Webinar Series Fall 2024
Webinar 1: Caring for Streams
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 @ 10am – 11am (PST)
Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s xʔəlilwətaʔɬ/Indian River Watershed Integrated Stewardship Plan
Kate Menzies, Natural Resource Planning Manager, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Kate Menzies, the Natural Resource Planning Manager at səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), will speak about the xʔəl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Indian River Watershed Integrated Stewardship Plan currently being undertaken by the Nation. With over four years of experience with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and a master’s degree in Resource Management and Conservation Policy, Kate will focus on how the plan aims to manage riparian ecosystems.
Riparian Areas in BC: From industry centric to intrinsic values
Nicholas Schwetz, Cowichan Valley Regional District
Nicholas has over 12 years’ experience in ecological restoration and management, and holds professional designations as an ISA certified Arborist (2015 and 2018), ecological restoration and rehabilitation, Ontario wetland evaluator, vegetation sampling, benthic biomonitoring, wildlife and danger tree assessor, electrofishing, and is a Registered Professional Biologist (RP.Bio). He is currently the Environmental Planner with the Cowichan Valley Regional District but spent the last 4.5 years as the lead riparian biologist under the Riparian Areas
Protection Regulation (RAPR). Nick will be presenting the issues around riparian management in B.C. and how different laws overlap and support each other
Webinar 2: Protecting Freshwater and Coastal Wetlands
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 @ 10am – 11:30am (PST)
Slow it, Sink it, Spread it: The 10,000 Wetlands initiative and early field notes on Beaver Dam Analogues in B.C.
Neil Fletcher, Director of Conservation Stewardship, B.C. Wildlife Federation
For the last 2 decades our counterparts in the United States have been bringing beaver back onto the landscape to help solve growing issues of diminishing fish and wildlife populations, and to help deal with issues of drought, fires, and floods. The BC Wildlife Federation and several other non-government organizations have recently embarked on this journey in the Province of BC. In 2024, BC Wildlife Federation collaborated with a variety of partners and indigenous communities to construct over 70 Beaver Dam Analogue structures on 6 streams; while navigating the regulatory regime, advancing our scientific understanding of their efficacy, and sharing this knowledge with a community of practitioners. Find out how this novel restoration technique can help to heal our watersheds.
Boundary Bay Wood Debris Removal Project: Overview and Lessons Learned
Daniel Stewart, R.P.Bio Wetland Ecologist, Asarum Ecological & Ducks Unlimited Canada
With funding from the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, Ducks Unlimited Canada lead a salt marsh restoration project at Boundary Bay, Delta, in winter 2023. The project focused on removing extensive accumulations of anthropogenic wood debris from the site and testing different revegetation approaches to foster marsh recovery. These log accumulations were impacting the wetland by smothering plant life, compacting sediments, and leaching pollutants. By clearing these logs and creating new tidal channels, the team aimed to promote the natural regrowth of vegetation, and enhance the services and function of the wetland.
The many faces of a Wetland: The Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol and how it will transform how we conserve and protect them
Kyla Rushton, Wetland Assessment and Field Coordinator, B.C. Wildlife Federation
In BC, wetlands were often maligned ecosystem, considered wastelands by the general population, that had been damaged and lost at an unprecedented rate – especially in developed areas. The BC Wildlife Federation has been partnering with numerous First Nations and the Province to launch a tool that will provide us with a consistent and comparable way to better measure their functions (e.g., carbon storage, flood control, pollinator habitat), and allow communities to better communicate the value of a wetland, and support their conservation and protection.
Webinar 3: Protecting Sensitive Ecosystems
Wednesday 27th November 10:00 – 11:00 am (PST)
From Mapping to Action: Metro Vancouver’s Sensitive Ecosystem Mapping and its Practical Applications
Josephine Clark, Natural Resource Management Planner, Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver first initiated a Sensitive Ecosystem mapping program in 2010 and has updated the region-wide mapping dataset twice over the following years, tracking change over time for the region’s most important ecological areas. This presentation will review Metro Vancouver’s ecosystem mapping program, including methods and lessons learned, followed by a discussion of how the mapping has been used over the years. Applications include natural asset management, ecosystem connectivity modelling, Regional Green Infrastructure Network planning, policy development, parks planning and management, and carbon storage mapping.
