Trans Canada Trail Bio Kit Letter
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Transcript of Trans Canada Trail Bio Kit Letter
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7/28/2019 Trans Canada Trail Bio Kit Letter
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Photo:TCTSlaveRiver,N.W.T.
PRODUCTIONTEAM
Production:TransCanadaTrailandBiosphre,EnvironmentCanadaResearchandcoordination:EtienneAngersandJaneMurphyWriting:EtienneAngers
Triptychphotoonfrontcover:Jean-FranoisBergeron/EnvirofotoImageswithnovisiblecreditsarefromiStockphoto.
Acknowledgements: DanAndrews,YvesBilodeau,JulieBrouard,BronwenBuck,Andr
Champoux,AnnDacres,TimHoskin,ElizabethKilvert,JeanLanglais,ChantalLepire,MargaretMofford,WesMoon,JohnNisbet,DominiquePelletier,CatherinePinard,CarolynRing-Ade,Charles-AndrRoy,RichardSencal,AndrewSpringandeveryoneelsewhocontributeddiscerningsuggestionsandcommentsduringtheproductionofthisBioKit.
AgenerousdonationfromLoblawCompaniesLimitedhasbeenprovidedinsupportoftheTransCanadaTrailBioKitproject.
Aussidisponibleenfranaissousletitre:BioTroussesentierTranscanadien
Printedonrecycledpaperusingvegetable-baseddyes
HerMajestytheQueeninRightofCanada,representedbytheMinisteroftheEnvironment,2011
CatalogNo.:En154-64/2011E-PDFISBN:978-1-100-18937-6
Legaldeposit:LibraryandArchivesCanada,2011
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Photo: Jane Murphy Discovering the Trans Canada Trail, N.B.
The Biosphre, Montral
Photo: EnvironmentCanada
Photo: Jean-Franois Bergeron/Enviro oto Charlevoix, Que.
Photo:DanaMeise
Reconnect with your environment...
A TRAIL TO EXPLORE
The Trans Canada Trail is the longest network o
trails in the world. Once completed, it will extendover 22,000 kilometres between the Atlantic,Pacic and Arctic Oceans. Millions o Canadiansand visitors use it or hiking, cycling, skiing,
horseback riding, canoeing and snowmobiling.The Trail provides countless possibilities toexplore Canadas biodiversity.
Environment Canadas Biosphre encouragescitizens to take action and get involved in
environmental issues. In addition to presenting exhibitions
and special events, the Biosphre develops educationaland awareness-raising products or a diverse clienteleacross Canada and is a recognized clearinghouse or
environmental inormation.
The Biosphre, Environment Museum and Trans Canada Trail
are providing this activity kit to help you explore the Trailanywhere in Canada all year round.
How the BioKit Works1. Choose a section o the Trans Canada Trail near your home. You may use
the Locate Trail tool on the Trail website to help you.
2. Take your material: GPS device (optional), magniying glass, binoculars, camera,pencil and clipboard.3. Head towards the chosen section. Once there, begin your outing and complete
the BioKit activities on the ollowing pages.
4. Upon your return, discuss your outing with other people and record the resultso your diagnosis on the Web.
In the electronic version o this document, available on the BioKits website,
highlighted words are hyperlinks to a website.
ec.gc.ca/biospheretctrail.ca
Four Seasons of Fun for the Whole Family!
http://www.tctrail.ca/tlocator/tlocator_en.htmlhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99Fhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99Fhttp://www.tctrail.ca/tlocator/tlocator_en.html -
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Name osection visited: __________________________
Date: ___________________________________
Departure time:__________________________
Return time: _____________________________
GPS coordinates: _________________________(optional)
Modern explorersleave no trace!
Use the seven principlesof the Leave No Traceprogram, as a guideline
to help reduce theimpact of your outdoor
activities on the Trailenvironment.
1 Plan ahead andprepare.
2 Travel and campon durable suraces.
3 Dispose o waste
properly.
4 Leave what you nd.
5 Minimize campreimpacts.
6 Respect wildlie.
7 Be considerateo others.
WEATHER
Temperature: _____________________ C
Are you ready toexplore the longest trail
in the world?
n Cloudy
n Sunny
n Snowyn Rainy
n Partly cloudy
n Windy
Hi there! Im Blaze!
Im the Trans Canada Trail blazer!
Look for me on every page and
Ill point you in the right direction as youexplore the Trans Canada Trail.
Its a Go!
http://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/home -
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Illustration: Dominique Pelletier
na
ng
nd
nk
ni
nn
n
o
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nb
nl
nj
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nc
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The Trans Canada Trail offers a beautiful arrayof natural and cultural diversity along its route. Test your sense of observationand try to locate the different elements in the image all along your expedition.
