The Garry oak is the only oak tree native to British Columbia, and the only native oak in Canada found west of Manitoba. Garry oak ecosystems are amongst the least common and most endangered ecosystems in Canada and occur only in a small area that includes south eastern Vancouver Island, some of the southern Gulf Islands and two small sites in the Fraser Valley near Yale. Each of these areas benefits from the rain shadow effect of the Vancouver Island, Olympic or Coast mountain ranges, resulting in a Mediterranean like climate. Their distinctive, gnarly shape and co-occurrence with other attractive landscape features (such as meadows, coastlines and rock bluffs) make them an iconic part of the landscape wherever they occur. Good examples of Garry oak ecosystems can be found on Salt Spring Island, around Victoria and in the Cowichan Valley.

A Garry oak ecosystem is more than just oaks, however. Intact Garry oak ecosystems comprise a great diversity of plant and animal species that have adapted to the particular locale in which they grow. Garry oak and related ecosystems can include shaded woodlands that also include arbutus and Douglas fir trees, meadows with a spectacular array of native wildflowers, small vernal pools, bluffs, mossy rocks and a great variety of other plants and animals.

Combined, these ecosystems support more species of plants than any other terrestrial ecosystem in BC and many of these species occur nowhere else in Canada. Garry oak and related ecosystems also support a large variety of animal life, including over 100 species of birds, 7 amphibian and 7 reptiles species, 33 different mammals and over 800 species of insects and mites.

Unfortunately, the bucolic character of Garry oak ecosystems has contributed to their severe decline. Their pleasant, often open, park-like feel attracted settlers and encouraged agriculture and other forms of development very early in the province’s colonial settlement period. Today, it’s estimated that less than 5% of the original extent of Garry oak and related ecosystems remain in good condition and more than 100 related species are listed as ‘at risk’ in Canada.

What can you do to help conserve Garry oak ecosystems? Despite the dire situation there’s quite a lot:

  • Support the acquisition of lands supporting Garry oak and related ecosystems;
  • Join or support a local stewardship group and help control invasive weeds on protected Garry oak sites;
  • Maintain natural Garry oak sites on your own land with a conservation covenant and or a stewardship agreement with a knowledgeable stewardship group; and
  • Make sure your local government knows about these ecosystems, where they occur and that protecting them from development should be a priority.

For more information on Garry oak and related ecosystems and things you can do to help conserve them, we recommend you visit the following sites:

Garry Oak and Related Ecosystems