358
T.J .B. Boyle
existing stresses are not reduced, and vulnerable species are those which,
while not under any immediate threat, are at risk for reasons of small
population size or other factors.
The status of wildlife species in the west coast forests is generally better
than elsewhere in Canada . Only nine species in the "Pacific/Mountain"
life zone are listed as threatened or endangered, and only in the Arctic
life zone are there fewer listed species (Environment Canada , 1991).
Three plant species from the Pacific/Mountain life zone are listed as
threatened or endangered, but only one of these is found in the coastal
rain forests: the giant helleborine (Epipactis gigantea). In an inventory of
more than 3100 vascular plant taxa of British Columbia, Taylor and
MacBryde (1977) classify the taxa subjectively, based on their perceived
status. They classify giant helleborine as "rare," but classify 12 other taxa
as "endangered," of which 7 are found in the coastal rain forests (Table
18.1). The redesignation of rare and endangered vascular plant taxa in
British Columbia is currently being undertaken by the Conservation Data
Centre of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (G . Douglas, personal
communication). At present , about 630 taxa have received a preliminary
designation as being rare, but this number will probably decrease as more
records are accumulated. This enormous task of dealing with vascular
plants will have to be finished before nonvascular plants can be considered.
COSEWIC also does not consider the status of nonvascular plants.
However, six species of British Columbian lichens have so far been
assigned a "conservation status" by the Rare Lichens Project of the
Smithsonian Institution (Goward , 1990). As one of four criteria used in
determining conservation status is global range, many additional rare
British Columbian species do not qualify fo_r the Smithsonian listing.
Many woodland species of animal, bird, and fish are also on the
endangered species list. Some of these, in contrast to the endangered tree
species, are not represented by large populations elsewhere. In British
Columbia, the Ministry of the Environment has categorized wildlife
species based on scores for six criteria: abundance, distribution, habitat
integrity, population trend , reproductive potential, and national/internaTable 18.1. Endangered vascular plant taxa of the coastal rain forests of British
Columbia. From Taylor and MacBryde (1977)
Common name
Botanical name
COSEWIC status
Adder's tongue
Alaskan orache
Austin's phantom orchid
Macoun's meadowfoam
Pacific rhododendron
Seaside bird's-foot trefoil
Sour clover
Ophioglossum vulgatum
Atriplex alaskensis
Eburophyton austiniae
Limnanthes macounii
Rhododendron macrophyllum
Lotus formosissimus
Trifolium fucatum
Not listed
Not listed
Not listed
Vulnerable
Not listed
Not listed
Not listed
T.J .B. Boyle
existing stresses are not reduced, and vulnerable species are those which,
while not under any immediate threat, are at risk for reasons of small
population size or other factors.
The status of wildlife species in the west coast forests is generally better
than elsewhere in Canada . Only nine species in the "Pacific/Mountain"
life zone are listed as threatened or endangered, and only in the Arctic
life zone are there fewer listed species (Environment Canada , 1991).
Three plant species from the Pacific/Mountain life zone are listed as
threatened or endangered, but only one of these is found in the coastal
rain forests: the giant helleborine (Epipactis gigantea). In an inventory of
more than 3100 vascular plant taxa of British Columbia, Taylor and
MacBryde (1977) classify the taxa subjectively, based on their perceived
status. They classify giant helleborine as "rare," but classify 12 other taxa
as "endangered," of which 7 are found in the coastal rain forests (Table
18.1). The redesignation of rare and endangered vascular plant taxa in
British Columbia is currently being undertaken by the Conservation Data
Centre of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (G . Douglas, personal
communication). At present , about 630 taxa have received a preliminary
designation as being rare, but this number will probably decrease as more
records are accumulated. This enormous task of dealing with vascular
plants will have to be finished before nonvascular plants can be considered.
COSEWIC also does not consider the status of nonvascular plants.
However, six species of British Columbian lichens have so far been
assigned a "conservation status" by the Rare Lichens Project of the
Smithsonian Institution (Goward , 1990). As one of four criteria used in
determining conservation status is global range, many additional rare
British Columbian species do not qualify fo_r the Smithsonian listing.
Many woodland species of animal, bird, and fish are also on the
endangered species list. Some of these, in contrast to the endangered tree
species, are not represented by large populations elsewhere. In British
Columbia, the Ministry of the Environment has categorized wildlife
species based on scores for six criteria: abundance, distribution, habitat
integrity, population trend , reproductive potential, and national/internaTable 18.1. Endangered vascular plant taxa of the coastal rain forests of British
Columbia. From Taylor and MacBryde (1977)
Common name
Botanical name
COSEWIC status
Adder's tongue
Alaskan orache
Austin's phantom orchid
Macoun's meadowfoam
Pacific rhododendron
Seaside bird's-foot trefoil
Sour clover
Ophioglossum vulgatum
Atriplex alaskensis
Eburophyton austiniae
Limnanthes macounii
Rhododendron macrophyllum
Lotus formosissimus
Trifolium fucatum
Not listed
Not listed
Not listed
Vulnerable
Not listed
Not listed
Not listed