natural uplands of western Manitoba ! We are working in the ecologically significant aspen parkland corridor that lies between Riding Mountain National Park and Duck Mountain Provincial Park . As Botanical Field Technicians participating in the Shell Conservation Internship Program, we perform baseline inventories on Conservation Easement Agreement properties that have been recently secured by NCC . This type of agreement is relatively new to NCC -Manitoba, so we are building on techniques that were established by NCC 's BC region.

Upon arriving at a conservation easement agreement property, we first take a walk around to identify vegetation community types – these include aspen woodlands, white spruce mixed-wood forests, tamarack bogs, marshes and fens, to name a few. We then select potential sample sites that capture of the diversity of these vegetation associations. After that, we survey the property, breaking it down into habitat types, and establish permanent sample sites where we take photographs, collect specific site information and conduct a detailed vegetation inventory. We also record features, disturbances, and evidence of wildlife throughout the property. Our work allows NCC to get an accurate representation of the properties it has secured and will enable NCC staff to effectively monitor and manage these wonderful areas in the future.

Our biggest accomplishments this year have been the establishment of reproducible sampling and bas el ine report-writing procedures. Highlights while surveying NCC properties included canoeing a lake, exploring an amazing black spruce tamarack bog complete with visible remnant river oxbows, and staying in the tranquil Duck Mountains while conducting fi el d work.

We are both recent graduates of Brandon University . Sherry graduated with a 4-year honours degree with a major in Botany and minor in Geography, while Alex graduated with 4-year Geography degree with an environmental studies concentration. In the fall Sherry will work at the University of Manitoba while investigating graduate work opportunities in the field of conservation. Alex will return to BU for a Masters in Rural Development where he will focus on economics and environmental policy.

Enjoy the wild flowers!

Sherry Hnatiuk and Alex Martin