Its easy to go out and explore theTrans Canada Trail no matter where you are!For 80% o Canadians, the Trail is less than30 minutes away rom their home.
a Kayaker
b Cyclist
c Snowmobiler
d Hiker
e Horseback rider
f Snowshoer
g Person in wheelchair
h Historic site
i Group on an outing
j Insect
k Shrub
l Mushroom
m Conifer
n Deciduous tree
o Mammal
My favorite place on the Trail:
_______________________
Discover Your Trail
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Photo: TCT* Lower River Passage, N.B.
Photo: TCT
Conederation Trail, P.E.I.Photo:TourismP.E.I./LouiseVessey
*TCT = Trans Canada Trail
Youre finally
on the Trail!
By the way,
what is a trail?
A trail is much more than just an access lane!It can be used to:
Getbacktonature
Traveltoworkorschool
Explorecommunities
Getbackintoshape
Learnaboutourhistory
And why are you on the Trail?
________________________________________
________________________________________
You know youreon the Trail when
you see this logo!
A TRAIL FOR BIODIVERSITYPlants and animals also have their own trails
that they use or nding ood, nding a mate,
and getting around. They circulate on what areknown as biological corridors. These vegetationstrips are very important or maintaining
biodiversity.
I you were an animal, could you easily travelalong the Trans Canada Trail? I so, you may also
be on a biological corridor.
Come ace to ace with the signs!Found all along the Trail, Discovery Panelsprovide inormation on the surrounding wildlie
and plants. Keep your eyes open!
Painted turtle
Grey wol
Heres the Trail!
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Photo: Betty Anne Graves Ban Legacy Trail, Alta.
Did you know...
When you turn out your lights at night, you help migrating birds. Some use thestars to navigate at night. Unfortunately, city lights sometimes cause them to lose
their way and they use up their energy going in the wrong direction.
Where are you coming rom?
Can you indicate in which direction your house is ound?
____________________________________________________
Where are you?
What is derived rom nature?
_____________________________________________________
What was modied by humans?
_____________________________________________________
What was this section o the Trail in the past?
_____________________________________________________
Where are you headed?
Finding north enables explorers to nd their way anduse a map properly. But how can you manage withouta compass? Here are three methods!
A watch with hands
Holding your watch fat, point the hour hand towards the sun.
South is located between the hour hand and 12 oclock, and
north is in the opposite direction.
With the help o a shadow
Using a stone or any other object, mark the location wherethe shadow o a pole or branch planted in the ground ends.
Wait teen minutes and then place a second stone wherethe shadow now ends. Connect both stones with a line. Therst stone indicates the west and the second the east.
In relation to the sun
The sun rises in the east, is located south at noon
and sets in the west.
Ater you completedone o the three activities,
use this compass to ndthe cardinal points.
When you go off on anadventure, its important to
ask yourself where you came
from, where you are and
where youre headed!
Points of Reference
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Bats situate themselves by emitting
high-pitched cries that humans cannot hear:
ultrasounds. These cries bounce o the various
surrounding objects. The bat perceives this echo and
can easily locate in mid-air the insects it eeds on.
This is called echolocation.
A polar bears sense o smell is highly
developed: it can easily detect the presence
o a seal more than a kilometre away!
Near-blind
like most moles,
the star-nosed mole
uses its tentacles to
easily fnd its ood
beneath the earth.
These tentacles are
believed to be six times
more sensitive to touchthan your hands are!
Test your senses with these activities and, at thesame time, compare them with the senses o dierent Canadian animals.
HEARINGHold your breath and identiy the sounds around you.
Sounds o other Trail users: ______________________________
Sounds o nature: _____________________________________
SMELLHave your companions try to guess a natural element on the Trailsimply by its odour and by placing it under their nose. Be creative:
choose a blade o grass, some moss or a damp lea!
TOUCHUsing your hands, locate the object in nature that is
the smoothest, the roughest, the spikiest.
And i you were to tickle someone, what would you choose?
________________________________________________
Skilful adventurers
must use all of their
senses to fully explore
the Trail!
Try echolocation! 1. Blindold a person inyour group to be the bat. 2.The rest o the group will be insects.3. The bat repeatedly calls out Beep, Beep. 4. The insectsmust respond Buzz, Buzz. 5. The bat tries to catch an insect.
Little brown bat
The Trail from Another Viewpoint
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Photo: Jamie Bastedo Black bear, N.W.T.
