Land Developers and Government
This section contains information reproduced from a publication about Protecting Garry Oak Areas During Land Development that GOERT has distributed to local governments and developers. You may download each page of the publication individually from the subsequent pages in this section, or, download the entire publication (PDF 1.5MB).
Download the (548KB) PDF version of this page.
“Protecting land values: a Garry oak-friendly design” (illustration by Katherine Dunster) (download 14.7MB PDF printable version)
Protecting and managing Garry oak ecosystems and their species at risk is a challenge to all sectors of society, including local governments, landowners and developers, and consulting land use professionals.
Garry oak areas are some of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems, and include more than just trees. They include woodlands, rock outcrops, wildflower and grassy meadows, coastal bluffs and seasonal pools. See “Why protect Garry oak areas?” for more.
We encourage you to protect Garry oak areas wherever possible, and to employ low impact planning and design in and around these landscapes during land development.
Landowners and Developers
On BC’s warm “California coast” we have something found nowhere else in Canada. Garry oak ecosystems can give you a unique selling feature that can:
- increase the sale price of your property
- help you to gain planning approvals
- help to reduce your development costs
- make you proud
- add value to your development.
We Can Help
Do you have Garry oak habitat on your development site? The Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) is working to protect Garry oak ecosystems and their species at risk and can help you to:
- Plan land developments that meet local government requirements and maximize property values
- Design and create developments that offer good economic returns, quality of life for communities, and protection for rare ecosystems and species
- Identify consulting arborists and biologists who can give you expert advice
- Protect ecosystems and species during construction
- Select suitable plants for native landscaping, green roofs and restoration projects
- Identify species at risk on your property, sources of funding, and methods to protect these species. This helps to avoid the risk of contravening Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
The Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) is working to protect Garry oak ecosystems and the species at risk found there. For more information and a free initial consultation, call 250-383-3427.