ISLANDS TRUST CONSERVANCY GATHERING FOR SPECIES AT RISK WORKSHOP MARCH 17, 2022 - ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-WORKSHOP_MARCH17-2022_SUMMARY
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Islands Trust Conservancy
Gathering for Species at Risk
Workshop
March 17, 2022
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx i
Acknowledgements (Wendy Tyrrell)
The Islands Trust Conservancy would like to thank all of the participants for attending the workshop and
providing insight and expertise to the discussions. We would also like to express gratitude to the
facilitators that worked with ITC staff to deliver this workshop in a good way – facilitators Judith
Cullington and Carly Bilney (JCA Judith Cullington & Associates), First Nations engagement facilitators
Vanessa Ong and Dana Moraes (Naut'sa mawt Event Management), and the workshop moderators.
Much appreciation to our presenters – Ruth Simons, Carrina Maslovat, Chris Currie, Judith Lyn Arney,
Sarah Jim and Nicole Norris Alaga̱ ̱mił. Knowing that mid-March is a busy, busy season for all of us, I am
thankful that we were able to garner such excellent speakers for this workshop!
Warm thanks to Kate Emmings and the Islands Trust Conservancy staff for supporting me throughout
the process of coordinating the workshop and for moderating the breakout sessions.
Finally, we’d like to acknowledge our funder – Environment and Climate Change Canada – for supporting
the development of the ITC Species at Risk Program and the workshop. Special thanks to Ivy
Whitehorne, CWS Conservation Coordinator, who is such a pleasure to work with!
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Contents
Acknowledgements (Wendy Tyrrell) ............................................................................................................. i
Purpose of Gathering .................................................................................................................................... 1
Welcome ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
ITC Species at Risk Program: Wendy Tyrrell ................................................................................................. 2
Strengthening collaboration in Atl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Region: Ruth Simons ...................... 2
Breakout group discussions (morning session) ............................................................................................ 5
Session A: Restoring Habitat for Species at Risk and Landscape Level Collaboration ................................. 7
Session B: Cultural Species of Significance and Eco-cultural Restoration .................................................... 9
Breakout group discussions (afternoon session) ........................................................................................ 10
Next Steps Discussed at Workshop............................................................................................................. 12
Links Shared ................................................................................................................................................ 12
Appendix A: Agenda .................................................................................................................................... 14
Appendix B: Workshop Participants ........................................................................................................... 16
Appendix C: Presentations .......................................................................................................................... 18
1. ITC’s Species at Risk Program: Wendy Tyrrell ................................................................................. 18
2. Strengthening collaboration in Atl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Region: Ruth Simons ........ 18
3. Species at Risk Restoration and Monitoring and Sharp-tailed Snake eDNA research Mount Tuam:
Carinna Maslovat .................................................................................................................................... 18
4. PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation: Relational Restoration: Judith Lyn Arney and Sarah Jim .............. 18
This document was prepared by JCA Judith Cullington & Associates on behalf of the
Islands Trust Conservancy.
Cover Photo: Camas (ḰȽO¸EL), Barestem Desert-Parsley (KEXMIN) and Prairie Oak
(ĆEṈ¸IȽĆ)
© Wendy Tyrrell
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The Islands Trust Conservancy’s Species at Risk Gathering
March 17th, 2022
Workshop Report
Purpose of Gathering
Learning from each other, sharing ideas
Discussion of the challenges working with species and ecosystems at risk (SEAR) and cultural
species/ecosystems of significance, and how collaborative action can help
Discussion of a potential Islands-wide Species and Ecosystems at Risk working group
The agenda for the Gathering is shown in Appendix A. Almost 70 people attended the workshop
including representatives of First Nations, a diversity of organizations and many geographic locations
(see Appendix B).
Welcome
Kate Emmings, Manager of the Islands Trust Conservancy (ITC), welcomed participants and
acknowledged the many First Nations territories in which the ITC operates. ITC Chair Kate-Louise
Stamford commented that supporting species at risk (SAR) supports whole ecosystems across the
islands.
