WHEN BASELINES ARE FOREVER UNACHIEVABLE: WHAT VALUE ARE THEY?

Establishing baselines from fossil data for ecosystem restoration is one of many applications of conservation paleobiology. Baselines are useful for much more than restoring an ecosystem to a former state. For example, baselines can help determine the degree of natural variability within a population, can provide information on the amount of anthropogenic impact on an ecosystem, and can help establish how much irreversible environmental change a habitat has undergone. But when baselines are no longer relevant to the present-day habitat, what good are they? Some fossil baselines, such as those found in Holocene sediments beneath cities, can be impossible to reconstruct. We suggest that these “unachievable” baselines are valuable as more than a simple inquiry into the lost past and can have a substantial impact on regional conservation goals.

In a preliminary study of “unachievable” baselines, fossils recovered during construction that excavated into a Holocene floodplain in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada indicate that the past ecosystem was bison-rich and may have been grass- or scrub-land, frequently disturbed by wildfire. Local archaeological finds, coupled with discussions with Metis leaders and elders, indicate that Edmonton’s pre-colonial past included a thriving human community in a bison-rich environment along the Saskatchewan River valley. Clearly, present-day Edmonton cannot return to a bison habitat, but we suggest that the presentation of Edmonton’s past to its citizens can inspire city dwellers’ appreciation for, and assistance in, regional conservation projects like bison management and habitat restoration. Furthermore, understanding the past, as told by the fossil record coupled with the Métis elders’ knowledge, can assist in reconciliation with First Nations and Métis on Edmonton’s Treaty 6 land. Thus, appreciation for “unachievable” local baselines can lead to public support for regional conservation, and ultimately, a positive influence on governmental resources and directives towards conservation and reconciliation.