GOERT: Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team

Counting Endangered yellow montane violets on Mt. Tuam, Salt Spring Island

Please join us on Friday, February 17th, 2012 for the 9th annual GOERT Research Colloquium!

As in the past, the purpose of the Research Colloquium is to bring together people who are planning or conducting research & restoration projects relevant to Garry oak ecosystems to have them present brief descriptions of their studies and results to prompt discussion and encourage coordination among agencies.

We hope that all who are interested in contributing, either in person or via an Abstract for inclusion in the Proceedings (distributed via email after the Colloquium), will respond. As always, we encourage students to present a talk on their current or planned work relevant to Garry oak ecosystems; the Colloquium is a great venue to elicit constructive comment. GOERT provides a free lunch (yes, free!) for all student presenters.

Lunch can be purchased at the Pacific Forestry Centre, and student presenters are provided with a free lunch. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

What: 9th Annual GOERT Research Colloquium

When: Friday February 17th, 2012, 9am–4pm

Where: Pacific Forestry Centre, 506 West Burnside Road, Victoria, BC

Deadline for presenters: January 20th, 2012

Deadline for participants: February 3rd, 2012

Please download the registration form and return it to GOERT: Word document 133KB

Presentations confirmed to date

• Updates on projects at Mt Tuam, Fort Rodd Hill, Crow’s Nest, and the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific
• Invasive species distributions and implications, including talks on legacies of Scotch Broom invasions, and emerging species to watch
• Garry Oak-associated wetlands in Victoria
• Special session on site prioritization, including climate change and exotic species impacts on conservation planning
• Linking Ecologically Sustainable Economic Activity and Restoration
• Ecology of native widow spiders in Garry Oak meadows

… and discussions of projects and lessons from Washington and Oregon

Students Susan MacIsaac, Camille McIntosh and David Cox removing Scotch broom at the Nanaimo airport (photo courtesy of Malaspina University College RMOT Program)

Join GOERT staff and members in removing invasive plants in View Royal’s new park!

Date: Saturday, November 26, 2011
Time: 10:00am-12:30pm and 1:00-3:30pm (come for one session, or stay all day).
Location: in View Royal (near Victoria) on the corner of Watkiss Way and West Burnside Road
What to bring: warm clothing (and rain gear just in case), proper shoes, a water bottle, comfortable work gloves (if you have them). Optional: Secateurs or loppers.

READ MORE >

Killer Whale seen from Trial Island October 1, 2011 (photo by Thiago Gomes)

GOERT’s Trial Island restoration project, funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Department of the Environment, is now in its fifth year. Trial Island has one of the most significant concentrations of plant species at risk in Garry Oak and associated ecosystems. Invasive species (primarily Scotch Broom, Spurge-laurel, English Ivy and Gorse) have been identified as one of the leading threats to these species, and the purpose of the project is to remove the invasive plants from meadows on Trial Island that contain COSEWIC-listed species. The removal of exotic shrubs increases habitat quality and reduces competitive stress on the rare plants.

READ MORE >

Jan Kirkby is the Chair of our Conservation Planning and Site Protection working group

September 2011: We surprised long-time GOERT volunteer Jan Kirkby with her well-deserved Acorn Award at our AGM in September. Jan has been a part of the Conservation Planning and Site Protection Recovery Implementation Group (CPSP RIG) since its inception, and the Chair for the last couple of years. Additionally, she serves in a management capacity on the GOERT Board of Directors and is a member of the Recovery Team. Her work with the Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI) has been crucial for conservation planning.

READ MORE >

Dawn holds the site info while Amanda lines up a photo-monitoring shot (photo by Chris Junck)

In summer 2011, we were happy to have two University of Victoria co-op students working with us. As they dive back into school this fall, we’d like to thank them for all the work they did to move GOERT projects ahead during their time with us. In addition to participating in ecological surveys and restoration, representing GOERT at outreach events, and working with volunteers to update our species at risk and invasive species field manuals, they each had individual projects they were working on.

READ MORE >