NOVEMBER 2024
NEWSLETTER
As the year winds down, we’re reflecting on all that’s been accomplished and looking ahead to the work still to come. From restoring forests at Quadra Hill to planning for the future of the Talking Trees Nature Reserve, the Galiano Conservancy continues to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of this island we call home.
In this newsletter, you’ll find updates on our latest restoration projects, ways to connect with nature through our annual New Year’s Day Walk, and an important call to action to help us bridge a critical funding gap.
Together, we can ensure that Galiano Island’s unique ecosystems flourish for generations to come. Thank you for being part of our community—your support makes everything we do possible!
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Above: A stunning day and view at the newly-created Talking Trees Nature Reserve, site of this year's New Year's Day Walk (Photo by James LaBounty). Below: Two black-tailed deer. | |
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SUPPORT
We need the help of supporters like you to continue to preserve and restore coastal ecosystems where learning and a love of nature can flourish—thank you for your generosity!
DONATE, BECOME A MEMBER, OR RENEW MEMBERSHIP →
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VISIT
Discover Galiano's extraordinary places and trails! Come visit the Millard Learning Centre (MLC) and take a hike through the diverse habitats in the Mid-Island Protected Areas Network!
MORE ABOUT THE MLC & TRAIL NETWORK →
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LEARN
Explore the Galiano Conservancy's wide selection of immersive, hands-on, environmental learning programs for people of all ages, to deepen your connection to nature!
MORE ABOUT GCA's EDUCATION PROGRAMS →
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CONSERVING COASTAL BIODIVERSITY:
MANAGING OVERABUNDANT
ISLAND DEER POPULATIONS
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Deer populations in the Southern Gulf Islands have grown unsustainably due to the absence of natural predators and reduced hunting. While native Columbian black-tailed deer hold ecological and cultural significance, their current densities harm ecosystems. Overgrazing causes habitat degradation, a decline in biodiversity (native wildflowers, shrubs, trees and songbird populations, for example), higher risks of fire and flooding, reduced groundwater recharge, decreased carbon storage, and the spread of invasive species.
Research led by Tara Martin of the Martin Conservation Decisions Lab highlights that Indigenous-led hunting offers the most cost-effective approach to ecocultural restoration. This strategy emphasizes restoring ecological balance while upholding Indigenous cultural sovereignty. Key objectives include maximizing ecological function, feasibility, and cultural benefits while minimizing deer densities and associated costs. You can learn more about Tara's insightful and thought-provoking research by watching the full video presentation below.
Other potential strategies—such as employing deer reduction specialists, increasing resident hunting, reintroducing predators, or applying birth control—were assessed, with Indigenous-led hunting identified as the most viable option. This approach efficiently recovers palatable plant species important to the Salish Sea’s ecological and cultural fabric.
To address this challenge, the Galiano Conservancy Association (GCA) has launched several initiatives. We’ve established permanent fenced and unfenced monitoring plots to assess deer impacts across ecosystems, and we coordinate scheduled Indigenous-led hunting events on certain GCA-managed properties, such as the Millard Learning Centre, during the fall and winter.
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Photo: Seablush (Plectritis congesta), one of the native wildflower species that used to be abundant in Garry oak meadows, now disappearing due to deer overbrowsing |
Fencing and cage planting also protect our restoration sites, trees, and shrubs from herbivory, while knowledge-sharing with regional researchers ensures our approach is informed and collaborative.
Public education remains central to our efforts, with sold-out events like the upcoming Feed the People workshop (Nov 30 & Dec 1) empowering residents to understand and address deer overpopulation. Recent funding will help us expand on this workshop and further facilitate Indigenous-led hunting on and beyond GCA lands.
We are looking for owners of large properties on Galiano Island, who would like to be kept informed about this potential collaboration. To find out more, please contact Adam Huggins, GCA Restoration Coordinator, at restoration@galianoconservancy.ca. Together, we can restore balance to our island ecosystems.
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START THE NEW YEAR WITH NATURE:
JOIN US FOR THE 2025 NEW YEAR'S DAY WALK
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Photo of Talking Trees Nature Reserve, by James LaBounty
On January 1st, we invite you to start the year in nature and join us for an unforgettable guided hike through the newly-established Talking Trees Nature Reserve. This special walk is the perfect opportunity to refresh your spirit, connect with the natural world, and share the day with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Details of the Day:
- Gathering Time & Location: Meet us at the Millard Learning Centre parking lot / trailhead (10825 Porlier Pass Road) at 1:30 PM (please arrive punctually!). Additional parking is available at the MLC classroom and along Porlier Pass Road.
- Transportation: The GCA bus will shuttle participants to and from Talking Trees.
- Walk Details: The accessible walk begins shortly before 2:00 PM and will last approximately one hour, ending around 3:00 PM.
