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To celebrate our 60th anniversary we offer this opportunity to learn more about Garry oaks in the Comox Valley.Vanier Nature Park is home to a small grove of Garry oak trees which is being stewarded by Comox Valley Nature. These oaks are at the northern extent of their range, and are a remnant of a culturally modified ecosystem that once covered 160 square kilometres in the Comox Valley
This walk will be lead by Geologist Bob Hauser and Forester Terry Lewis. They have spent many hours in the park removing invasive holly. Terry and Bob will look at the work in progress in the grove and share their unique perspective on this forest, with a focus on soil science and tree species.
The Vanier Nature Park project is being co-managed by Comox Valley Nature and the City of Courtenay with funding from the City of Courtenay, BC Nature and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.
Registration required through
The walk is partially on level ground with some gentle to moderate uphill walking on a forest trail that has some uneven footing. No dogs please.
For more information, to add your name to a wait list or to cancel your reservation, email: Details of the meeting place will be sent to registrants. Please be at the meeting spot at least 10 minutes before the walk starts to sign in.
One of the largest intact, unprotected old growth forests we have on the east coast of Vancouver Island lies just east of Sayward. This is a rare temperate rainforest with massive and ancient trees.This area is part of the Prince of Wales range with the towering Mount H'Kusam, which is one of the most beautiful recreational areas on the entire island – popular for skiing, mountaineering, and hiking. It is also home to some of the world’s largest and oldest trees, including the recently felled yellow cedar “General Buxton”, which had a 2.79 metre diameter
Cape Mudge Forestry/We Wai Kai has proposed 13 cut blocks in this intact old growth forest. It is steep terrain, possibly calling for heli logging.
Recent amendments to the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) require Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) holders to make a Forest Operations Map available for public review and comment as part of the cutting/road permit review and approval process. The Forest Operations Map (FOM) is intended to enhance transparency of operational planning and to provide engagement opportunities for interested members of the public, and community stakeholders. On the relevant map you will find three separate proposed areas (FOMs) on which to comment.
Commenting is open for the public until April 16, 2026 to share their thoughts on the Forest Operations Map: fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects.
For more information on FOM guidelines visit the Government of BC Natural Resources Stewardship webpage at tinyurl.com/35cajkej
If this logging proceeds, it will be catastrophic to the remaining old growth on the island. Large patches of intact forest like this are nearly extinct here.
Many people fear trees, especially big trees, and old trees. Join us on this guided walk and overcome those fears. Verna Mumby (ISA certified arborist), will take us through the basics of tree bio-mechanics; how trees dance and move, how they withstand wind loads, and the importance of tree roots. Understand how trees help each other during storms and how they communicate. This walk will take place in Filberg Park, Comox, on April 11th, from 11 a.m. to 12:30.This walk is on flat ground, on grass and well maintained paths. Check the weather and
choose appropriate outerwear. The workshop will be cancelled in the event of strong
winds and heavy rain.
REGISTRATION required on our events page; cvnature.ca/events/ This event is free. Donations welcome.
For more information, to add your name to a waitlist or to cancel your reservation, email: . Details re meeting place will be sent to registrants.
Category Archives: Ecology
Recording for talk on growing old-growth forests
Comox Valley Nature hosted the following presentation at our May 2025 general meeting: Title: Growing Old Growth: The relationships that define the future of our forestsSpeaker: Tal Engel (WolfTree Integrative Forest Rehabilitation)Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025 Our own recording of … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Learn about growing old-growth forests at our next general meeting
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to CVN’s May general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker: Title: Growing Old Growth: The relationships that define the future of our forestsSpeaker: … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Botany at Ruth Masters Greenway, April 2025
The Botany Group’s early-spring field trip to Ruth Masters Greenway on April 1 (repeated on April 12) was a followup to the winter outing in January. Although plenty of spring growth was visible, including some flowers, observing bark, branches and … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Lazo Marsh, March 2025
The Botany Group made a late-winter visit to Lazo Marsh on March 4 (repeated on March 15) to continue identifying plants without the aids of leaves, flowers or fruits. This was the first trip that repeated the usual first Tuesday … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Recording for talk on Buttle Lake ecology
The Strathcona Wilderness Institute recently hosted the following online presentation, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Observations on the fish and aquatic ecology of Buttle LakeSpeaker: Paige StuartDate: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 If you missed this event … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Freshwater organisms, Guest Speakers
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Learn about Buttle Lake ecology
CVN members and the general public are invited to attend the following free online lecture hosted by the Strathcona Wilderness Institute, and facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Observations on the fish and aquatic ecology of Buttle … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Freshwater organisms, Guest Speakers
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New Article: New microorganism and biodiversity in Strathcona Park
A new addition by Loys Maingon to our occasional series of long-form articles examines the implications of the discovery of a microorganism in Strathcona Provincial Park that appears to be new to science. Read this important article here: “Biodiversity and … Continue reading
Posted in Articles, Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Microorganisms
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Recording for talk on reducing wildfire harms
Comox Valley Nature members and others recently attended the following webinar hosted by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: To Reduce the Social and Economic Damage from High Severity Wildfires, We Must Transform our LandscapesSpeaker: Bob Gray (R.W. Gray … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Recording for talk on Vanier Garry oak restoration
Comox Valley Nature recently hosted the following webinar, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Conserving and Restoring a Legacy: Vanier Forest Garry Oak Restoration ProjectSpeakers: Jim Boulter, Karen Cummins, Eloise HollandDate: Sunday, January 21, 2024 If you … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi
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Learn about restoring Garry oaks in Vanier Forest
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to the following free online lecture presented by CVN and facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Conserving and Restoring a Legacy: Vanier Forest Garry Oak Restoration ProjectSpeakers: … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi
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