Western Painted Turtle © John P. Clare
Twitter Moments
There was live tweeting throughout the day. Check out these twitter
moments! https://twitter.com/i/events/1507155202293465106
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ITC Species at Risk Program: Wendy Tyrrell
Wendy Tyrrell, Islands Trust Conservancy Species at Risk Program Coordinator, demonstrated that the
ITC SAR Program aims to enhance partnerships with those working with SEAR and cultural species and
ecosystems of significance, compile and share SAR data in the Islands Trust area, develop collaborative
relationships with First Nations for more effective SAR Program delivery, and increase land conservation
with a focus on the recovery of SAR. This program is made possible through the Environment Canada
and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Fund, Species at Risk Stream for Priority Places. Wendy briefly
highlighted a few of the SEAR projects on ITC protected lands through this new funding, including:
Partnering with local island conservancies on SAR projects
Surveying for SAR and critical habitat
Restoring SAR habitat and installing habitat structures, and
Invasive plant management in SAR critical habitat
Wendy reviewed the results of the pre-workshop survey and described how responses set the context
for the workshop. The survey identified insufficient funding, capacity and expertise as the top three
challenges faced by respondents when working with species and ecosystems at risk and species of
cultural significance. Almost all survey respondents (57) noted a need for increased collaboration and
data sharing, and a desire to establish an islands-wide SAR working group.
Strengthening collaboration in Atl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound
Biosphere Region: Ruth Simons
The keynote presentation was provided by Ruth Simons, lead of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region
Initiative Society. (See presentation in Appendix C.)
Ruth presented on the work in the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound region – an area with a population of
nearly 46,000 people and various interests and many overlapping jurisdictions. She spoke of how to
overcome many of the barriers that people experience when trying to get different groups to work
together. She noted that the main success story to any collaboration is having a common goal and made
the following comments.
Over many decades, Howe Sound has been a place where people have stood up to endless pollution
with regulation, restoration and groups focused on recovery.
Creating the UNESCO Biosphere Region for Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound was a grassroots, passion
project for many people, mostly done with in-kind time, and it remains an ongoing project because
work is needed to manage the UNESCO area. (Forty-two percent of the terrestrial area within the
region is under some form of management for conservation values).
With SAR and the need to work together, the various groups needed to determine what it is they
really wanted and what barriers they faced.
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The essence of UNESCO biosphere reserves is collaboration and engagement with the community
and the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society (the Society) looks to engage with all
different sectors.
The aim has been to enhance ongoing relationships that already exist.
The Society tries to highlight the value of these important places and helps to raise awareness of the
biodiversity in the region.
The Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Region is an ideal hub for research, education and learning that brings
over 22,000 youth per year to various youth camps.
There is a need for more work around public outreach and education related to the rare ecosystems
and species known in this region, and working more closely with the Squamish Nation.
There is a need to collaborate on how we can have more projects where people can come out on
the land and get their hands dirty.
The Society comes together to try to practice ethical space, which is about listening and taking the
time to hear different perspectives.
The issue of time is one of our biggest barriers.
Q&A
Q: What kind of structures did you need to put in place to have fulsome collaboration and how have
you kept people engaged over time?
A: The structure would be a deliberate lack of structure that aims to break the traditional governance
model. People want to know that their time will be worthwhile. It is valuable to put a lot of effort
into pre-planning gatherings and events and ensuring that barriers making it difficult for people to
meet are removed, such as transportation, timing, childcare, etc. It is important to be thoughtful
about the location of the meeting, maintain a good contact list, and make an effort to reach people.
Q: How do you reach a common goal?
A: It starts in the conservation community among those who are passionate about SAR. The process of
professional facilitators is very helpful in achieving a goal. Meetings are successful when people feel
that they focus on something that touches them. In defining goals, the first step is to determine
what it is the group values, and, secondly, what needs to be done to protect those values. The
structure of any of those events must be enjoyable and provide an opportunity for people to
network.
Q: What funding is received?
A: There is no funding, but we are looking at building up funding for a sustainable organization going
forward. Expenses have been covered by cost-sharing, and other organizations that have
collaborated have been able to raise funds through a variety of grants and donations.
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Q: Can you elaborate on how youth are involved?
A: One of the challenges of meeting during the daytime is the hours not lining up with everyone’s
schedules; our focus has been to try and reach youth through their courses and instructors because
it is the future generations which we are working to impassion.
Q: If you could wave a wand for the perfect scenario to achieve your common goals, what would you
want levels of government to do, or to provide more of?