- Post-Walk Refreshments: After the tour, participants will return to the Millard Learning Centre by bus to warm up with a delicious Forest Garden soup and baked goods (vegan and gluten-free options available). Food and drinks will be served in the MLC classroom starting at 3:15 PM, accompanied by great company and, weather permitting, an outdoor fire.
- Event End Time: The event will conclude around 4:30PM.
What to Bring:
Wear layered warm clothes and sturdy footwear to stay comfortable in the winter weather. Hiking poles and water bottles are encouraged for those who typically use them. Children and sociable dogs are welcome.
This walk offers not only the chance to explore a stunning new nature reserve but also to gather with friends old and new as we kick off the new year in the best way possible—surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of Galiano’s landscapes.
We hope to see you there!
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CONSERVATION IN ACTION:
RESTORING BALANCE AT QUADRA HILL
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At Quadra Hill Nature Reserve, the Galiano Conservancy is undertaking restoration work to rejuvenate overly-dense stands of young coastal Douglas-fir. These second-growth post-clearcut forests, which grew unnaturally dense due to past land use, are being carefully thinned to mimic more natural conditions. By reducing competition among trees and creating breaks in the canopy, we’re allowing the remaining Douglas-fir to grow stronger and healthier, while also making room for deciduous trees, diverse understory plants, and wildlife that thrive in open forest habitats.
This work is a true team effort, involving skilled professionals and community members alike. Our restoration team is led by biologists Keith Erickson and Adam Huggins, with support from restoration technician Clem Castagnas. Our boots on the ground are local forestry professionals, including Laurie and Ryan Baines (Galiano Island), and certified fallers Tim Thomas (Penelakut & Cowichan), and Josh Howieson (Mayne Island). Volunteers, interns, and summer staff have also played a critical role, lending their energy and dedication to this transformative project.
The benefits of this work go far beyond individual trees. Thinning enhances biodiversity, improves wildlife habitat, and reduces wildfire risk by creating a healthier, more resilient forest. It also contributes to long-term carbon storage and addsthe natural beauty of Quadra Hill, ensuring that this landscape can be enjoyed and cherished for generations. This is a story of community, collaboration, and care for the land—and it’s only possible thanks to the shared vision and efforts of our team and supporters like you. Stay tuned as this work continues to unfold, bringing new life to Quadra Hill.
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Quadra Hill restoration crews, in their natural habitat. Photo by Adam Huggins | |
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF THE TALKING TREES NATURE RESERVE
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Earlier this year, our community achieved a remarkable milestone with the creation of the Talking Trees Nature Reserve, a protected area that safeguards critical old growth ecosystems and honors the cultural and ecological heritage of Galiano Island. This achievement was made possible through key partnerships and the establishment of a stewardship endowment fund to ensure the reserve’s future management.
However, while the funds raised covered the costs of land acquisition and initial endowment, we now face a $20,000 funding gap to address imminent essential needs.
These include higher-than-expected legal costs, a full ecological assessment and baseline report, start-up initiatives, public trail infrastructure, and growing the stewardship endowment to secure long-term care for the reserve.
Your donation today can help bridge this gap and support the next phase of stewardship for Talking Trees. Together, we can ensure that this special place continues to thrive—for wildlife, for future generations, and for everyone who cherishes the natural beauty of Galiano Island.
Please consider making a contribution today to help us protect and sustain this vital conservation project. Thank you for standing with us. Let's keep making a difference for nature, together!
To donate, please click on the donation button on the right, and select Land Protection from the Campaigns dropdown menu. All donations of $10 or more will receive a charitable tax receipt at the end of the fiscal year, which also grants the donor a GCA membership for 2025.
Photos by James LaBounty
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SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT CONSERVATION:
FIND US AT LOCAL HOLIDAY MARKETS!
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The Galiano Conservancy Association is excited to participate in two upcoming local Holiday Markets! Find us on November 30th at the Lions Hall Holiday Market, and on December 8th at the South End Community Hall Holiday Market, where we will be offering a range of unique products, including our Forest Garden teas, native and edible plant seeds and goodies, alongside our new waxed cotton locally-hats, organic cotton tote bags and colourful t-shirts—perfect gifts for the environmentally conscious on your list!
Every purchase helps support our mission to preserve a network of natural areas where a healthy environment, learning and a love of nature flourish. The funds raised will directly contribute to our diverse programs, from land stewardship and habitat restoration to environmental education and sustainable food systems.
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Photo: Forest Garden Tea, hand-crafted blends of native and edible plants, wildcrafted and grown in the Millard Learning Centre's Forest Gardens
By shopping with us, you’re not just getting something special for the holidays—you’re supporting conservation efforts across Galiano Island and the Salish Sea.
We hope to see you there!
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Coast Salish Peoples have lived on and cared for the land now known as Galiano Island for millennia. We acknowledge that we live and work within the shared, asserted, unceded and traditional territories of the Hul’qumi’num-speaking First Nations Peoples and those who hold traditional rights, responsibilities, and Indigenous rights and title in and around what is now known as Galiano Island. | | | | |