habitat & ecology

As our city grows and densifies the available space for habitat steadily decreases. Though Calgary’s parks are a great space for wildlife habitation, the urban spaces of our city struggle to maintain the habitat and ecology that is so crucial for our own quality of life.

When trees are removed in the city, generally the tree is dismantled, processes into wood chips and firewood then transported off-site, never to be seen again. This widely accepted approach disrupts both the nutrient cycle of vegetation (removing it off-site) and depletes the habitat and biodiversity of the area.

Take for example a declining tree that has extensive decay in the trunk. This decay is either caused and/or accelerated by things like fungus, insects etc. The insects in the tree serve as a food source for local woodpeckers, who bore out hollows in the trunk; the hollows then serve as a nesting location for birds or bats. Birds and bats eat those pesky mosquitos and other insects that bothers and the decaying trees keep the woodpecker from punching holes in your house.

Nature is nuanced, and we don’t claim to fully understand all the relationships, but if we can provide nature with ability to flourish in our urban spaces, we quickly see the abundance of benefits it provides to us as property owners and city dwellers. The quality the urban ecology directly impacts our quality of life.

If you are removing a tree, consider the cost savings and environmental benefits of a habitat tree or perhaps creating a nurse log or terrestrial habitat log from the tree’s trunk. We are able to create cavities in the tree, mimicking the hollows used by local birds, or provide woodpeckers with a food source. Likewise consider retaining the woodchips produced from the brush as a soil amendment that will improve the soil biodiversity and help water retention.

There are many other options and ideas to work with, if you have questions or have something specific in mind please let us know.