Community Stewardship

Mayne School Gr 4-8 plant seedlings on Henderson Hill
Photo credit: Tony Snelgrove

Project Overview

The Mayne Island Community Stewardship Program is geared towards building capacity within the Mayne Island community to be active stewards of Mayne Island's ecosystems. The program includes a series of workshops and demonstrations designed to help community members get to know their island better, followed by a full season of walkabout tours on island properties. The program also involves developing a set of species home-range maps for Mayne, the establishment of a small native plants nursery, and activities with the children at the Mayne School. Each aspect of the program is described below:

Workshops and Demonstrations

MICS is offering a series of workshops and demonstrations designed to help community members get to know their island better. From identification of native species, to planting techniques, invasive species removal, and integrating native ecology into your garden design, participant in these workshops will become more knowledgeable about this island and the many things that live here, as well as learning practices that will help to maintain and enhance the qualities that make this such an amazing place to live..

Details of these events here

Walkabouts

A key component of this program is to hold walkabouts on Mayne Island properties, beginning in spring 2012. At the owner's request, these walkabouts are a two-way exchange in which MICS staff and volunteers will tour private properties along with the owner, and share knowledge about the species and characteristics, as well as practices that will help to maintain and enhance the qualities that are valued.

More on the Conservancy's "Walkabout" program go here.

Native Plants Nursery

We are building a stock of trees, shrubs and wildflowers native to Mayne Island in order to make them more accessible to islanders for use on their own properties and in restoration projects. We do our best to grow everything from Mayne Island seed and cutting sources.

You can read much more about this element of our project by clicking here

Mayne School Program

We are working together with the Mayne School staff to engage both the K-3 (Primary) and 4-8 (Intermediate) classes in aspects of the Community Stewardship Program. Students will be given opportunities to participate in restoration activities at Henderson Hill, including the planting of trees, species inventories, and helping with the native plants nursery, as well as even researching and planning some of the restoration activities. Through this involvement students are learning hands-on about the connection between healthy habitats and diversity of species.

Species Home Range Maps

For particular species information will be gathered about their habitat requirements and their distribution on Mayne. This will enable better awareness and enactment of what is needed in order to maintain species and ecosystems that contribute so much richness to the island.

As of the Spring of 2013 maps have been prepared for six different species. For summary information together with pictures and maps on the Pileated Woodpecker, the Red Legged Frog, the Propertius Duskywing butterfly and others please click here.

How to Get Involved

Opportunities abound to get involved in this community-wide project, whether it be participating in workshops, holding a walkabout on your property, helping with work parties at Henderson Community Park, helping in the native plants nursery, or putting stewardship practices to use on your own property. Watch for notices for these opportunities, and let us know if there is something about this program that interests you!