Time for Nature

Strengthening Ecosystems

July 5, 2004

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site of Canada

Garry oaks
© B. Reader, Parks Canada

The Garry oak ecosystems , with their woodlands and wildflower meadows, are amongst Canada's rarest, and most threatened, ecosystems. Less than five percent of their original area is left because of invasive species and encroaching suburbs. Through hands-on work and public education, staff at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site of Canada are doing what they can to reduce some of the threats and to raise visitor awareness.

Fighting invasive plants

For more than a century and a half, plants from elsewhere have been introduced into gardens. Many of these species, recognizing a hospitable new home, quickly spread beyond those gardens and began to choke out native plants. Two of the biggest threats to the Garry oak ecosystems are the daphne laurel , also known as laurel-leaved daphne, spurge laurel or false laurel, and Scotch broom , whose fierce competition for sunlight, water and nutrients have helped push the native deltoid balsamroot into endangered status.

Participation of volunteers in ecosystem recovery
© C. Webb, Parks Canada, 2003

In 1999, the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team was established. This team represents several levels of government as well as academics, naturalists and First Nations. Botanists from this team and site staff took an inventory of the site's plants in 2002. They evaluated the extent of the invasive species' spread. The next step involved painstakingly digging up the invaders by hand, with the help of volunteers. This invited some comments from passersby at the protected site. "Visitors would stop and say 'Why are you pulling up plants here?" says Isabelle Morris, a heritage presentation officer with the site's species at risk program. "We took the opportunity to tell them more about the ecosystems and invasive plants."

Educating the public

Just as important as the frontline battle against foreign plant species is the site's campaign to raise awareness about the rare ecosystems and the threats they face. The Garry oak is the only oak native to British Columbia and its ecosystems are home to at least 91 at-risk species of plants and animals.

Staff have produced an information card that is distributed to visitors. In early 2004, a large, full-colour interpretive sign - the first of its kind at a site largely devoted to military history - was erected. It provides information about the rare ecosystems, native plants and endangered species, as well as invading plants and animals. "It's important to introduce visitors to our natural history as well as our military history," says Morris.

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