Site map

Sustainability Action Areas

Currently we have sustainability activities underway in the following areas: agricultural land and food security, community resiliency and well-being, emergency response and community preparedness, energy, health care, housing and multi-level seniors care, sustainable economics: community currency, transportation priorities and actions, and water. To see what each group is up to click on the individual topic.

Ecosystems and Natural Areas Sustainability Framework

Gabriola Island covers approximately 5256 hectares (12987 acres) and encompasses a broad range of ecosystems including: old forest, woodland, cliff, riparian, freshwater, wetland and herbaceous. The rate and degree of development on the island is managed to a large extent through the Local Islands Trust Official Community Plan. The Trust has also undertaken extensive ecosystem mapping to identify the various ecosystems on the island. Currently the greatest threats to preserving ecosystems are development and invasive species. Development is controlled to a certain extent by the OCP and land use bylaws. The way in which development occurs can be moderated through the OCP and by public education.

Perhaps the single most challenging threat to ecosystems is the incursion of invasive species particularly plants, on Gabriola. They include Scotch broom, daphne laurel, Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, English holly, vinca minor and major, giant hogweed, tansy ragwort, and knotweed. Invasive wildlife include domestic rabbits and turkeys that have become feral. There is a concern that bullfrogs may come to the island and vigilance will be necessary to determine if that has occurred. Of all the invasives, arguably Scotch broom poses the greatest threat to sensitive ecosystems like garry oak and camas meadows, while giant hogweed poses the greatest health risk to humans and tansy ragwort to livestock. Non native wildlife such as animals allowed to become feral are likely more of a nuisance than a threat at this point. However, rabbit populations if not controlled, have the potential to be a serious threat to individual and commercial agriculture.

The following goals and objectives provide a framework for action for preserving and sustaining Gabriola’s ecosystems and natural areas. There were derived from discussions with members of Sustainable Gabriola and from people who participated in the Sustainable Gabriola Spring Fling. In addition, the working group who drafted this framework reached out to other organizations with similar interests including the Gabriola Land Conservancy, GROWLS, the Commons, and the Gabriola Land and Trails Trust. We have attempted to coalesce divergent viewpoints around common themes and agreed upon objectives and we deeply appreciate the willingness of everyone to find common ground.

Goal

To preserve and sustain representative ecosystems and natural areas for current and future generations.

Objectives

  1. To eliminate invasive plants over 20 years with priority given to Scotch broom, daphne laurel and giant hogweed.

    Discussion: A wide variety of input was gathered with suggestions that ranged from public education (including pamphlets) and ideas about how best to address specific problem plants.

    Proposed Strategies:

    1. Develop and implement a plan to eliminate invasive plants working with the BC Coastal Invasive Plants Committee, GaLTT, the Commons and public and private land owners. The plan should include: an assessment of the degree of problem on all public lands; public education; targeted, iterative actions to remove high risk invasive plants (e.g. broom, hogweed and tansy ragwort); and strategies for plant material disposal.

    2. Track the impact of the Commons efforts to remove daphne laurel from the Commons lands and apply learnings to other large infestations of daphne laurel on public land.

      3. Target: It is important to note that targets can only be set if we have a baseline of how many hectares are impacted by specific invasives (see strategy 1 above).

      • Scotch broom, daphne laurel and giant hogweed populations eliminated by 2030 with annual targets as follows:

        • Scotch broom coverage area reduced by 5% each year.

        • Daphne laurel coverage area reduced by 5% each year.

        • Giant hogweed coverage area reduced by 30% each year.


  2. To manage the impact of non-native wildlife (e.g. rabbits, feral turkeys, bullfrogs).

    3. Discussion: During our discussions there were a wide variety of opinions on what constituted non-native wildlife (e.g. feral rabbits, feral turkeys, feral peacocks and guinea hens, and bull frogs – although there are no frogs present at this time), on whether we should be concerned about the management of all wildlife (e.g. what about dogs not kept under control, what about a deer population with no predators), and what types of actions should be taken (e.g. leave them alone; capture and relocate; capture and kill/consume). At this point the problem with feral animals appears to be localized which suggests that the solutions to address the problem should also be localized.

    Proposed Strategies:

    • Develop and implement a plan which includes identification of non-native wildlife populations and public discussion regarding acceptable management strategies with an emphasis on developing local neighbourhood strategies.

    • Undertake a public information campaign on the impact of releasing domestic animals into the wild.

    Target: No targets are proposed at this time.

  3. To advocate sustainable stewardship of ecosystems and landforms on public and private land.

    4. Discussion: Gabriola has a rich variety of ecosystems on both public and private land. It is desirable to ensure the preservation of representative ecosystems for current and future generations through engagement with both public and private landholders.

    Proposed Strategies:

    • Identify highest risk ecosystems and develop recovery strategies that can be implemented with both public and private landowners.

    • Develop and implement a wetland sustainability plan.

    • Encourage the development of covenants to protect at-risk or sensitive ecosystems on private land.

    • Advocate to the Local Trust Committee that the OCP be amended to include ecosystem and landform mapping of properties brought forward for subdivision.

    Target:

    • High risk ecosystems identified and preservation plans developed by 2012

    • % of wetland remains stable or increases.

    • Increase in number of covenants related to ecosystem, landform and trail preservation.

    Implementation:

    This document represents the initial steps in protecting ecosystems and natural areas. Further discussion is required to identify individuals and organizations willing to take responsibility for the actions outlined and to identify the resources required to implement the strategies. Many organizations will have a role to play including the Islands Trust, the RDN, the Ministry of Environment, the Gabriola Land and Trails Trust, the Gabriola Land Conservancy, the Commons and GROWLS.