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Recent Posts
- Sophia Priestman, CVN Bursary recipient, 2026
- Bruce Moffat’s nature photography talk materials
- BC Nature scholarships available
- Brandt Research Grant 2026 awarded
- CVN celebrates 60 years of stewardship and community
- Botany at Bear Creek Park, March 2026
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- Hear about a nature photographer’s experiences at our May general meeting
- Botany at Nymph Falls, February 2026
- Come to our 60th Anniversary Celebration!
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CVN Facebook Posts
1 week ago
The New Forest Act Roadshow is a series of public presentations across British Columbia explaining what the New Forest Act is, why BC’s current forestry system is failing, and what a workable legislative solution looks like. Dave Weaver and Jennifer Houghton will be speaking at Stan Hagen Theatre on June 15th. for more information visit boundaryforest.org/courtenay🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT: The New Forest Act Roadshow - June 2–22, 2026This will be a series of in-person presentations across British Columbia focused on the New Forest Act - a legislative proposal to replace the current forestry framework.
Tour stops include:
Golden • Nelson • Trail • 100 Mile House
Campbell River • Quadra Island • Courtenay
Port Alberni • Honeymoon Bay • Powell River • Victoria
Full details and event pages: boundaryforest.org/new-forest-act-roadshow-2026-info/
About the New Forest Act
The New Forest Act is a proposed legislative framework that restructures forest management around ecological limits and long-term economic stability.
It is built on a Protect–Restore–Harvest (PRH) model:
• Protect primary forests and critical watershed areas
• Restore degraded landscapes
• Harvest only on previously disturbed land using selection-based systems, within ecological thresholds
The framework shifts management from volume-based targets to outcomes-based management, with a focus on watershed function, ecosystem integrity, and stable regional economies.
Format
Each event will be a presentation followed by a focused Q&A.
Presenter
Jennifer Houghton, New Forest Act Campaign Director, draws on years of research, public education, and direct engagement with communities and decision-makers across BC.
Co-presenter
Dave Weaver (retired forestry professional) will co-present in Campbell River, and likely in Courtenay and Port Alberni as well.
If you’ve been watching this issue for years...
If you’ve felt like nothing ever actually changes...
Come to a presentation.
See it for yourself.
Bring someone with you.
June 2–22. Across British Columbia.
Let’s go.
2 weeks ago
Drought in the summer is hard on plants in our environment. The trees in your yard may have begun to respond to this stress. Our next knowledge walk will help you to learn how to keep your trees healthy and thriving.Join Verna Mumby as we look at the effects of drought and climate change on trees.
This knowledge walk will be at the Airpark. Taking the trees there as a sample, we will look for signs of drought stress, and indications of healthy growth. We will examine factors such as hydrology, disease vectors and soil compaction.
We will discuss watering and other methods of mitigating stress.
Meeting location will be sent before the walk.
Bring binoculars to examine higher branches. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. We will be walking on the airpark paths.
REGISTRATION required using RSVP link at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/event/trees-and-drought/ An easy 1 km walk on a wheelchair accessible paved path. Sorry, no dogs. This event is free, but donations are welcome. ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago
Bruce Moffat, our very own CVN Nature Photography group coordinator will be presenting at this month’s general meeting. He has prepared a handful of wildlife vignettes collected over the past 7 years on Vancouver Island. Each of these shorts will be played with Bruce pausing to describe the experiences and challenges for each of the diverse subjects covered.This presentation includes images first shown as entries in the Comox Valley Photographic Society’s annual Imagefest show at the Sid Williams Theatre. There will be time to ask questions after each short film and following the wrap up. Bruce will bring some of the equipment used to capture his images.
