Ecosystem Change and Introduced Species in Laskeek Bay

The data rescue intern: 
Ashton Sies

​Haida Gwaii is a region of extreme cultural significance and biological importance. Located off the northwest border of mainland British Columbia, it is the home of the Haida people and their ancestors, who currently inhabit the archipelago, and have since time immemorial. More on the history of the Haida Nation, as well as their current governance, is available here.

In the south of Haida Gwaii, the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site is a protected area and pristine coastal ecosystem. The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society (LBCS) was founded over 30 years ago, with several goals that centred upon understanding and managing ecosystems in Haida Gwaii and Gwaii Haanas, specifically the Laskeek Bay area. LBCS’s current research and monitoring efforts are diverse in their scope, ranging from the tracking of seabird populations, to the study of introduced species (e.g., deer, raccoons, and squirrels), to the ecological surveillance of rare plants and lichens. More information on their research is available here, with finer details on each project available here.