Current Projects
Cutters Gallery: Community broom bash - April, 2009
Photo credit: Bill Warning
Introduction to the Conservancy Projects
The Mayne Island Conservancy was born out of a community desire to protect the lands on Mount Park and very quickly expanded its field of interest to include general environmental conservation via the elimination of invasive plant species and the protection and promotion of the native ecologies of the island. Hence the formation of the Broom Action Team as our first "Project," which was an all volunteer effort but with the encouragement of Mayne Island Parks and Recreation Committee the need for funding was minimal. Nonetheless some of our early donors wished that their donations be dedicated to the removal of broom and other invasive species.
Today all the Society's projects attract dedicated funding from individuals and agencies and we report on them in this way in our business plans and in these pages. A short overview of each project appears here. More information is available via links in the body of the page or through the "Project Quick Links" on the sidebar.
The 2010 Shoreline Care Project will monitor the status of the Eelgrass Beds mapped in 2008-9 and build on last year's successful search for
Sand Lance eggs, expanding the Society's mapping activities to the Kelp Forests and adding Surf Smelt to the list of "Forage Fish" to
be documented.
For more information on the Shoreline Carel Project please visit the Shoreline Care page
Pictured - Project Contractors for Shoreline & Henderson: Chris Fretwell, Zoe Cocker, & Miriam Isaac-Renton with Executive Director, Leanna Boyer
Community Stewardship
Henderson Park and the Vulture View Trail afford opportunities for the Mayne Island community to explore new areas and to experience new vistas of the adjacent islands. The area under park designation includes ecosystems that are representative of what are considered some of Canada's and the world's most endangered ecosystems- the Coastal Douglas Fir Zone and the Garry Oak and associated ecosystems. Because of the nature and condition of this new park, the Mayne Island Conservancy and the Mayne Island Parks & Recreation Commission have jointly agreed to pursue management and restoration of the valued ecosystems found here.
The "Henderson Park Restoration Plan" (available in the Library) includes background information on the general underlying physical and biological components found within the park; detailed information on rare and endangered species and ecosystems inventoried and mapped using outside expertise (BC Conservation Data Centre and Parks Canada); and the extent of disturbance, invasive species and other factors (eg. deer browse). The report also highlights key ecological values, the sensitive areas within the park and strategies for restoration using decision support tools and best management practices. These make up components of the restoration plan.
For more information on the Henderson Community Park Project please visit the Henderson page
Active Pass was designated an Important Bird Area because it supports significant numbers of two species of waterbirds over winter (Pacific Loon and Brandt's Cormorant) and supports populations of a third species during the fall and spring migration (Bonaparte's Gull). As well, up to ten pairs of Bald Eagles nest along the shores of the IBA, and upwards of 100 eagles occasionally forage here in the winter months. In all, there are about 40 species of marine and marine associated birds that regularly use Active Pass at some time in their annual life cycle.
For more information on the Important Bird Area Project please visit the IBA page
BAT's activities are centred on the mechanical control and elimination of Scotch broom in parks, public lands and on adjacent private properties. Our core activity is our weekly broom removal sessions which have focused on Henderson Park throughout the current year.
BAT's largest single organized activity is the community broom bash and has been held in April in the past three years to educate and to motivate the public to participate in our program and to eliminate broom from their properties and from neighbouring roadsides. We also work with other community agencies in the pursuit of these objectives, produce and distribute educational material on Scotch broom and other invasive species, and network with other conservancies and organizations interested in invasive species control.
For more information on the Broom Action Team please visit the B.A.T. page