A: We would need to determine what it is in common that we would like to achieve. If we could wave
a wand, we would have all three levels of government and First Nations commit to do everything
possible to protect the lands and to know and understand where those sensitive ecosystems are;
we would do everything we can to stop degradation to those areas, and to honour these valuable
places for hope, inspiration and sequestering carbon. Ideally, we would see policy reflect similar
language to the objectives of UNESCO biospheres.
Wendy Tyrrell thanked Ruth and presented her with a gift.
Great Blue Heron. Photo © Islands Trust Conservancy
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Breakout group discussions (morning session)
Participants were divided into breakout groups to discuss the following questions: What are the most
important challenges that you face? How can collaborative action help you to resolve these?
Highlights from the report-out identified the following challenges and actions.
Regional Coordination & Information-Sharing
There is need for a regional, coordinated program to keep interested parties informed of work being
done, to identify goals for SAR, and to provide a space for data / information sharing—while also
being sensitive to local needs under the rubric of a regional goal.
Some type of working group based on an engaging mapping tool could provide a starting point from
which people could add projects they are working on and how they might learn from each other and
identify gaps.
There are a multitude of SEAR-related projects happening throughout the Islands, and a primary
challenge is knowing what is going on, who is doing it, and how to get involved or learn from these
research/projects. A data-sharing platform that helps to identify priorities that are relevant to each
place would be helpful. However, some of the data collected, especially by Indigenous peoples, is
private or sensitive (masked) so coming up with a solution to share necessary information without
disrespecting boundaries and regulations around sensitive data.
Increased collaboration results in better data and a better understanding of that data. There needs
to be opportunity for outreach and collaboration to determine how can we work together to make
sure there is an understanding about data security and where data goes.
There is opportunity for ITC to host regularly recurring sessions where discussions can be held on
local and regional needs, and on co-management with First Nations including respecting and
compensating Indigenous knowledge.
Capacity & Funding
Capacity is an issue, including housing for new staff, passing the torch to younger people in the
industry, accessing expertise, and securing funding. The timing of funding, the short length of
projects, and the criteria of the success of a project all create challenges, and there is a role of all of
us to advocate for longer time-frames of projects and better criteria of success. In particular, there is
not a lot of funding for field-based surveys so there is often a lack of understanding about where
SAR are located.
Crowd-sourcing data options could enable volunteers to share their findings, though this requires
someone to manage data, training for volunteers about how to use those types of platforms, and
ways for making reporting easier.
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Notes_FINAL.docx 5
Deltoid Balsamroot. Photo © Judith Cullington
Urgency
The time is now – the more we wait, the more the species are slipping away. This is an opportune
time to talk about how to give back to nature and to build conversation into the ethos of each
community.
Creative funding could provide a solution, for instance, by making restoration the forefront of
development projects.
Advocacy
There is a lack of tools to designate conservation areas, not just on Crown land but also on
biodiversity hotspots on private lands. Policy limitations need to be acknowledged and we must
press upon government to advocate that there is an appetite to do this kind of work.
As a group, we have power and strength. This is an opportunity to send a message to elected
representatives that we are in an emergency crisis; we have to send a strong message and make it a
part of our economic resurgence. We need to use our collective voice to say that this sector needs
to be funded.
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Session A: Restoring Habitat for Species at Risk and
Landscape Level Collaboration
Chris Currie presented on the work of the Coastal Partners in Conservation Society, whose mission is
dedicated to science-based conservation actions to protect, restore, and monitor species and their
habitats. Emphasis is on collaboration between biologists, governments, First Nations, NGOs,
businesses, landowners, and citizens, to ensure healthy species populations and habitats for future
generations.
Chris described the group’s aim to bridge the gap between government biologists and non-
governmental organizations, and between specialist expertise and local knowledge. He outlined the
process used by the Society as the following:
1. Identify, map and monitor populations and habitats;
2. Prioritize sites and follow through on threat mitigation and restoration;
3. Try to formally protect priority habitats wherever feasible and using whatever tools are available
(e.g., conservation covenants); and
4. Try to engage with and educate stakeholders to facilitate ongoing stewardship, and partner with
others who are working on similar initiatives.
Chris emphasized the need to get locals and communities educated and supported in order to achieve
long-term stewardship as projects and biologists come and go.
