The Garry Oak Plant, Habitat and Ecosystem Restoration Program; Propagation of Garry Oak Meadow Flower Seed

Abstract

Gany oak areas are unique to a small part of southwestern British Columbia and are some of Canada's most endangered ecosystems with less than 5% of this habitat remaining in near-natural condition. The purpose of the GaiTy Oak Plant Habitat and Ecosystem Restoration (GOPHER) program is to develop expertise in the propagation of Gany oak meadow flowers and to restore the native Garry oak (GO) sites at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP) in Saanich, BC. Site visits were made to survey 25 GO species growing on four local sites to follow their phenology and collect seed samples. A natural approach to stratification and planting was followed. Solarization and mechanical methods were used for the removal of invasive agronomic grasses on Sites B, and C before planting. Although 5 species were lost due to growing conditions and the timing of site visits, the GOPHER group's ecological knowledge about the phenology of species, collection of samples, and seeding of GO species under the different conditions improved. A soil inventory and research survey of historical conditions are recommended to establish the desired state to restore the ecosystem processes during the future years of restoration and management. The cultural processes of this restoration process are only just in the beginning phase at HCP, so gathering traditional ecological knowledge about GO species and the use of prescribed fire and other First Nation management techniques is necessary to restore these GO ecosystems. The inclusion of local volunteers that include indigenous groups in the restoration work is necessary to create a sense of place or stewardship for the GO site. It has been said that ecological restoration is a long-term process and depends upon re-establishing the relationships between the land and the people. The GOPHER program is one step in the long-term Garry oak restoration process at HCP.