How to be a Good Neighbour to Nature: 22+ Years of Lessons Learned
Paige Erickson-McGee, Stewardship Program Manager, and Emily Buccioni, Stewardship Coordinator, Habitat Acquisition Trust
Habitat Acquisition Trust has been running the Good Neighbours program, a habitat stewardship and landowner contact program since 2001, teaching landholders and land managers how to understand and care for sensitive ecosystems. Paige Erickson-McGee, Stewardship Program Manager, and Emily Buccioni, Stewardship Coordinator, will discuss the program’s effective operation, its evolution over the past 20+ years, lessons learned, ongoing challenges, and insights into an exciting new venture: a pilot partnership project with a local municipality.
Webinar 4: Planning with Plants
Wednesday 4rth December 11:00 – 12:30 am (PST)
Stewardship of Rare Plants on Private and Regional Lands
Carrina Maslovat, Plant Conservation Specialist, B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship & Jill Robinson, Environmental Conservation Specialist, CRD Parks
Join Carrina Maslovat, the plant conservation specialist with the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, alongside Jill Robinson, Environmental Conservation Specialist with CRD parks to learn about some of the plants at risk that are found in our area, their ecological significance and the threats they face. In this session, we’ll explore tools to find out which rare species are known to occur on your lands, effective land management strategies to safeguard these species and how local governments and First Nations can help protect them.
Carrina will share recent work with Capital Regional District Parks to pilot a volunteer supported rare plant survey program and why monitoring is such a critical part of plant protection.
Urban Trees: The New Reality
Douglas Justice, Associate Director, UBC Botanical Garden
As urban landscapes evolve, so too does the role of urban trees in supporting resilient, healthy communities. Climate change, alongside a deeper understanding of ecology and biodiversity, is reshaping the way we plan and sustain urban forests. These changes emphasize not only the health of plants but also the crucial links between biodiversity, human health, and community well-being.
In this talk, Douglas Justice from UBC Botanical Garden will explore the driving forces behind tomorrow’s urban forest—focusing on climate adaptability, species selection, and ecosystem resilience. Are our cities prepared to create urban forests that thrive amid new environmental realities? Join us to discover how forward-thinking approaches to urban tree management can lead to a more sustainable and vibrant urban canopy.
Stopping Invasives Before They Start: Site Preparation and Early Intervention
Torin Kelly, Lead Grants Coordinator, and Craig Stephani, Senior Lead Special Projects, from Invasive Species Council of British Columbia
This presentation is designed for developers and foresters eager to implement proactive strategies to prevent invasive species from spreading on project sites. Focusing on the CDFmm subzone, this presentation provides a case study featuring a hypothetical project. Through this example, attendees will learn hands-on site preparation techniques like soil containment, monitoring, and rapid response measures that prevent invasives from establishing in disturbed areas.
From initial site surveys to setting up cleaning stations, every step in this presentation is designed to offer clear, actionable insights to ensure compliance, meet community standards, and contribute to sustainable development. Join us to learn how proactive site management can foster positive community relations and long-term project success.
Webinar Series Fall 2023
Webinar 1: Caring for Land and Water
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 @ 10am – 11am (PST)
Becky Millar from Parks Canada will share information about a collaborative project called the Sidney Island Ecological Restoration Project (SIERP), which is being conducted in partnership with W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations, the province of BC, private landowners, and Islands Trust Conservancy, with additional participation from Cowichan Tribes and Penelakut Tribe. Deer management and other restoration activities are being implemented with the goal of improving forest health on Sidney Island. Key outcomes of the project include increased abundance and access to culturally important foods and medicines, improved resilience in the face of climate change, increased First Nation hunting and stewardship opportunities, and supporting the hunting mentorship of First Nations youths by Elders and experienced community hunters.
Erich Kelch from Parks Canada has been working with W̱SÁNEĆ Nation and member bands of the Cowichan Nation on a Sea Garden Restoration project. The restoration works have been guided by Coast Salish knowledge holders and complemented by modern scientific methods. This work highlighted how First Nations responded to changing sea levels and the potential cooling effect the gardens can have on the intertidal zone during our changing climate.Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s xʔəlilwətaʔɬ/Indian River Watershed Integrated Stewardship Plan
Webinar 2: Living with Wildfire
Friday, November 17, 2023 @ 10 am – 11 am (PST)
Neal Mcloughlin works for BC Wildfire Services in their Predictive Services Unit and will share information on how the condition of the forest can influence how fire behaves and how BC Wildfire Service using maps of fuel type to predict how a fire may move across the landscape under certain environmental conditions.
Jason Hutchinson is a Forest Carbon Specialist who works for the Ministry of Forest. The Ministry has been working on projects to increase carbon stored within our forest which includes planting post fire, pest and landslides. Jason will share information about this project including the lessons they have learned relating to when to plant and when not to.
