An Introduction to UBC-O's Pine Forest

The University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus contains some very important natural spaces and areas that should be given more attention and thought. One of these natural spaces, the campus's Pine forest is one of the largest native spaces at the University. The forest is quite pristine and clean and should be kept that way, but it poses a lot of issues due to human involvement. There are many native Okanagan species that depend on this space for their living. Also, many of these species rely upon a delicate balance of population, which due to human interaction, has started to become compromised. In order to keep this forest alive and healthy, it is important that people understand its role in the surrounding Okanagan and UBC-O's environment.

            I chose this site because it displays a very heavy human influence and the effects of what will happen if people don't understand its role in nature. Forests are the lungs of Earth, and just like in the human body, they are necessary to sustain life. Forests give off their own atmosphere and have the power to culturally change a populated area. They also provide shelter and an environment to plenty of different species. In the specific environment of UBC-O, they provide a sort of structural backbone to the campus's back country. Over the years, due to new development of the University's campus and surrounding housing development, the forest has become more of various patches than a vast expanse. Also, due to fire management, the forest has grown to become denser than meant to be. The main species of the forest, the Ponderosa Pine tree, has rapidly grown in numbers because of fire suppression. The forest has become more tightly packed, limiting the sunlight coming through the canopies and adding to pine needle debris. This report will bring forth a better understanding of the forest and its species and attached culture. It will help with an understanding of this area in its past, present and what may and could happen in the future.

(Google maps)

Time Log of time visited to Pine Forest site

Log of visited times to my chosen sight
Friday, October 10th		10-11pm
Wednesday, October 15th		11-1pm
Wednesday, October 22nd		10:30-1pm
Friday, October 24th		1-2pm
Monday, November 3rd	2-3pm
Saturday, November 15th	11-12:30pm

Physical Characteristics

The Pine forest of UBC-Okanagan covers quite a wide area. My chosen area of the forest was on a slight incline up and above the Residences of the school. The forest is filled mainly with clustered Ponderosa Pine trees and some Douglas Fir trees all standing skinny and tall. The prominent Ponderosa Pine's have a orange/ brown tinge to them, covered over top with patchy brown and black bark. The lower half of the trees are quite scraggly, stuffed with twisted, sharp branches with little to no greenery. As you climb the tree, the long green needles appear on the branches in bundles of three. They are yellow/ greenish and are very flexible and thin. The needles protrude at the end of the winding branches, and they cluster together. The trees are quite skinny, with no large or full trunks. The forest is very open and light compared to boreal or tropical forests, but is becoming more and more dense as the future proceeds. Fire suppression in the Okanagan valley is causing the over growth of trees in this area, blocking out sunlight that is supposed to widely reach the ground. The forest floor is littered with tons of Pine needle debris, again, more than normal because of over population. This over time can cause the soils to change acidity. The floor is also covered with approximately 8 cm long Pine cones, small and large rocks, and various sized wood debris. There are a lot of sticks and logs strewn about from the Ponderosa's, many of them covered in mosses and lichen. Lifting up some of these logs can expose many insects and spiders living in the area who prefer darkness. Another thing evident in this landscape is the lower elevation, forest floor species. There are a lot of various grasses, small bushes and plants covering the ground. One of these species, which isn't alive during the colder months, is the sunflower. During this month of October, it now lays decaying on the Pine needle strewn ground. Another thing I have come across is rocks with Lichens holding on. Since this is a fire managed ecosystem, fire remnants exist. There are many stumps with fire scars appearing on the wood, turning it to charcoal. The stumps, as told by Don Gayton of Okanagan Odyssey, have strange, mushroom like shapes caused by the fires roaring up the hill side and burning on one side, causing the tree to grow around the fire damaged parts. The forest runs alongside a dirt road and a rocky canal for water flow. This allows a lot of UBC-O students to venture up the road and into the forest, adding garbage and beverage debris into the natural environment. I have noticed particularly during this time of year (October and Early November) that there has been rainfall and damp periods, adding to the moss and lichen growth. During the summer months this area would be drier and less green, during the wetter, colder months a contrasted situation. Another thing about this forest is there is a series of trail systems put forth by the University. This allows students to easily navigate through the natural space. The forest all together has a precise balance to it, being the ratio of Ponderosa Pine trees to the forest floor ecosystem. Together, with equal balance, the forest is a functioning environment.

