Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast
Coastal Sand Ecosystems
The interface between uplands and the marine environment, dunes and other sand dominated ecological communities provide significant buffers for upland areas from the effects of wind and tide. The unique soil conditions also limit the vegetation communities and associated fauna they support and like bogs this has meant distinct adaptive properties of the species that do survive in this community.
Coastal sand ecosystems encompass the terrestrial portion of beaches, spits, and dunes in which sand is the dominant substrate. They contain sparsely-vegetated or herbaceous ecological communities, as well as associated forest, wetland, and bluff communities. Coastal sand ecosystems occur at the intersection of marine and terrestrial realms where ecological patterns are structured by geomorphic and oceanographic disturbance processes (e.g., sand movement, wind erosion, tides, storm surges, ocean spray), soil development, local climate, and vegetation succession). Source: Coastal Sand Ecosystem Recovery Team. A number of red-listed communities occur on the South Coast including: northern wormwood - red fescue / grey rock-moss, large-headed sedge Herbaceous Vegetation, dune wildrye - beach pea. Both waterbirds and migratory songbirds are heavily dependent on sand communities for seasonal and year round nesting, foraging and refuge during storms and weather events.
Download Species Fact Sheet in PDF
Status
Global Status:
G1-G1G2-GNR
Provincial Status:
S1-S1S2
BC List Status:
Red (Candidates for- Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status)
Ecology
Range
The majority of remaining coastal sand ecosystems are on the west coast of Vancouver Island, followed by BC's mainland coast and Haida Gwaii
Threats
Habitat destruction, invasive plants and human recreational activities are part of the range of threats identified.
Conservation and Management
Apply conservation and management approaches identified in the Status Report on Coastal Sand Ecosystems in BC, the Multi-species Action Plan for Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada [Proposed] and recovery strategies, management plans and status reports for species including the contorted-pod evening primrose, Aduoin's Night Stalking Tiger Beetle, Edward's Beach Moth and Yellow Sand Verbena Moth.
RESOURCES
General brochure about the Sand Ecosystems of British Columbia on the South Coast. Brochure includes information and photos about where to find them, what species and ecological communities can be found, the threats that exist and what we can all do to help.
All about the sand ecosystems of the South Coast and the species at risk they support. PDF of a presentation By Tamsin Baker
Prepared for the residents of North Thormanby Island, Sunshine Coast BC
Learning outcomes from managing for rare species on urban beaches in Australia
A sampling of the various signage employed for Boundary Bay, Savary Island, Thormanby Island and the South Coast
A summary of the presentations given on February 27, 2018 at a Parks Canada Symposium regarding the restoration of Coastal Sand Ecosystems on the Coast of British Columbia.
For further information see:
Coastal sand ecosystems such as dunes and spits are rare in British Columbia and support a disproportionately high number of rare species and ecological communities.
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
Credits
Prepared by Pamela Zevit RPBio and Tamsin Baker. Updated April 2017
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