Introduction
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.
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.
In addition to the webpages in this section, you can download and explore our document Connectivity Conservation for Garry Oak Ecosystems: Planning an ecosystem-based green infrastructure network (2018).
Landowners & 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.
This content in this section was also published in a 2007 collection, which includes references and photographs, available as a PDF: Protecting Garry Oak Areas During Land Development (2007)