Webinar 3: What could our forests look like in 2050?
Thursday, November 30, 2023 @ 10 am – 11 am (PST)
Jonathon Degner is a Forest Genetics Research Scientist with the Ministry of Forests who has been working with Douglas-fir, western red cedar and Garry oak to understand the genetics of these species. To ensure our commercial forests retain diversity so that they will be resilient to new pest species.
Cheyenne Williams and Heather Pritchard from Quw’utsun’ Cultural Connections Society have been working on a project led by Cowichan Tribes elders to protect and restore Xpey’ (western red cedar) stands in memory of the children that did not come home, so that in 500 years generations will continue to know and love this beloved tree.
Webinar Series Spring 2023
Webinar 1
Climate Resilience in the Freshwater and Marine Environment
Wednesday, March 8 2023 @ 10-11.30am. (PST)
To be climate resilient we need to consider how we will protect and restore our freshwater and marine carbon stores and how we will respond to the increasing frequency of extreme climatic events such as coastal storm surges and terrestrial flooding. Adam Huggins from Galiano Conservancy Association will discuss their approach to wetland forest restoration to increase carbon storage and biodiversity, Marlow Pellatt from Parks Canada will discuss how our coastal wetlands and marshes store carbon and how we might identify our priority areas for protection during landscape planning and Eric Balke from Ducks Unlimited Canada will talk about an innovative pilot project restoring tidal marsh resilience to support coastal flood protection.
Webinar 2
Communities Storing Carbon to Ensure Long-term Wellbeing
Wednesday, March 15 2023 @ 10-11 am. (PST)
Local governments and First Nations in BC have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions produced by their activities and those of the wider community, with the aim of being either carbon neutral or carbon zero. Therefore, as a community we need to consider the full carbon cycle; how greenhouse gases are released and how they are stored. Meaghan Cursons from Cumberland Community Forest will provide examples of how local governments investing in local land acquisition have met their objectives for carbon, hydrology and biodiversity, outside of the formal carbon market. Kathleen Farley Wolf will talk about how King County, a local government in the US, established an urban and rural carbon project producing certified carbon credits that local companies can buy with the objective of offsetting their carbon emissions by keeping forests intact in the region and providing recreational space for the community.
Webinar 3
Ecosystem Connectivity to Ensure Nature can Respond to Climate Change
Tuesday, April 4 2023 @ 10-11 am. (PST)
As climate change occurs the natural environment needs to adapt through the natural movement of species. This can only occur if we maintain ecosystem connectivity and identify refugia for species that have very specific environmental requirements. This is becoming increasingly difficult as our world becomes divided by roads, power lines and urban centres. Scott Boswell from the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program will talk about their work to protect the Okanagan Mountain – k’nmalka Corridor. Jessica Stolar from the University of Alberta will talk about using climate change refugia and corridors to inform conservation planning.
Please note this video does not include the presentation by Jessica Stolar as she requested that her presentation was not recorded as she hasn’t finished the work that was shared.
Webinar 4
The Role of Fire in Forested Communities
Tuesday, April 18 2023 @ 10-11:30 am. (PST)
BC is experiencing longer hot seasons with more drought which makes it easier for wildfires to start and spread. However, fire is part of the natural cycle of our forests and can be used as an effective habitat management tool. Steven Godfrey from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) will share with us information on the controlled burns that have been undertaken within the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve to encourage regrowth of species considered to be at risk or of cultural value. Dimitri Vaisius who is the Wildfire Officer for the South Island Fire Zone will talk about the nature of fire in the Coastal Douglas-fir forest, how the science is evolving around the management of fire and some of the approaches currently being delivered in local forests taking into consideration the changing climate. James Miskelly of Natural Resources Canada will present observations on the response of the plant community over six years of prescribed burning at CFB Esquimalt’s Rocky Point property.
Webinar Series 2022
Webinar 1
Nisqually Community Forest Improved Forest Management, Watershed Protection and Carbon Offsetting
Tuesday 1 February 2022 @ 10-11.30am. (PST) – Delivered
Kirk Hanson and Joe Kane will talk about how a diverse range of stakeholders came together to form the Nisqually Community Forest with the objective of managing the forest so that it improves and protects fish and wildlife habitat, promotes local jobs through sustainable timber management, and provides recreational and educational opportunities. Carbon offsetting is one tool used by the Community Forest to generate income and Joe will talk about lessons they have learnt. Bluesource supported the Community Forest with offsetting and Martin Baker will provide context as to how similar projects could be delivered in Canada.
