Off Island Highway (Hwy 1)
This site is a joint project with the Nanaimo Area Land Trust (NALT) and volunteers which includes removing patches of broom in order to maintain grassland habitat, while maintaining perches for endangered coastal vesper sparrows.
Contact Trudy Chatwin | 250-751-3150 | trudy.chatwin@gov.bc.caThe Winchelsea Islands are located in the Strait of Georgia, west of Nanoose Bay
Owned by The Land Conservancy (TLC), the island is being managed as an ecological reserve. Volunteers on a conservation holidays program help to remove Scotch broom from the island.
Contact Liana Kennedy| 250-383-4627 or toll-free: 1-888-738-0533 | holidays@conservancy.bc.caCity of Nanaimo Parks initiated an invasive species management project in fall 2004. Both City parks staff and volunteer groups have begun an invasive species removal program in a number of parks. Garry oak sites where invasives removal is occurring are listed below.
At end of Duke Point Highway (Hwy 19)
Projects at this site include English ivy removal as part of a city-wide project to cover a number of other parks.
Contact Jim Plasteras | 250-755-7505 | jim.plasteras@nanaimo.ca1055 Morningside Drive off Hammond Bay Road
A management plan for the control and removal of invasives at this site is organized by the City of Nanaimo.
Contact Jim Plasteras | 250-755-7505 | jim.plasteras@nanaimo.caWest of Nanaimo Parkway off McKeown Way (access via Cranberry and Extension Roads)
Invasives along the BCTC Hydro Right of Way in the Harewood Plains area controlled/removed. Photo-point monitoring sites have been established. A Garry oak information sign was designed and placed in City of Nanaimo Parks to raise public awareness of Garry oak ecosystems. Other initiatives include broom removal with student volunteers and a restoration plan for habitat of the Endangered Lotus pinnatus (bog bird’s foot trefoil). Partners include Environment Canada, the Ministry of Environment, the City of Nanaimo, the British Columbia Transmission Authority, the Island Timberlands and Friends of Harewood Plains.
Contact Rob Lawrance | 250-755-4483 | rob.lawrance@nanaimo.ca6 km east of Duncan
This site is featured in our news section. Projects at this site include removal of invasive exotic species, removal of encroaching woody native species, photo-point monitoring and native plant propagation. The long term goal at CGOP is to protect and build up native plant populations and expand these onto the adjacent Quamichan Preserve. Scientific research is carried out by a number of universities to best determine appropriate restoration methods. Volunteer events and educational tours for community and schools are available.
Contact Irvin Banman, Site Manager and Restoration TechnicianFor public access information, see BC Parks website
Initiatives at this site include invasive species removal, monitoring and landowner contact. Partners include BC Parks and the Cowichan Valley Naturalists’ Society.
Contact Dave Polster | 250-746-8052 | info@goert.ca (attn: Dave Polster)Adjacent to Somenos Lake, Duncan
This is one of the few remaining deep soil Garry oak meadows in Canada, and is home to several Endangered plant species. Projects at this site include removal of invasive species and replacement with native species to restore an ecosystem that approximates the pre-contact ecosystem. A volunteer program is coordinated through the Cowichan Valley Naturalists’ Society. Partners include the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Cowichan Valley Naturalists Society and BC Parks.
Contact Dave Polster | 250-746-8052 | info@goert.ca (attn: Dave Polster)Contact your neighbourhood association, local land trust or naturalist group for additional projects near you.
Add your project to this list! This is a growing list of Garry oak ecosystems sites undergoing ecological restoration. Suggest an addition or correction.