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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:
"Growing Old Growth: The relationships that define the future of our forests" with Tal Engel of WolfTree Integrative Forest Rehabilitation.
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
(Members, please also take note of the special resolution to be voted upon, detailed on our website)
Tal’s talk presents an integrative and regenerative forestry approach to foster fire-resilience, moisture retention, and overall ecological integrity so that degraded forest ecosystems may endure the ever-increasing anthropogenic pressures to one day become old growth forests. He will present evidence that for old growth forests to develop, far more than just time is required.
Tal holds workshops for community groups in which he first explores how industrial forestry has radically altered the structure, composition, function, and relationships essential for the growth of a resilient and healthy forest. The second part of the workshops cover methods he has developed to help dense young forests recover from a century of industrial forestry.
This talk is based on the first part of Tal’s workshops. He will focus on his theories relating to succession, pathology, and cultural relationships in forests and will include an overview of forest ecosystems in crisis from other parts of the world.
Tal has kindly offered to conduct a second part of his workshop on June 1st in Merville. For CVN members only. Sign up at the General meeting to tour the farm where he puts his methods into practice.
Tal Engel is a forest restoration practitioner and regenerative farmer who lives in the Merville area. On his family’s farm, Honey Grove, he researches and develops forest restoration methods and models that his organization, WolfTree Integrative Forest Rehabilitation, applies throughout eastern Vancouver Island.
see more at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/
www.wolftreeforestry.com/
We are pleased to offer a series of guided walks on Saturday May 17th, in Vanier Nature Park.Choose between 3 walk times that each have a different walk leader; each very knowledgeable about both oak trees, nature and the Vanier Nature Park restoration project.
The 10:00 am walk will be lead by Nick Page. Nick is a professional biologist who works on the assessment, restoration and management of species and ecosystems in coastal BC. He has a M.Sc. in plant ecology from UBC and works with Current Environmental in the Comox Valley. Nick grew up on Headquarters Road not far from the most northern Garry oak trees in Canada.
The 11:30 walk will be lead by Fred Newhouse. He is a Registered Professional Forester and has stewarded a woodlot for 27 years and worked in forest consulting for 35 years. As a Comox Valley Nature member he has volunteered for 15 years helping on projects including the Vanier Nature Park Garry Oak Restoration Project and Trees of the Year. He has conducted walks at Paradise Meadows for Strathcona Wilderness Society.
The 1:00 pm walk will be lead by Verna Mumby who has 30 years of work in arboriculture as a ISA Certified Arborist and Consulting Arborist. She says she is still learning every day from the trees. When not hugging trees she is knee deep in microscopy looking into microbes in the soil – or walking her dog in the nature of the wonderful Comox Valley.
The Vanier Nature Park project is being co-managed by Comox Valley Nature and the City of Courtenay with funding from both the City of Courtenay and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. Each walk leader will share their unique perspective on this forest and this very positive project.
Registration is required.
Please be at the meeting spot at least 10 minutes before the walk starts to sign in. We will have a table with further information on this exciting project.
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 or to sign up, visit comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/
Everything is connected, healing the land heals people:
Three knowledgeable Comox Valley Naturalists will introduce participants to the plants at the Airpark. Learn how this area was transformed from a sewage lagoon covered in slabs of concrete to a diversified city park. We will find many native plant species here that are reclaiming and recreating this natural environment.Frank Hovenden, the leading force behind these changes will highlight many plant species. Participants will have the opportunity to sharpen their native plant identification skills by the end of this botany focused walk. This is a 1 km walk on flat ground. Meet at the playground on Mansfield Drive.
Registration is required and limited space available so sign up early at This is a free event but donations are welcome. No dogs please.
Many people fear trees, especially big trees. Join us in this guided walk and overcome those fears. You will learn about tree bio-mechanics; how trees dance and move, and the importance of tree roots. Understand how trees help each other during storms and how they communicate. We will look at trees in Filberg Park in Comox on May 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:00. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear.Registration required at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/ (no dogs please)
Admission is free, but donations are welcome
Category Archives: Guest Speakers
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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Audio and slides for “Bird Friendly” Comox talk
Comox Valley Nature hosted the following presentation at our April 2025 general meeting: Title: The Bird Friendly Cities Initiative in ComoxSpeakers: Robert McLennan, James MacKenzie, Dianna TalbotDate: Sunday, April 27, 2025 The presentation was in two parts. Robert and James … Continue reading
Posted in Birds, Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers
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Learn about the Comox “Bird Friendly” initiative at our next general meeting
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to CVN’s April general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker: Title: The Bird Friendly Cities Initiative in ComoxSpeakers: Robert McLennan, James MacKenzie, Dianna … Continue reading
Posted in Birds, Conservation and Restoration, General Meetings, Guest Speakers
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Recordings for the two March meeting talks
Comox Valley Nature hosted the following keynote presentation at our March 2025 general meeting: Title: Introduction to the Little River Enhancement SocietySpeaker: Henry Ellis and Don Hicks (Little River Enhancement Society)Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025 If you missed this event … Continue reading
Posted in Birds, Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers
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Learn about pronghorn antelope in Alberta
The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists invites CVN members and the general public to attend the following free online lecture: Title: All paths stop at the fence: Pronghorn antelope management in southern AlbertaSpeaker: Paul Jones (Alberta Conservation Association)Date: Thursday, April … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers, Mammals
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Learn about the Little River Enhancement Society
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to CVN’s March general meeting for the following keynote presentation: Title: Introduction to the Little River Enhancement SocietySpeakers: Henry Ellis and Don HicksDate: Sunday, March 23, 2025Time: 3:00 p.m. PTLocation: … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, General Meetings, Guest Speakers
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Recording for talk on Kus-kus-sum restoration
Comox Valley Nature hosted the following presentation at our October 2024 general meeting: Title: An Overview of the Kus-kus-sum Restoration ProjectSpeaker: Caitlin Pierzchalski (Project Watershed)Date: Sunday, October 27, 2024 If you missed this event or would like to see it … Continue reading
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Learn why nuclear energy cannot solve the climate crisis
The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists invites CVN members and the general public to attend the following free online lecture: Title: Why nuclear energy cannot solve the climate crisisSpeaker: Dr. M.V. Ramana (UBC)Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025Time: 12:00 p.m. (noon) … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Guest Speakers
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Recording for talk on tracking larval Dungeness crabs
Comox Valley Nature recently hosted the following presentation at our January general meeting: Title: Community science for crabs: Tracking larval Dungeness crab across the Salish SeaSpeaker: Heather Earle (Hakai Institute)Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025 If you missed this event or … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Speakers, Shoreline and Marine
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Recording for talk on Puntledge Forest protection
Comox Valley Nature recently hosted the following presentation at our November general meeting: Title: Comox Valley Land Trust programs and the Puntledge Forest land protection projectSpeaker: David Stapley (Comox Valley Land Trust)Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024 If you missed this event … Continue reading
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