Photo: 123RF
Conederation Trail, P.E.I.Kettle Valley Rail Trail, B.C.Montral, Que.Near Penetanguishene, Ont.
Photo: Michael NesbittPhoto: Bruce ObeePhoto: Dana MeisePhoto: Dan Andrews
Did you know...
The coat colour of the snowshoehare changes with the seasons soit can hide from its predators. Frombrown in the summertime, it becomes
entirely white in the winter.
One trail, our versions I you passed through here during another season, what would be dierent?
Colour code
Among animals, bright colours are used to seduce or to signaldanger, whereas discreet colours help or camoufage and
concealment or to hunt prey.
I you were an animal, what colour would you be?
________________________________________
On a trail!Keep your eyes open near muddy or snow-
covered areas o the Trail. No matter the season,youll probably nd some tracks made byanimals or by Trail users.
What ootprints did you see on the Trail?
_____________________________________
Colours:
Which colour is the least common?
_________________________________________
And the most common?
_________________________________________
Shapes:
Can you see other shapes?
_________________________________________
No matter the
season, the Trail
will unveil all of its
colours and shapes
to you! Use your
eagle eyes to find
the following natural
elements.
The Trail Year-round
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Photo: Travel Alberta Ban, Alta.
A healthy ecosystem cleanstheairandwater, producesoxygen,
trapscarbondioxidegas, controlsinsectsandanimal
pests naturally,
encouragespollination, helpscontrolfloodinganderosion,
producesfertilesoil, playsanimportantrole
in the economy, healthand food safety.
These are services
that the public wouldotherwise pay or.
... a bird?Stand upright on a raised area such as
a rock, a bench or a hill, and fy away! As a bird:
Where do you build your nest?
____________________________________________
What do you eat?
____________________________________________
... a tree?First nd a place to take root!
Then spread out your arms to makebranches. Now youre a big tree:
What plants or animals seek
shelter on your trunk or branches?
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Are the other trees similar to you?
Why?
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
... an ant?Find a little patch o grass along the trail. Now get down on all
ours! Explore this site in great detail as though you were an ant:
How many plant species do you see?
____________________________________________
Are there any other tiny creatures around?
____________________________________________
As a signpost, I discover
the world my way: at trailintersections. What would
I see if I explored it
in the form of...
Small,Medium and Large Explorers!
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Photo: Environment Canada
Photo: Harold Sellers
Attempt to locate a plant or animal that has
adapted to its environment in a unique way.
What did you fnd?
_______________________________________
The tremendous diversity
and adaptation capacity of
species allow life to exist in
all parts of the country, and
by means that are sometimesquite astounding!
IF YOU WERE AN EXPLORER, WHAT NEW ABILITYWOULD YOU INVENT TO EASILY EXPLORE:
The mountains? ______________
The Arctic?___________________
Underwater lie? ______________
The orest? __________________
The Canada lynxhas very large eetcovered with coarse hairthat enable it to travelover thick snow, likesnowshoes.
Here are a ew original species you may see along the Trail:
Skunk cabbageis one o the only knownplants able to produceheat. By bringing itstemperature to morethan 20C over that othe ambient air, it manages
to melt the snow in springor early blooming!
The wood frogcan easily survive eveni its body temperaturedrops below the reezingpoint: its blood contains100 times more sugar thanthat o humans, preventingit rom reezing!
Cacti in Canada?You bet! Four species haveadapted to the countrysconditions. Brittlepricklypear is ound romBritish Columbia to Ontarioand is one o the cacti that
grows the urthest north.
Celebrate Diversity!
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Photo: Chantal Lepire
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org The Trail will lead you through the
heart of the countrys major cities.
A unique biodiversity can be found
here if you know where to look
for it. This is the perfect mission
for an urban explorer!
Take a close look atthe cracks on the ground.You may come across thebroad-leaved plantain,a species commonlyound in majorCanadian cities.
With their agile hands
and their ability to eat just
about anything, raccoons have
adapted to city living.
So, what did you see?Plants: _______________________
Animals: _____________________
City streets are oten tree-lined. Drawthe leaves and bark o your avourite one.You can try to identiy it upon your return.
PROWLING FOR LICHENSDid you know that the type and amount o lichens growing on tree trunkscan tell us about the air quality? Most lichens are sensitive to air quality and
deteriorate when air pollution levels are high.
Take a look at the tree trunks around you.
Do you see any lichens? ________________________________________
Do you see dierent types o lichens? ____________________________
Lichen: composed o a ungus and an alga livingin symbiosis (a relationship that benets both).
Lichen orms a clump, sometimes coloured,
on tree trunks and rocks.