6 species

This forest contains the main species that together equate to a functioning environment. The main species of this forest, and the backbone is the Ponderosa Pine tree and some Douglas Firs. All the other species are smaller and surround the trees, creating an ecosystem. The smaller species work in harmony with the trees and share incoming sunlight to this open and scattered forest. Many Lichens and mosses depend upon the trees and rocks for habitat. The larger animals depend upon the shrubs for berries and food. Many smaller organisms depend upon the grasses for habitat. This is an interconnected ecosystem which depends on each other.

1.       Ponderosa Pine (Pinus Ponderosa)

 

Classification:

Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Coniferophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Family	Pinaceae
Genus	Pinus
Species	Ponderosa Pine

 

("Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Genus Pinus L." Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.)

 

The Ponderosa Pine tree is the most evident part of my chosen part of the forest ecosystem at UBC-Okanagan. The pine tree is a fairly big Conifer tree with a "slight taper and open crown,"(Coupe, 34). The bark of the tree has a reddish/brownish tinge to it with black fissures. The bark is also easily able to be stripped off. The leaves, or needles have very distinct features; the needles are "yellow to grey green, flexible and slender,"(Coupe, 34). "The needles bundle in threes and are the longest of any other Conifer in B.C," (Coupe, 34). The trees also produce cones which are "oval to broadly conical" (Coupe, 34). The cones quite evidently litter the forest's floor and decorate the trees. They begin their life with quite small with a red tinge to them but later grow and turn brown when they hit the ground at maturity. Ponderosa Pine trees are meant and built for the Okanagan type climate and landscape. They like drought climates and dry temperatures. The trees play a crucial role in keeping this Okanagan area alive and flourishing. This is a fire maintained ecosystem, meaning these trees are meant to burn so that the population lowers. This is so that the populations never increase to a carrying capacity and so that lower down species can survive through incoming solar rays. The trees, especially in this area, are skinny with rough bark and higher branches. Another fact is that "mature trees are protected from ground fires by their thick bark and self pruning, which reduce the risk of fire reaching the canopy," (Coupe, 34). Ponderosa Pine trees also provide very specific sources for birds and animals including habitat, food and shelter.
 

2.      Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)

Classifications:

Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Rosales
Family	Rosaceae
Genus	Amelanchier
Species	Amelanchier Alnifolia

("Plants Profile for Amelanchier Alnifolia (Saskatoon Serviceberry)." Plants Profile for Amelanchier Alnifolia (Saskatoon Serviceberry). United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.)

The Saskatoon berry is one of the larger forest floor plants in this area. it contains leaves which fall off during cold months and berries during warmer months. It is a small tree like plant with "smooth stems that are coloured dark grey to reddish and often spreads by underground or creeping stems and forms dense colonies," (Coupe, 55). The leaves of the plant are very distinct because of the round shape and changing colour throughout seasons. The leaves have "regularly toothed edges mostly on the upper half," (Coupe, 55). The plant flowers and produces edible berries. The flowers are white and small and the berries purple/black and are rounded. These plants are very common, and are found in quite the variety of different landscapes and climates. The plants are very important because of their berries because they provide food for many different organisms in the Pine forest. I found these plants more evidently next to the water source, which is the canal like structure running alongside the dirt road. The main branches of the shrub are greyish and the smaller, thinner ones are more red.
   

3.       Colorado Rockfrog (Xanthoparmelia coloradoensis)

Classifications:

Kingdom	Fungi
Phylum	Ascomycota
Class	Ascomycetes
Order	Lecanorales
Family	Parmeliaceae
Genus	Xanthoparmelia Hale
Species	Xanthoparmelia coloradoensis

("Classification | USDA PLANTS." Classification | USDA PLANTS. United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.)

The Colorado Rockfrog is a common Lichen that is spread out on a lot of rocks in this pine forest. This lichen is a "loosely oppressed leaf lichen...with a pale yellowish green and shiny surface" (Coupe, 425). The Lichen spreads itself out on stones in open areas of the forest and holds many holes, rough brown patches and sore like spots. This lichen belongs to a very widespread "genus consisting of more than 400 species worldwide" (Coupe, 425). In this very pine forest, it is extremely widespread and covers most of the stones in the area. The plant is quite fragile and easy to crumble under touch. This species is an example of an organism that can find habitat almost anywhere. All it needs is a rock, no matter the size and it has a habitat. This species is very common in this environment and often goes unnoticed.


   

4.       Wolf Lichen (Letharia Vulpina)

 

 

Classifications:

Kingdom	Fungi
Phylum	Ascomycota
Class	Ascomycetes
Order	Lecanorales
Family	Parmeliaceae
Genus	Letharia
Species	L. Vulpina

("Plants Profile for Letharia Vulpina (wolf Lichen)." Plants Profile for Letharia Vulpina (wolf Lichen). United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.)