In response to questions, the following points were made.
It is important to think about landscape level restoration.
If survey work is not conducted under a permit, data may not be publicly available. This is a concern.
Where possible, combining informal surveys (e.g., using iNaturalist) with more formal data gathering
(e.g., provincial RISC). Note that Conservation Data Centre is a good place to share data and
information, including informal information. Can also include masked occurrences if on private land.
INaturalist is working to make their data more community facing.
Carrina Maslovat presented on the Mt. Tuam SMART (Special Management Area Resource Team)
Project – work that demonstrates collaborative management of SEAR across jurisdictional boundaries.
(See presentation in Appendix C.) SMART is focused on collaborative management based on ecological
rather than jurisdictional boundaries. Research has been going on for 12 years, and includes SAR
monitoring and surveys, and restoration and invasive species removal. They have documented hundreds
of new SAR species occurrences, with work being conducted by multiple specialists.
The Mount Tuam Protected Area includes an area of private land protected by a conservation covenant
(legal agreement) between ITC, the Salt Spring Island Conservancy and the landowner. Management of
the covenant includes critical habitat restoration and SAR research. The new SAR Program funded the
most intensive Garry oak ecosystem restoration project to date in Canada with the largest number of
native species installed and the largest seed mix sown into an existing meadow site. The project
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Notes_FINAL.docx 7included erecting a one-acre exclosure in prime oak meadow habitat for habitat enhancement activities
to keep deer, rabbits and feral sheep out and support pollinators and other Species at Risk found there.
Restoration included removing grass thatch and invasive plants, installing over 20,000 native meadow
species and dispersing over 2 million seeds, establishing monitoring plots for endangered plants such as
Yellow Montane Violet and Coastal Scouler’s Catchfly, surveying for pollinators such as the red-listed
Zerene Fritillary, and acoustic bat surveying revealing 2 listed species occurrences.
Carrina then discussed the Sharp-tailed Snake eDNA research work in which she is involved.
Sharp-tailed Snake. Photo © Islands Trust Conservancy
Sharp-tailed Snakes are cryptic, well-camouflaged, fossorial and not active all year.
Artificial cover objects (ACOs) are asphalt shingles placed in areas of suitable habitat (warm, south-
facing slopes with decaying wood, leaf litter, rocks, etc.) that allow researchers to search for snakes
without disturbing their natural habitats.
eDNA research takes swabs from the soil beneath the ACOs.
In two years of eDNA surveys, 24 different snakes have been found.
In response to questions, the following points were noted.
Wait for early-flowering plants to senesce and block off access to later-flowering species before
doing things like mowing and raking.
Would be interesting to use eDNA to confirm Pacific Gopher Snake sighting on Mount Galiano.
More aggressive approaches to removing invasive grasses have not been considered at this point, as
they are very labour intensive.
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Notes_FINAL.docx 8 As native plants re-establish, it will become trickier and will require workers to be more meticulous
to manage invasive species without incurring damage to native species. Hand tools, like carpet
knives, should be used.
Canada thistle needs to be hand-pulled when flowering but before it goes to seed so their energy is
depleted.
Session B: Cultural Species of Significance and Eco-cultural
Restoration
Judith Lyn Arney and Sarah Jim discussed their work with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱—a place where students
learn about Indigenous food sovereignty, restoration work and SENĆOŦEN language.
Supporting little ones to become land stewards is an important part of restoration work.
It is important to establish protocols and relationships with the Nations on whose land you are doing
restoration projects. Create a respective, mutually beneficial relationship.
Communicate to the nation whose land you are managing, let them know what you are doing. Ask if
they would like to be involved. Offer to compensate. Don’t expect a response, but continue to bring
awareness to the nation that you are doing good restoration work on their unceded lands.
Presence on the land, healing on the land, and cultural healing practices are interconnected.
Restoration work is deeply connected to cultural revitalization. If not for colonialism, this work
would not be necessary, and the people’s connection would not have been lost.
Removing invasive species is a form of physical decolonization as well as a good way to get people
together.
There is hope for a revolutionized school system where the value of being on the land, and
incorporating restoration activities is more widely accepted and encouraged.
In response to questions, the following points were noted.
They arrange meetings with Nations on whose land their projects take place to continuously provide
updates. They constantly invite feedback and offer to shift the project as needed to align with
community values.
