The Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society (GOMPS) is concerned primarily with the preservation of the very special and important ecosystem with its many species at risk (currently officially about 120). This is particularly important because the Garry oak ecosystem is found in Canada only on southeastern Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and a few small outliers on the lower mainland.
The flagship species of this ecosystem is the Garry oak tree. It is, by itself, also the only habitat for about 48 of the numerous species of insects found on it. This tree makes the urban forest of the Victoria area so aesthetically attractive and makes our local suburban areas unique in all of Canada.
The first step in protecting the special Garry oak urban forest is appreciating and valuing it.
The first step in protecting the special Garry oak urban forest is appreciating and valuing it. In many urban areas everywhere, including the greater Victoria area, there are people who do not like trees, at least not in their own yards. They object to the “work” involved in picking up leaves and twigs. Nature is, apparently, untidy. Strangely, some of these same people chose their neighborhood to live in because they thought it attractive, but do not connect this with the fact that it is well treed. These are people better suited to a well-designed condominium, or apartment, where others tend the landscape.
An “urban forest” is usually considered to include all the trees and large shrubs in an urban area, but it is the mature trees forming the canopy that perform the most important functions and represent the highest values. In the Garry oak ecosystem, it is important to also recognize the rare meadow species and native insects found only on these oaks.
The urban forests of the greater Victoria area are comprised of many species of trees, natives, and exotics. The rare Garry oaks, because of their unique aesthetic appeal, and because of the necessity of perpetuating the endangered species they support, are the most important trees in our forest and often comprise the majority of the trees in the greater Victoria area.
Garry oaks are disappearing at the alarming rate of about 20% per decade ever since maps first recorded their distribution in the mid-1800s. Their demise was, at first, due to land conversion to farmland, and then to urbanization, and now to a mix of various kinds of development and, to a lesser extent in most municipalities and regional districts, the trees also succumb to a few diseases (most notably root rot), and to blow-down. The mortality due to natural causes is more important in those few municipalities that are almost completely built-up, though construction during infilling and renovations is still a significant factor in tree and habitat loss.
Another matter of concern is the large gap between the ages of the young Garry oaks and the large, mature oaks that make up the urban canopy.
GOMPS conducted a survey of the Garry oaks in the core municipalities (Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, and Saanich within the urban containment boundary), and the inventory showed that there is very little replacement occurring, with hardly any young trees in existence. It is important to not mistake the number of little seedlings which come up near a Garry oak tree, since hardly any will survive beyond a couple of years due to “natural” causes, and the vast majority are in lawns where they will be mowed. There exists a serious continuity problem developing if trees are disappearing at an unnaturally high rate and replacement is not keeping up. A few municipalities are now planting some Garry oaks, but not enough in comparison to those lost, and only on municipal land.
Another matter of concern is the large gap between the ages of the young Garry oaks and the large, mature oaks that make up the urban canopy. The very slow growth rate of oaks signifies that it will take many years for the young trees to mature enough to form a canopy to replace the disappearing trees. These trees are not succumbing to old age in a normal and sequential way. Loss of trees due to development and diseases are not related to age.
These problems will lead to a huge time gap in the existence of the urban forest canopy of oaks, perhaps equivalent to at least a human generation. These facts all indicate an urgency in coping with them immediately because the more we delay, the longer the loss of canopy will be for our children, or grandchildren, to endure. Do we want that to be our legacy?
Before we urge our municipalities to start a more vigorous Garry oak planting program, or draft regulatory tools, we should know exactly where we are going with them. Businesses, who do not have a long-term business plan, often do not succeed. We also need a strategic plan for our urban forests to attack the problems logically, efficiently, and successfully.
As in any managed business or operation, some fairly precise inventory information should be gathered and recorded for each community so communities know exactly what they have and where it is. One possibility is to map out the existing trees by habitat; species and age categories and include data about special trees such as heritage trees or significant trees. Some of the less developed districts may wish to include other factors such as hedgerows, which provide vital edge habitat for small animals.
The next step is to draft, with public help and consultation, a strategic plan for the long-term management of our urban forests, giving priority to the perpetuation of endangered and native species and with an eye to the changing climate because, in this regard, Garry oaks may be the “tree of the future” since they are hardy and resilient to drought.
Boulevards often are not good places for long-term plantings due to the probability of being disturbed or destroyed by infrastructure changes.
When the goals, objectives and strategic plan are agreed to, then each municipality and regional district can develop the tools required to achieve the objectives of their plan; tree protection bylaws, regeneration and replacement plans, maintenance schedules, projected budgets with long-term commitments, etc. Some municipalities and regional districts already have one or more of these tools, but without objectives and strategic direction, they may not be able to measure up to the task. Initiatives and incentives must be included to deal with that major part of the forest that is located on private land so that it does not die out, leaving only scattered islands of trees on municipal properties. Boulevards often are not good places for long-term plantings due to the probability of being disturbed or destroyed by infrastructure changes.
The drafting and implementation of a strategic plan need not add significantly to the budgets of municipalities and districts, who already have costs associated with “tree care and maintenance” or perhaps part of a parks’ budget. Efficient use of funds could, in the long run even if not immediately, prevent wastage. Some suggested areas for savings would be to exercise integration in the process of making an urban forest plan by sharing specialized staff and equipment, etc. There is also free experience and expertise available in the public, from experienced professionals to many willing and knowledgeable volunteers. It is important to remember that the objective is to manage and perpetuate for our successors a very important and valuable community resource – the Garry oak ecosystem and the urban forest - that needs and deserves an extra boost now, to avoid catastrophe in the not too distant future.
Resource
The Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team: www.goert.ca
Harold J. Gibbard (Hal) is a retired wildlife biologist/manager who was Vancouver raised and educated at U.B.C., but spent most of his career in Ontario. He is currently active in the Victoria area with various volunteer organizations that protect, restore, and perpetuate the rare Garry oak ecosystem and other aspects of biodiversity.
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