"10 Questions With......"
Michelle Evelyn & David Stiles
Project leaders of the Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project
August, 2010 Interview

You both moved here in 2003, what drew you to the Sunshine Coast to work and live?

The incredible beauty, the diverse wildlife, the spectacular ecosystems – forests, ocean, rivers, lakes, mountains – all of the wonderful opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy nature. Through a fun poetry contest on CBC radio, we won tickets to the Sunshine Coast Writer’s Festival in 2002. We visited the Coast once and fell completely in love with the place and knew we had to find a way to make this our home.

What is the affiliation between the SCWP and the Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve Society?

We are so lucky to work with the Lagoon Society and the amazing, dedicated people of the Iris Griffith Centre! Our Wildlife Project is a Lagoon Society initiative, and is just one of their many projects aimed at engaging the community in environmental stewardship and helping to maintain and improve the natural habitat of this special region.

How is the expanding population base on the Sunshine Coast affecting native fish and wildlife and their habitats?

As our population grows, more habitat is lost and there is increasing pressure on our rivers and lakes as water supplies. The challenge is to make sure that development takes place in an environmentally sound way, guided by a well informed and thought out overall plan. We must protect key remaining areas of forest and wetlands, and ensure that we maintain habitat for our fish and wildlife within human-dominated landscapes.

The SCWP website states that less than 3% of land on the Sunshine Coast is protected as park, well below the 13% provincial standard. What impact does this have on native species?

Protected areas and parkland are essential to maintaining biological diversity, ensuring survival of species at risk, and providing indispensable ecosystem services to the human population. With so little land currently protected, our native species are at risk of losing their critical habitat and our community is at risk of losing the ecosystems we rely on to provide our clean drinking water, fresh air, fertile soils, and natural resources.

Why is the native population of the Western Painted Turtle in decline?

The main causes of the decline are habitat loss and degradation, human disturbance, and roads. Road mortality is a huge problem. Female turtles are killed on roads during nesting season while searching for ever decreasing suitable nesting sites. Turtles have evolved with a life history strategy that relies on high adult survival rates so the loss of each breeding female from the population is devastating.

How have humans impacted the Painted Turtle population?

Humans and turtles both love the same places – lowland lakes and sunny, south-facing shorelines. As these areas are developed for human use, turtle nesting, basking, foraging and overwintering habitat is altered. Turtle nests are often disturbed by humans and their pets. Human garbage and waste can attract turtle predators like raccoons. Some people remove turtles from lakes, but this is illegal and incredibly harmful to wild populations.

Why is ensuring the survival of the native Western Painted Turtle population important?

This endangered species is the only native freshwater turtle species left in BC. Another species, the Western Pond Turtle, disappeared from the province a few decades ago. People in this region have delighted in seeing turtles on the lakes for generations. Losing them would be a great loss, and would have ecological impacts throughout the ecosystems in which they live.

Amphibian monitoring is an important initiative of the SCWP. Why are amphibians considered one of nature’s best indicators of biodiversity and overall ecosystem health?

Amphibians have permeable skin, through which they breathe, so they are extremely sensitive to pollution. They live part of their life on land and part in the water, so they are threatened by changes in habitat and environmental quality in both parts of their range. As a group, amphibians seem to be especially sensitive to such factors as infectious diseases, pollution, invasive species and climate change.

How have human activities directly affected the Sunshine Coast bat population?

Development can lead to destruction of bat habitat. One landowner was dismayed to discover that the bats on his property disappeared after he built a driveway, destroying their roost in a system of rock crevices. Many local bat species roost in trees and rely on forest habitats, so forest clearing can be very harmful. Pesticide use can directly kill bats and decrease their prey.

What are some of the ways that people can get involved with the Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project?

They can call us when they see turtles. Many community members have reported turtle sightings this year and it has really helped us to identify key nesting sites. People living around turtle lakes can join our Landowner Stewardship Program and work with us to maintain and enhance habitat on their property. We are a small project operating on a shoestring budget so we always welcome donations in support of our work!

More information about the Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project......

The Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project has three main objectives. One; To identify, protect, restore and enhance habitat for wildlife by conducting surveys to identify occupied sites and delineate critical habitat and working with stakeholders to maintain, restore and enhance these habitats. Two; To sustain populations of key species-at-risk in the long-term by assessing the status of and threats to populations and taking action to mitigate threats and work with stakeholders to ensure that appropriate management and recovery strategies are implemented. Three; To increase public awareness of the conservation status and habitat needs of local wildlife species, and to encourage stewardship through partnerships, outreach, and community involvement.

The Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project includes applied conservation research, population assessment and monitoring; direct on-the-ground stewardship and conservation action; public education and outreach; working with government and land owners; and species recovery planning. Our current focus is on species-at-risk and wetland habitats. Current activities include: turtle conservation, amphibian monitoring, bat surveys, wetland assessment and mapping, and restoration of natural habitats.