Though bands often have capacity issues, it is important to keep them informed, if even through just
an annual report.
The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation benefits from longer-term partnership agreements and they have
developed protocols of engagement that aim for a reciprocal relationship rather than an extractive
one.
Alaga̱ ̱mił (Nicole Norris) described her role as a current knowledge holder for sea gardens in the Gulf
Islands and the extensive amount of aquaculture work that is involved. She made the following
comments as she shared the story of the sea gardens.
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Notes_FINAL.docx 9 Our work is an intimate relationship with the land—a connection and personal relationship that we
have with our ancestors.
When we do restoration work we are assisting our ancestors with the work they started long ago.
Recognizing that the sea gardens are in shared territories, we have developed maps with traditional
place names.
Sea garden restoration work is underway at more than 50 beaches along the West Coast.
The sea gardens that have been actively turned developed a more diverse presence of bivalves and
stayed cooler during the heat dome causing less die-off among species than sea gardens that were
left untouched.
There is need for partnerships with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, and the BC Heritage Branch.
In response to questions, Alaga̱ ̱mił described how the development of sea gardens might help
restoration work in other areas, like Fulford Harbour and in the Fraser Delta. She commented on how
some sea gardens are at risk of becoming invisible due to rising sea levels.
Breakout group discussions (afternoon session)
Participants worked in smaller breakout groups to discuss:
Given the identified challenges and collaborative opportunities, what knowledge and actions can you
or your organisation contribute?
What steps can be taken to improve on information and data-sharing of SEAR and Cultural
Species/Ecosystems?
What are the pros and cons of setting up a working group dedicated to Islands SEAR?
What role should the ITC play in this working group?
The group reconvened following the breakouts to discuss how to work collaboratively to address the
identified challenges. Suggestions for improving information and data sharing were as follows.
There is a desire for improved information and data-sharing, as well as an organizational body that
periodically checks in with partner organizations for updates related to data.
It would be useful if the organization has a platform to support data-sharing and is not dependent
on grants should funding fall through.
It would be useful to create a geospatial stewardship map.
There is a collaborative opportunity for the ITC to act as a hub, like Transition Salt Spring, where
people can regularly convene to discuss subjects like SEAR.
There is opportunity for collaborative First Nation involvement in terms of documentation through
film-making on topics like integrating the archaeological aspects of restoration and SAR.
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Notes_FINAL.docx 10 It would be useful for collaborators to be part of an organization that can help coordinate various
tasks among organizations, including grunt work (e.g., hauling materials or sharing species-specific
understanding of what needs to be done).
In data-sharing, there are issues with methodology, obtaining permissions and naming consistency
(e.g., Indigenous names need to be used for species and places as the name of a species might
change from one side of an island to another).
It would be beneficial to empower local communities to be responsible for curating community data
that can be shared via a regional network.
Local communities can take initiative with guidance from organizational expertise.
Ideas relating the establishment of a working group and what role the ITC could play included the
following.
A working group would:
o Get information out that can inform communities and local action
o Create a network that focuses on the values we have as a community
o Create the habit of collaborating and communicating with other groups, and would also help
to establish and maintain a contact list
o Help to emphasize data-sharing as a priority for smaller organizations that have limited
capacity
o Provide for more diversity of knowledge and better opportunity for knowledge-sharing and
creating connections
Concerns about establishing a working group are:
o Capacity issues and the risk that it might produce a redundant level of bureaucracy that just
produces reports
o A species and ecosystems working group may be too broad and risk losing the interest of
those who have specific expertise
o Focusing on SAR is problematic since all landscapes have value for various reasons and
focusing on one species might detract from other landscapes
Possible roles for the ITC are:
o Providing the hub and playing a role in convening a working group of community members
who are keen and have capacity to play an initial role in making recommendations
o Helping to prioritize across the region
o Connecting the government with non-governmental organizations and acting as a link
between the smaller island conservancies
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Notes_FINAL.docx 11Next Steps Discussed at Workshop
A report on the workshop will be created with an appendix that lists the links shared in the chat (see
links below).
A workshop follow-up survey will be sent to participants.
The working group idea will be brought to the next level of discussion.
