Parks Canada is implementing measures to safeguard a rare coastal plant found at Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island National Park. This year, the purchase of official Parks Canada merchandise such as shirts and tote bags online will contribute to the conservation efforts for the Gulf of St. Lawrence beach pinweed at these two parks.
David Mazerolle, the ecosystem scientist at Kouchibouguac in eastern New Brunswick, highlighted that the global population of this plant has significantly decreased due to climate change and severe winter storms. He emphasized the impact of milder winter temperatures leading to the loss of protective coastal ice during winter, amplifying the effects of winter storms on these ecosystems.
Parks Canada, in collaboration with research partners at Acadia University, is actively collecting the seeds of the plant and working on methods to germinate, grow, and transplant the species to new habitats where it can thrive. The targeted beach pinweed species is exclusive to eastern Canada, particularly the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence region, making it a rare and unique plant.
Described as a small shrub standing around 20 to 30 centimeters tall, the Gulf of St. Lawrence beach pinweed thrives in stable dune systems along the coast, away from ocean waves. A significant portion of this plant’s population is situated on lands managed jointly by Parks Canada and Mi’kmaw First Nations.
Efforts to protect the beach pinweed serve as an insurance against habitat loss caused by climate change, ensuring the survival of this species in the face of environmental challenges. The plant’s presence is crucial in monitoring climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of conservation initiatives in safeguarding biodiversity.
Continuing their conservation work, Mazerolle and his team have successfully completed the initial phase of transplants, with promising results from seed germination efforts at Acadia University. The next phase involves further transplants at Kouchibouguac National Park and P.E.I. National Park, marking a significant step towards the preservation of the Gulf of St. Lawrence beach pinweed.
Lindsey Burke, a resource management officer at Prince Edward Island National Park, noted the decline of the species on the island due to climate change and coastal erosion. Protecting areas vital to the beach pinweed also safeguards dune ecosystems, aiming to establish self-sustaining populations of the plant within the park through collaborative efforts with Acadia University.
By acclimating the plants to park conditions before transplantation, the goal is to enhance their survival prospects and facilitate their integration into the natural habitat, ensuring the long-term viability of this rare coastal plant.
