Research at Kejimkujik

Kejimkujik National Park is a centre for research and a valuable place for study purposes. It provides researchers with an area in which outside influences can be controlled to a much greater degree than is possible in other, off-park locations.

Over 80 research and monitoring projects have been carried out in the park by Kejimkujik's Ecological Research and Monitoring Centre since 1994. The projects provide information on plant and animal populations, migrations, breeding habits and trends, and data on environmental issues such as acid rain and its impact on ecosystems. Some of the studies have focused on acid rain, turtles, climate, deer–coyote relationships, butterflies, moths and fungi. A huge amount of data has been accumulated and this data can be drawn on by other researchers.

Student workers

Some of the research data has been collected by secondary and tertiary students. They're part of the Young Canada Works program, an initiative of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The program gives more than 2500 young Canadians valuable work experience every year. The students earn money as they work in jobs across Canada. These jobs include working in libraries, museums, national parks and national historic sites. Parks Canada offers a number of these summer jobs every year.

In Kejimkujik National Park, students are employed in the re-censusing and monitoring of the biodiversity plots. Most of their work involves collecting data in the forest.

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