About
Bur Oak is large and long-lived species of tree with a broad distribution across North America. However, the population in New Brunswick is confined to the Wolostoq / St. John River Watershed and is disjunct from its contiguous range by over 750 km. The New Brunswick population has been shown to be genetically distinct and is considered a species of conservation concern, along with several other tree species with which it shares its floodplain habitat. Historically, Bur Oak acorns would have been an important food source for both the indigenous Wolastoqey People, as well as for numerous wildlife species, including White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Coyote, Wood Duck, Blue Jay, and a variety of small mammals and other wildlife.
Challenge
The total area that Bur Oak occupies today in New Brunswick is less than 1% of its historic range, primarily due to intensive logging following European settlement in the province. Not only is the population small, but it is also fragmented, with 8 subpopulations consisting of isolated clumps and individual trees. As Bur Oak has no formal protection in the province, its abundance and distribution continue to shrink, primarily due to land clearing for cottage development. As a result, the species is highly vulnerable to extirpation in New Brunswick, and without intervention, will likely lose its genetic viability due to the diminished population size.
Solutions
To secure a future for Bur Oak in New Brunswick, Global Conservation Solutions is facilitating the development of a collaborative conservation plan with a team of 12 non-profits, government agencies, academia, Indigenous groups, and local businesses. By applying the Conservation Standards framework across a series of professionally facilitated workshops, the Bur Oak Restoration Team is developing a roadmap to ensure that Bur Oak is conserved and restored throughout the Wolostoq / St. John River Watershed and is widely recognized as an ecologically and culturally important member of New Brunswick’s natural heritage.
Results
The Bur Oak Restoration Team has developed a series of strategies related to land conservation, forest restoration, education and awareness, and research and monitoring. Over the coming months, the team will continue to strengthen the strategic plan to identify new opportunities to conserve and restore Bur Oak in New Brunswick. In the meantime, implementation is already underway, as thousands of Bur Oak seedlings being grown for out-planting with our watershed association partners, several key properties are being secured by our land trust partners, and further genetic research is underway!
Jesse Saindon
Liberty Tree Nursery
“Josh’s ability to keep stakeholders and rightsholders engaged on our shared vision of Bur Oak restoration in the lower Wolastoq watershed has been fantastic. His deep experience in conservation projects and expert facilitation skills have kept this project on track and moving forward, and we can already see a realistic path towards restoration of this ecologically and culturally important species in our region.”