The Secret Life of Cities
http://www.treecanada.ca/site/apps/trees/index.phphttp://www.treecanada.ca/site/apps/trees/index.php -
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Photo: Klaus Bolte,CFS-SCF, NRCan-RNCan
Photo: T. Wells, DFO-MPO
Photo: Jan Samanek,
State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org
Here are several examples of
invasive alien species found in
Canada. Have you seen them?
European green crabFound on Canadas east and west coasts
since the 1950s, the European green crabcauses signicant damage to mollusc and
crustacean populations. It also hunts thecommon crab, an indigenous species.
Leay spurgeFound mainly in the Prairies,
the leay spurge is a ruthless enemyo biodiversity. Its roots even produce
a substance that inhibits the growth
o other nearby plants! In addition,its sap may irritate human skin
and can poison livestock.
Emerald ash borerDetected in Quebec and Ontarioin 2002, this insect has already caused
the death o millions o ash trees inAmerica. Its larvae bore tunnels
under the bark, which prevent thesap rom circulating, causing thedeath o the tree.
Common buckthornOriginally rom Europe, this largebush grows very densely, inhibiting
the growth o all other plants. Even
when you cut it, its branches will growback again rom the stump withouta problem.
Introduced to a region by accidentor on purpose, these plants and animalsrepresent a major threat to biodiversity
and are very hard to control.
Advice on fightingagainst invasive alienspecies
Donttransportrewoodfromone region to another; it maycontain invasive insects.
Keepyourgardeninbloomwith local species.
Cleanyouroutdoor
equipment regularly to preventdispersal of plant seeds.
Beawareoftheinvasive species foundin your region.
Dontbringbackanyfruits,vegetables, plants or animals
from your trips abroad.
Intrusive Travellers
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The small whiteladys-slipper is at risk in Canada.
Photo: David R. McAdoo, Lady Bird Johnson Wildfower Center
Strength in diversitySpecies diversity allows an ecosystem to better resist disruptions, such as
disease or natural disaster. This is why every species, big or small, is important.
Is there a species at risk in your region? _______________________
I the answer is yes, which one? ______________________________
What happens to you iPartoftheTrailisclosedtobuildhomes?
Agreatmanyofyouarepickedtomakebouquets?
Anewplanttakesupallthespaceandputsyouintheshade?
Contaminatedwatermakesyousick?
Thetemperatureinyourregionbecomestoohighforyou?
IFTHERESAWILL,THERESAWAY!Dierent measures have improved the status o these species at risk in recent years:
Whooping Crane Swift fox Peregrine Falcon Eastern Bluebird
Canada has more than 500 species at
risk. Why? To find out, pretend you are
an imaginary flower, the Transcanadensitrailium, which only grows beside the
Trans Canada Trail!
Main causes of biodiversity loss
Habitatloss
Overharvestingofnatural resources
Pollution
Introductionofinvasive
alien species Climatechange
United We Stand!
A
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0 250 500 750 1000
km
YUKON
Iqaluit
Yellowknife
Whitehorse
Tuktoyaktuk
NEWFOUNDLAND
AND LABRADOR
QUEBEC
ONTARIO
MANITOBA
SASKATCHEWAN
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
NUNAVUT
ALBERTA
BRITISH COLUMBIA
PRINCE EDWARD
ISLAND
NEW BRUNSWICK
Charlottetown
HalifaxFredericton
St. Johns
Qubec
Montral
Toronto
Winnipeg
Regina
Edmonton
Victoria
Vancouver
Ottawa
NOVA SCOTIA
United States
A
B
C
Photo: Jamie Bastedo
Photo: Jane Murphy
Photo: Bruce Obee
LegendTCT Land route TCT Water route Provincial
boundary
Ecozonesn Arctic Cordillera
n Atlantic Maritime
n Boreal Cordillera
n Boreal Plains
n Boreal Shield
n Hudson Plains
n Mixedwood Plains
n Montane Cordillera
n Northern Arctic
n Pacific Maritime
n Prairies
n Southern Arctic
n Taiga Cordillera
n Taiga Plains
n Taiga Shield
Your adventure is coming
to an end... but many other
wonders await you on the
Trail. What will your next
destination be?
A
B
C
The north end, in Tuktoyaktuk,
Northwest Territories, on the Arctic coast
The west end, in Victoria,
British Columbia, on the Pacifc coast
The east end, in St. Johns,
Newoundland and Labrador,
on the Atlantic coast
Canadas 15 terrestrial ecozones each have
unique eatures with varied wildlie and plant lie.
What ecozone are you in?
