The Forest Trail provides access to a mature sugar maple-beech woodlot. This ecosystem is significant because it is a high-quality ecological community, representing a remnant of the region's original, pre-settlement forest. Its high ecological integrity—characterized by a complex forest structure and a high diversity of sensitive, native species—makes it a benchmark for ecological health within the park. It contains birds and wildflowers that cannot thrive in the younger, more disturbed areas of Huron Natural Area.

Photo of the pond in Huron Natural Area. To the right, a tree branch with orange leaves hangs over the water’s edge. Lily pads are in the water and evergreen trees line the far end of the pond.

Sustaining this forest remnant requires managing several key threats that arise from its location within an urban area. Effective, long-term management of this woodlot often requires a form of intervention. Examples include a consistent program for the removal of invasive plants as well as regularly tracking indicators of forest health, such as native plant populations and the spread of invasive species.


Discussion Questions

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please take a moment to respond to the questions, and feel free to react or respond to what others have shared.

  1. For a high-quality ecosystem like this, should management be hands-off, or is active intervention necessary?
  2. Help define what a "successful" outcome of interventions would be in 20 years.
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