Riparian Areas
Some may see just streams in a forest but there is more than meets the eye!
(don't worry, the snowy one is from last winter)
For forest professionals and enthusiasts, this is what we call a riparian area
Riparian areas (or zones) are the lands occurring along watercourses and water bodies. Riparian areas are unique from their surrounding forest because they are strongly influenced by their proximity to water, and they often contain more fertile soil and a higher diversity of forest plants and wildlife
In addition to increased biodiversity, riparian areas also help protect the watercourse and aquatic life by stabilizing banks and minimizing erosion and sedimentation in the water. Surrounding vegetation also provides shade to the watercourse, which prevents the water from overheating and impacting fish
Considering all of the benefits of these amazing ecosystems, riparian areas are crucial to forest management planning. The Nova Scotia Wildlife Habitat and Watercourses Protection Regulations require that Special Management Zones, or SMZ's be established along watercourses in order to protect the water, and surrounding habitat from forestry operations.
For more information on the Nova Scotia Wildlife Habitat and Watercourses Protection Regulations, visit:
