An ecosystem management approach to fire management in Terra Nova National Park

Culhane, Michele (1999) An ecosystem management approach to fire management in Terra Nova National Park. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (15MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

Ecosystem management seeks to provide a mechanism for addressing the complexities of managing the natural environment and helping managers more efficiently and effectively handle planning and decision making in a particular ecosystem. It implies a holistic examination of social and biophysical issues which are addressed collectively, not independently, to arrive at the best possible management solution, while preserving the natural character and ecological integrity of an ecosystem. -- The present research considers various biophysical and social issues related to fire management in the greater Terra Nova National Park (TNNP) region, within the ecosystem management setting in a Canadian national park. While a detailed examination of any individual social or biophysical issue related to fire management in TNNP could be undertaken, this research simultaneously examined several issues in lesser detail with the intent of integrating the results. The social research focussed on a questionnaire to Parks Canada employees, key informant interviews of regional representatives, and a preliminary visitor survey. Biophysical research consisted of a field study of regeneration in selected burnovers in and around TNNP, and an examination of the TNNP fire history study and endangered species research. -- To illustrate the integration of several of the social and biophysical research results, a linear framework is built upon and expanded to develop a conceptual framework which addresses fire management in TNNP in the ecosystem management context. Unlike other studies which discuss the ecosystem management concept, this conceptual framework contributes to the field of ecosystem management by proposing a means of implementing the concept. Feedback loops account for continually evolving management concerns through the incorporation of two key roles: coordinating the framework and integrating research. This conceptual framework is applied to the case study of fire management in TNNP. It can, however, also be broadened out to address specific management issues in other national parks or ecological settings. -- The results from this ecosystem management based research indicate the value of integration in that the sum of the individual issues provides more comprehensive information than the separate analyses of these issues. On this basis, an ecosystem management conceptual framework is developed to facilitate management issues, such as fire management in TNNP. One strength of the integrative approach to ecosystem management is therefore the exploration of social and biophysical concerns as a whole and not as isolated variables. Another strength of integration is that 'integrated data' lead to results which would not be revealed had they been examined on an individual basis.

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