GOERT: Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team

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.

A management plan for the control and removal of invasives at this site is organized by the City of Nanaimo. 

Projects at this site include English ivy removal as part of a city-wide project to cover a number of other parks. Part of the invasive species management project initiated by City of Nanaimo Parks in fall 2004.

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.

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.