Bruce has been an avid photographer since his teen years and has focused on nature photography for the past 20 years. He has been published regularly in the local CV Land Trust
calendars and 4 of the last five CV Collective magazines here in the valley. His latest published shot is featured on this month’s cover of Scout Life magazine. ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to announce that Sophie Johnston has been awarded the Brandt Research Grant. This is a $5,000 grant in support of her field research on coastal areas of north Vancouver Island. Sophie is currently a PhD Student at the University of British Columbia.The intertidal zone ecosystem is critically threatened by ongoing climate change. Sophie’s PhD research is documenting the effects of ocean acidification on intertidal marine communities in the Johnstone Strait, British Columbia.
The goal of her research is to investigate how a dominant ecosystem engineer shapes marine community structure along a gradient of ocean acidification.
Ocean acidification not only alters the morphology of limpet species by increasing shell erosion, but can also increase their thermal sensitivity, limiting limpet grazing efficiency and survival in the intertidal zone. Thus, the effects of ocean acidification on such ecosystem engineers could result in large-scale, rippling impacts on marine communities, from microscopic algae to top predators.
The results of this research will be of particular interest to residents who inhabit areas near or along the Johnstone Strait and those interested in the trophic level effects of ocean acidification i.e., the reduced growth of herbivores, barnacles, mussels, and oysters can affect the population sizes of predators like sea stars and otters.
For more information on this grant and CV Nature in general, visit our website at cvnature.ca ... See MoreSee Less
4 weeks ago
CVRD News: Watershed Awareness Days: Discover Where Your Water Comes From 🫗The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) invites the public to explore the Comox Lake Watershed during Watershed Awareness Days, taking place from May 26 to 30, 2026. This week-long event features guided walks, lakeside talks, presentations, and family-friendly activities. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the watershed firsthand and learn how it sustains the health and wellbeing of the entire Comox Valley community.
Read the full story here 👉 comoxvalleyrd.ca/connect/news/watershed-awareness-days-discover-where-your-water-comes
View all the FREE* events here:
www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/connectedbywater
*Some events require registration
#ComoxValleyRD ... See MoreSee Less
Category Archives: Plants and fungi
Plants from the Elk River and Landslide and Berg Lakes
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on August 19. Another mountain hike (and looking at plants of course) in Strathcona Park….here are a few pics from a recent backpack trip I did with my kids up the … Continue reading
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Mountain plants/flowers
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on August 17. Continuing on the mountain theme…here are some photos from John B., who like many of us wishes he had “more time and and spare legs.” These are all … Continue reading
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Lichen project for Strathcona Park
Another belated post from earlier Botany Group communications – Jocie’s email to the group on July 1. Below is a message from Randal about a lichen project for iNatuarlist happening this summer. I hope this will inspire all of you … Continue reading
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Plants from Kings Peak
From an email by Jocie to the Botany group on August 16. It’s mid-August, and a great time for mountain hikes and botanizing! It’s also a great time to relax in the garden with a tall glass of lemonade. If you are … Continue reading
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Unusual view of twinflower, etc.
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on July 7. Here are a few more of John B’s photos (click to enlarge): 1. An usual view of a twinflower (Linnaea borealis). 2. Clusters of purple flowers in the … Continue reading
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Rare white-lip rein orchid and more
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on August 6. Here are a few interesting flower photos and notes from John B. As a side note, there is some marsh cinquefoil at Cumberland Marsh, and I’ve also seen … Continue reading
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Frilly flowers
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on July 31. The last day of July….sigh…what a great month it is for plants! Here are some fun photos from John B: “Plants which like to show off their frilly … Continue reading
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Plants of Forbidden Plateau
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on July 25. I recently hiked the plateau traverse (from Wood Mountain to Paradise Meadows: 28 km) with Mandy and Krista, spending one night at Mackenzie Lake. We had a great … Continue reading
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Rare orchid from White Ridge
Catching up with communications in the Botany Group during July. This is from an email from Jocie to the group on July 20. Frank Hovenden and Jack Bindernagel recently did a trip to White Ridge, a provincial park that is accessed … Continue reading
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Tennant Lake flowers
Catching up with communications in the Botany Group during July. This is from an email from Jocie to the group on July 19. Last week I was camping with the family at Ralph River (south end of Buttle Lake, in … Continue reading
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