____________________________________
Dont Miss It
M Di i
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Biking the Trail, Que. Photo: TCT
Black swallowtail caterpillar
Check the Things
boxes that apply Excellent! Not bad but... must improve!
General impression o the Trail
Diversity o Trail users
Presence o a wildlie corridor
Surrounding sounds
Biodiversity: plants and trees
Biodiversity: animals
Air quality
Presence o water
Invasive species control
Condition o trail surace
Recommendation: Enjoy your environmentand help preserve the
threatened species inyour area.
Choose one thing you
would like to improveand think up a easiblesolution.
Many heads are
better than one!Talk to people aboutyour concerns;
they might join yourimprovement eorts.
Now that you
have gathered
an abundance of
observations, use
them to reach your
own diagnosis about
the health of your
Trail by filling in the
chart opposite
on the Web.
Note: This diagnosis can be printed directly rom the
BioKits website and used or other visits on the Trail.
My Diagnosis
E Bi di it
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99Fhttp://www.ec.gc.ca/biotrousses-biokits/default.asp?lang=En&n=C0269262-1http://www.ec.gc.ca/biotrousses-biokits/default.asp?lang=En&n=C0269262-1http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99F -
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Northern Cardinal
Slave River, N.W.T.
Atikokan Trail, Ont.
Fredericton, N.B.
Photo:
TCT
Photo: Kirsten Spence
Photo: Jane Murphy
Common reed
Mackenzie River, N.W.T.
Photo: TCT
Maintain a yard thatwelcomes biodiversity.
Find out aboutthe activities heldon the Trail by thelocal organizationresponsible or it.
Participatein the activitiesorganized on the rstSaturday o June, onInternational Trails Day.
Create a supportiveenvironment or auna
with indigenous plants.
Learn about and practicethe seven principles oLeave No Trace.
It is estimated that millions o birdsall prey to cats each year in Canada.To help make your neighbourhoodmore bird-riendly:
Considerkeepingyourcatindoors,particularly rom dawn until dusk;
Setupsafebirdhousesandeeders that are not easilyaccessible to cats;
Promptlyreportanystray
or eral cats;
Turnoffanyexcesslightingat night.
Remove invasivealien plants.Compost outdoors
or indoors usingvermicomposting.
After your great expedition, its now
your turn to encourage biodiversity!
Whether on the Trail or at home, there
are plenty of actions you can take.
Encourage Biodiversity
Thi k B k
http://www.biodivcanada.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=002D699A-1http://www.tctrail.ca/Events1.phphttp://www.tctrail.ca/blog/?cat=32&language=enhttp://nature.ca/plnt/index_e.cfmhttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=220http://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=En&n=BAE2878A-1http://www.eco-quartierpm.org/html_en/composting_vermi.htmlhttp://www.tctrail.ca/Events1.phphttp://nature.ca/plnt/index_e.cfmhttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.eco-quartierpm.org/html_en/composting_vermi.htmlhttp://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=En&n=BAE2878A-1http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=220http://www.tctrail.ca/blog/?cat=32&language=enhttp://www.biodivcanada.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=002D699A-1 -
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Draw the route thatyou covered on the Trail.Note your discoveries: a magnicent bridge,
specic bird, unknown fower, etc.
You have explored
a section of the Trail
on the lookout for its
small wonders. As
a reminder of your
experience and in
order to share
it, its time to
create a mapof your outing.
Think Back on Your Outing
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Photo: TCT Slave River, N.W.T.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Production:Trans Canada Trail and Biosphre, Environment CanadaResearch and coordination:Etienne Angers and Jane MurphyWriting:Etienne Angers
Triptych photo on front cover: Jean-Franois Bergeron/Enviro fotoImages with no visible credits are from iStockphoto.
Acknowledgements:Dan Andrews, Yves Bilodeau, Julie Brouard, Bronwen Buck, AndrChampoux, Ann Dacres, Tim Hoskin, Elizabeth Kilvert, Jean Langlais,Chantal Lepire, Margaret Mofford, Wes Moon, John Nisbet, DominiquePelletier, Catherine Pinard, Carolyn Ring-Ade, Charles-Andr Roy, RichardSencal, Andrew Spring and everyone else who contributed discerningsuggestions and comments during the production of this BioKit.
A generous donation fromLoblaw Companies Limited hasbeen provided in support of theTrans Canada Trail BioKit project.
Aussi disponible en franais sous le titre : BioTrousse sentier Transcanadien
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of the Environment, 2011
Catalog No.: En154-64/2011E-PDF ISBN: 978-1-100-18937-6
Legal deposit: Library and Archives Canada, 2011