These beautiful island meadows are some of Canada's most threatened ecosystems
Garry oak meadows are home to some of the highest concentrations of species at risk in Canada.
Gnarly, sprawling oak trees that frame colourful meadows in bloom — this is the beautiful Garry oak ecosystem. Found at the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island, and on a few islands surrounded by the Salish Sea, this unique habitat holds on in fragmented pockets. These meadows are home to some of the highest concentrations of species at risk in Canada, with over 70 rare and threatened plants.
According to many ecologists, the Garry oak meadows were nourished and maintained for millennia by Indigenous peoples through controlled burning. Fire held back other tree species and stimulated the growth of food species, like camas bulbs, which provided a storable form of starch. As Europeans arrived, huge swathes of land were developed for agriculture and these regenerative fires were eliminated.
The fragmentation of this ecosystem, along with with the introduction of invasive species, has put the Garry Oak habitat under threat. Today, groups of conservationists work hard to protect remaining tracts through public awareness and land stewardship.
With their help, it is hoped that Garry oak ecosystem can continue to flourish each spring, providing a home for an array of beautiful life and a stronghold of biodiversity. Learn how you can get involved in saving the Garry oak ecosystem.
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