The wolf lichen is a hairy, light green coloured shrub lichen that occurs in tufts on a lot of the wood debris and trees in the pine forest. This species is common "in open to somewhat exposed sites at all forested elevations" (Coupe, 435). This plant was used for a lot of different means throughout native culture. Natives used it "as a yellowish-green dye to colour fur, moccasins, feathers, wood and other articles" (Coupe, 435). One interesting fact about this lichen, and the reason it is named 'Letharia' is because "it refers to the presence of a poisonous substance, vulpinic acid" (Coupe, 435). Another interesting and surprising fact about this species is that it is under the Kingdom classification 'Fungi'. This species is another prominent example of an organism that can thrive on many other species. It depends highly on other species and all it needs is a simple piece of tree to obtain a habitat.

1.       Pine Grass (Calamagrostis rubescecns)

Classifications:

 

 

Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Liliopsida
Order	Cyperales
Family	Poaceae
Genus	Calamagrostis
Species	C. rubescens

("Plants Profile for Calamagrostis Rubescens (pinegrass)." Plants Profile for Calamagrostis Rubescens (pinegrass). United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.)

 

 

Pine grass is a very prominent species in these types of forests and are the underlay of the Ponderosa Pine trees. They are able to thrive because of the dry climate and the open, sunlit forest plan. The grass was used a lot by Native peoples of the land. The natives "used it to make soapberry beaters, in the preparation of dried soapberry cakes, or for lining cache pits and pit-cooing ovens" (Coupe, 321). The grass was also used to weave "socks and insoles from it for their moccasins" (Coupe, 321). The grass is necessary to the production of the forest and its environment. It also provides food for animals and habitat for small organisms. The species is extremely widespread and appears fuller and more dense at the bottom and sprouts out into long, beige grassy extensions. The very tips of the grass form clumps of wheat looking protrusions. The grass is very dry and easily snapped and broken. This species provides habitat and hiding spots for small animals and equates to a grassland type forest floor.

 

 

 

1.       Redtop (Agrostis gigantea)

Classifications:

Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Liliopsida
Order	Cyperales
Family	Poaceae
Genus	Agrostis
Species	A. gigantea

("Plants Profile for Agrostis Gigantea (redtop)." Plants Profile for Agrostis Gigantea (redtop). United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.)

 

The Redtop is another common grass species in this Ponderosa Pine Forest. It was more commonly found in the more disturbed sites of the forest, which tells a lot about human interaction with the environment. The plant has a very distinct tiered level of smooth leaves going up the stem. One interesting fact about this species is that it isn't native and was "introduced from Europe" (320). These grasses are smaller and more delicate, with single clump formations on the ends. The grasses also don't form with such dense bottoms. This is another very widespread species, adding to the grassland like ecosystem of this forest.

 

 

 

Cultural Characteristics

This forest is very important culturally to the campus of UBC-Okanagan and the surrounding environment. It provides an important ecosystem for many species, especially the Ponderosa Pine and it provides and has provided in the past a lot of importance to human beings. The Ponderosa Pine has a specific and special niche in the Okanagan Valley landscape. It provides habitat areas for many species such as "deer, elk and bighorn sheep," (Coupe, 34). The trees physical attributes, like the seeds and cones, are also important to many species in the area, especially to birds and animals. It has also always been important to human beings. As I ventured up to a patch of the pine forest at UBC-O, I noticed quite the array of other people also enjoying their time up there. There is a dirt road cutting in the middle of the forest leading straight down to the University. Because of this, I think, a lot of students find it accessible and find it as a natural part of the campus. Many students go jogging, running or walking through the forest on breaks to get away from the busy student filled campus. The most prominent factor that has always remained of importance in this and similar forests, is fire. Fire has always dominated the landscape, shaping the forests to how they are today. This is a fire maintained ecosystem, one of which depends on fire to cleanse the forest. This is evident all throughout the woods behind UBC-O. If you take a walk up the mountain, you will find many fire scarred stumps shaped like mushrooms. The forest is also quite open because of fire plucking away trees, disallowing a dense woods. "Tree rings," As told by Don Gayton in Okanagan Odyssey "were like history books, with events recorded in charcoal rather than print" (Gayton, 130). These rings provided information about past climates and activities and are sprawled about this forest. During times of drought, mostly in the summer time, these forests are very heavily populated by humans. Fire suppression is extremely evident in these environments to control fire and reduce destruction, even know fire is a helping factor. During wetter times, like the winter, the forests are almost bare with little to no human activity. These Ponderosa Pine forests are meant to be open, bare and very bright. Because of human activity, mostly fire suppression, these forests are beginning to become very dense.