Please note that this is a partial recording. Introduction by the Nisqually Community Forest is missing.
Webinar 2
Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii Coast Funds and Great Bear Forest Carbon Project
Tuesday 8 February 2022 @ 10-11.30am (PST) – Delivered
Brodie Guy will talk about Coast Funds which are dedicated to empowering First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii to achieve healthy and vibrant economies and communities in tandem with the conservation of their homelands for the benefit of future generations. Brodie will explain their model and will provide examples of how the fund has supported the community and protected the natural environment. In 2009, Coastal First Nations and the Province of British Columbia agreed to one of the largest carbon offset projects in existence. The Atmospheric Benefit Sharing Agreements give First Nations on the coast the ownership and right to sell carbon offsets in our Territories. Paul Kariya will introduce us to this innovative project which enables improved forestry practice, protects biodiversity and the environment, and generates revenue for economic self-sufficiency.
Webinar 3
Reverse Auctions to Achieve Conservation Outcomes
Tuesday 15 February 2022 @ 10-11.30am (PST) – Delivered
In a ‘reverse auction’ landowners bid for contracts to avoid land conversion, restore natural habitats, or provide seasonal habitats. The resulting bids are a means of discovering landowners’ costs for achieving a specified menu of conservation results and to provide a high return on investment for conservation dollars spent. The Government of Canada is currently investigating the potential for a reverse auction pilot as part of its Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. Marion Webber from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy will introduce us to the Reverse Auction Process. Armand Belanger from East InterLake Watershed District in the Province of Manitoba will share his experience of establishing and running a reverse auction for wetlands. Rodd Kelsey from The Nature Conservancy in California will discuss how reverse auctions have been used as part of their BirdReturns program to pay farmers for creating seasonal habitat at key times for birds during migration and overwintering.
Webinar 4
A Bioregional Framework for the Saanich Peninsula and Vancouver Parks Maximize Biodiversity by Converting Turf to Wildflower Meadows
Tuesday 22nd February 10-11 am – Delivered
Bob Peart and Tiffany Joseph will introduce the Saanich Peninsula Environmental Coalition and provide an overview of the Bioregional Framework. Bob, the Coalition’s Coordinator, will outline the Coalition’s vision for ecological sustainability on the Saanich Peninsula, and why incorporating a collaborative framework into the Official Community Plans of each of the three municipalities is important. Tiffany Joseph, a member of the Coalition and representative from the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation, will provide an indigenous perspective on the Bioregional Framework and why it is important to their future and the future of the Saanich Peninsula.
Krista Voth from Vancouver Parks will present learnings, research findings, and best management practices from their two-year meadow pilot where 37 hectares of passive-use turf was converted to pollinator meadows through changes in their land management approach.
Webinar 5
Taking Account of Municipal Natural Assets
Tuesday 1st March 10-11.30 am
Roy Brooke Executive Director of Municipal Natural Asset Initiative (MNAI) will present how they are supporting municipalities to incorporate natural assets into their asset registers. Heather Beresford Environmental Stewardship Manager at Resort Municipality of Whistler will discuss the process that they have followed to develop their inventory of natural assets and to produce a road map for monitoring and management of those assets. Matthew MacKinnon Parks Environment and Ecosystems Manager from the Municipality of West Vancouver will talk about how their Natural Assets Inventory is influencing decision making, the pressures that their natural assets have been facing and about the Environmental Levy that West Vancouver is considering establishing to pay for repairs to their Natural Assets.
Webinar 6
Integrating Habitat Connectivity and Traditional Ecological Knowledge into Planning Documentation
Tuesday 8 March 10-11.30 am
The Green Bylaws Toolkit highlights the importance of habitat connectivity when conserving biodiversity and that mapping is a useful tool to present connectivity. However, mapping connectivity can be challenging, therefore, we will hear about several different approaches that have been taken in western Canada. Danah Duke, Executive Director of the Miistakis Institute (Calgary) will talk about how they have used citizen science to support Local Governments interpret habitat connectivity for small amphibians to large mammals. Christopher Morgan (Master’s student at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)) will present a tool he developed with the Tsay Keh Dene Nation to help identify priority areas for conservation within their Territory, which takes into consideration habitat connectivity and their traditional ecological knowledge. Lynda Fyfe and Karin Albert will discuss how The Village of Cumberland mapped habitat connectivity in their 2014 OCP and the subsequent challenge of implementing an Environmental Development Permit requirement within the mapped area.