Use of resources by local populations
Uses or activities in the Core Area(s): Access prohibited, although a few local residents from the mainland occasionally land to picnic at a few personally favoured beach sites during the summer. "Bird Studies Canada" has special permission for bird banding (ringing) and migration monitoring studies at two sites within the core area.
Main land uses and economic activities in the Buffer Zone(s): Seasonal fishing and waterfowl hunting, but with controlled access from owners/managers of the marshlands. One interpretive trail along dykes in the Big Creek National Wildlife Area in the Big Creek flood plain is maintained for public use.
Main land uses and major economic activities in the Transition Area(s): In the aquatic areas, there are a variety of water-based recreational pursuits, as well as intensive cottage development, marinas and associated facilities. On the mainland, agriculture is the main pursuit.
Possible adverse effects of uses or activities in the transition area(s) and remedial measures taken:
Restricted public access in the Long Point area is associated with crowding in public campgrounds on long holiday weekends during the summer. There are also some potentially incompatible water-based recreation on the Inner Bay, e.g. power boating with sailing or fishing. There are no special measures taken (as yet) to address this. Agricultural land use practices result in some soil erosion and run-off of agricultural chemicals into Big Creek which eventually find their way into the aquatic ecosystem of the Inner Bay. The effects of this on fish and/or waterfowl are not known.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to Long Point Biosphere publications index