 

The trees are increasing in population and growing closer together, making the environment darker and more shaded. This is posing problems for underlying species in this ecosystem. The species on the forest floor are not able to live as well as they used to because there is an increasing competition for sunlight. Because of increased canopy and forest density these, "woody invasions into grassland [like] habitats have altered ecosystem characteristics across North America, and affected the bird assemblages that inhabit them" (Krannitz, 655). Also, because of the increased population of Ponderosa Pine trees, more pine needle cast is littering the forest floor. This is changing the acidity of the soil and resulting in a changing environment. Because humans do not understand the repercussions of their actions, the forest is beginning to rapidly change.
 

 

(Photo above displays the large Pine needle cast and density of the forest)

The species of this forest provided a lot of importance to interior native peoples in the past. These people used the plants of this area as a part of their necessary lifestyle. The "Nlaka'pmx, Okanagan, Secwepemc and Ktunaxa collected and ate the cambium from young trees" and provided a lot of cultural important to these pines. These people depended on these forests for survival through their used of food, wood and shelter. The Saskatoon berries provided food for animals and many native peoples. The natives used these berries as a "common trading item" (Coupe, 55). The Wolf Lichen, which grows on a lot of the trees and wood debris in this forest in the past were used by natives as a "yellowish-green dye to colour fur, moccasins, feathers, wood and other articles" (Coupe, 435). A lot of the grasses of this forest were used to make equipment, clothing and to make articles like "soapberry beaters" (Coupe, 321). One interesting species in this forest is the Redtop grass which was actually brought in by Europeans. This is an exceptional example again for how humans have altered this landscape.

Another prominent human driven factor in this forest is deforestation. The UBC-Okanagan campus is built right up against the forests and is and has been cutting away trees, making way for new development. Also, Quail Ridge residential development is beginning to scrape away the native Pine forest. The ever advancing human population in the future will continue to deforest this area, until there is nothing left. Also, the expanding University could soon wipe out this forest. This is a huge issue which people need to take notice of and think if more human development is worth ridding a natural forest that has been alive for centuries.

The UBC-Okanagan Pine forest lands provide a natural haven for UBC-O students. It provides the opportunity to take an efficient escape from the stressful life of University. The forest environment promotes healthy exercise and relaxation for students. For the most part, this forest seems to hold a greater significance to various animals and plant species. The forest almost goes unnoticed to many students of the University, which is quite a contrast to the way humans used to view these forests. It almost too acts as a barrier for the University, a wall of sorts. That is one of the main problems, that people don't hold enough value for these types of spaces. People believe that the forests do not directly benefit them, so it isn't as much an issue if its torn down. The University, for example, is a place humans have built. It took time, money and a lot of effort, so we as a campus respect it and hold value to it. The forest, on the other hand, was just there. We see it as an opportunity for more development rather than a community.

An important project I found at UBC-O is dealing with this perfectly. It was the initiative to provide a campus trail system throughout the Pine Forest, and other areas to increase student involvement in the natural environment. The trails make it easier for students to venture in the Universities' green spaces and environments. They also encourage better health and exercise. UBC-Okanagan has strong beliefs and they "strong believe in fostering positive relationships amongst our internal and external communities, and [they] know great things can happen when people have the opportunity to come together in healthy ways" (Jacob, 1). This project shows the importance of these forested spaces corresponding with students' wellbeing. This is a very strong solution to producing a higher value to these natural spaces and bringing us back to our native roots, having respect for nature.

(New Trails System at UBC Okanagan. 2009. University of British Columbia, Kelowna.)

(The photo above displays the areas where UBC-O trail systems will be applied)

To conclude this section I would like to pose more solutions to this problem. University students, and the surrounding City of Kelowna need to realize the importance of natural environments like this. It is essential that education is put forth to teach the value this forest has in its own community and the Okanagan valley. Forests are the lungs of Earth, they keep the air clean and clear of toxins. We need forests to survive. Forests also hold habitat and create an ecosystem for many species of plants and animals. Without forests, they lose their habitats and go extinct. This forests also holds the hill behind UBC-O together. Without it, the soil would be subjected to a lot of natural weathering factors, causing many issues for the University. Vegetation is what keeps the land intact and secure. Another issue that needs to be taught it the affects of fire suppression. Fire suppression increases the density of this forest which is supposed to be open and sunlit. More trees will grow, adding to the wood mass of the forest. This means a loss of sunlight to bottom dwelling organisms and catastrophic fires in the future. In dry seasons, there will now be even more wood attract fire. This will pose serious dangers for UBC-Okanagan in the future.