Conservation of sand dune systems in Canada’s capital: a restoration model and case study of the Pinhey Sand Dunes complex

Abstract

This paper is a case study of a Phase 1 restoration initiative of a natural inland sand dune complex, the Pinhey Sand Dunes (PSD), in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Canada. The 10,000 year-old dune complex lies on protected federal land, the National Capital Greenbelt, providing a favourable opportunity for study, restoration and conservation. A geological analysis of the PSD is provided, highlighting the unique qualities of an inland dune as compared to the more common coastal dune. Urban development and misguided tree planting programs in the 1950s are main causes of the degradation of this complex. A key component of this restoration/conservation project is the cooperation and collaboration of the National Capital Commission (NCC), responsible for the management of the land. A major focus of the initiative has been the education of the community, students at the elementary, high school and university levels and the general public. This educational component is designed to create a long-term strategy for conservation. The on-the-ground restoration process, biomonitoring, community and volunteer participation are all chronicled in this detailed case study. Lessons learned through Phase 1 of the project have been compiled and synthesised to create a dynamic restoration model that may serve to assist others in restoring similar habitats and lay a foundation of knowledge informing Phase 2 of the PSD restoration.

Keywords:

• inland sand dune
• biomonitoring
• dune degradation
• dune restoration
• conservation model
• White Tiger Beetle
• community participation
• volunteer engagement

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation throughout Phase 1 and 2 of the PSD restoration project. Funding was also gratefully received from the City of Ottawa through the Community Environmental Projects Grant (CEPG), and TD Friends of the Environment (FEF). The support of the National Capital Commission (NCC) and particularly Eva Katic, Natural Resources Manager – Greenbelt Division, has been invaluable. We would also like to thank Paul Catling, Botanist/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, for his advice on the vegetative aspects of this restoration. We thank the many community members who have supported this project, as well as the hundreds of volunteers who lent their hands and hearts to the success of this restoration.