The buckthorn: an intruder in our woods 

You’ve probably noticed that it’s taking over everywhere: roadsides, bike paths, private lots, urban woodlands, and forests, where it grows in dense stands in some areas. This rapidly spreading shrub, native to Europe and West Africa, is the buckthorn!

Buckthorn is a shrub with a bad reputation. Several cities in Quebec and Ontario, including Gatineau, have formally identified buckthorn as an invasive species. It is a pioneer species that produces a large number of seeds. If cut, it produces suckers. Buckthorn rapidly colonizes natural habitats when they are disturbed and delays the regeneration of native trees and shrubs.

What can be done? There are no easy solutions. In a garden or on small areas, it can be repeatedly pulled up and uprooted. However, in a forest ecosystem like the Deschênes Forest, where this species is well-established, cutting and pulling are not really feasible. One can opt for gentler and less costly interventions, such as working with the forest canopy, promoting the growth of other trees present while disrupting forest dynamics and existing plants as little as possible.