Securing present and future bald eagle nest trees on the Nanoose Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

On Vancouver Island's Nanoose Peninsula land-use activities and natural limiting factors challenge the long term security of bald eagle nesting habitats. My research contrasts the ecological processes and relative abundance of suitable nest trees against the human influences affecting future nest tree recruitment. I have explored the natural and human induced relationships between existing nest trees, recruitment trees and current land-use designations to establish the influences affecting nest trees. I have used a process of stakeholder inquiry to determine how people value bald eagles in their landscape, if they believe this habitat should be protected, what barriers and opportunities may exist to inform public policy. My research establishes the disparities between the long term habitat requirements of the species, the remaining suitable recruitment trees, the stated values of the stakeholders and the existing governance frameworks. I have suggested an integrated approach for securing future bald eagle nest trees in Nanoose.