Many hands were raised to indicate interest in a regional islands plan focused on SAR, noting it
would help to clarify what differentiates this group from all the others.
Judith and Wendy thanked the presenters, participants, and moderators. Wendy noted a real desire to
glue together some of the pieces that are happening independently so there is knowledge that the work
is connected through a shared goal.
Links Shared
Throughout the day, participants posted links of interest.
Projected changes in bird assemblages due to climate change in a Canadian system of protected
areas - https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0262116
Stewardship Baseline Objectives Tool: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-
resource-stewardship/resource-stewardship-tools/sbot
Marine Stewardship Initiative interactive map: https://howesoundguide.ca/map/
When using iNaturalist, please promote the use of https://inaturalist.ca/ rather than ‘iNaturalist.org’
This provides easier access for the CDC (Conservation Data Centre) and other platforms collating
data.
Hoping for Herring: https://howesoundguide.ca/hoping-for-herring/
Howe Sound Conservation Network: https://www.howesoundbri.org/howe-sound-conservation-
network-1
Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership's Ethical Space: https://conservation-
reconciliation.ca/ethical-space
Ruth Simons: howesoundbri@gmail.com – please contact with any questions
CoSphere: https://www.cosphere.net/
Year of the Salish Sea: https://www.yearofthesalishsea.ca/
The Flora and Fauna of Galiano Island: https://ponder.org.uk/imerss/Galiano%20Life%20List.html
Valdes Island Map View: https://biogaliano.org/valdes-island-map-view/
Dataset of marine animals species reported for Galiano Island: https://imerss.github.io/imerss-
bioinfo/dataPaperSunburstAndMap.html
Toward an atlas of Salish Sea biodiversity: the flora and fauna of Galiano Island, British Columbia,
Canada. Part I. Marine zoology: https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/76050/
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx 12 Ethics of making the location of big trees accessible to the public:
https://www.raincoast.org/2021/09/ethics-of-making-the-location-of-big-trees-accessible-to-the-
public/
BC CDC Seaside Juniper:
https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/esr.do;jsessionid=e54b31fc558e7a2b935992bc93b36314ed4f408
400346384cc0cb62ca0f30982.e3uMah8KbhmLe3aOchqKaNuOci1ynknvrkLOlQzNp65In0?id=24979
NatureCounts (bird data): https://www.birdscanada.org/naturecounts/default/main.jsp
Local2030 Islands Network: https://www.islands2030.org/
Small Islands Organization (SMILO): https://smilo-program.org/
Campaign for Nature: https://www.campaignfornature.org/indigenous-peoples
Institute for Multidisciplinary Ecological Research in the Salish Sea (IMERSS): www.imerss.org
The Clam Garden Network: https://clamgarden.com/
ITC Regional Conservation Plan: https://islandstrust.bc.ca/conservancy/conservation-planning/
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx 13Appendix A: Agenda
Islands Trust Conservancy
Gathering for Species at Risk
March 17th 2022
Join by Zoom: https://islandstrust.zoom.us/j/62916906420
Agenda
Time
9:00 am Welcome
Territorial Acknowledgement and Welcome Blessing
Kate Emmings, Islands Trust Conservancy
Housekeeping
9:25 am ITC Species at Risk Program
Wendy Tyrrell, Islands Trust Conservancy
9:50 am Keynote presentation:
Atl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere & local SEAR initiatives
Ruth Simons, Howe Sound Biosphere Initiative
10:30 am Break
10:45 am Breakout group discussions:
What are the most important challenges that you face? How can collaborative
action help you to resolve these?
Report back to plenary
Noon – 1 pm Lunch break
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx 141:00 – 2:30 pm Two concurrent sessions
Session A: Session B:
Restoring Habitat for SAR & Cultural Species of Significance &
Landscape Level Collaboration Ecocultural Restoration
Chris Currie (Coastal Partners in Judith Lyn Arney and Sarah Jim
Conservation Society) (PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱)
Collaborative-based SAR Projects QENENIW̱ Restoration Project on
S,DÁYES (Pender Island)
Nicole Norris Alag̱a̱mił, Halalt
Carrina Maslovat, RPBio
Nation, (Shellfish Aquaculture
(Maslovat Consulting)
Specialist & Knowledge Holder)
Sharp-tailed Snake eDNA research
Restoring Sea Gardens in the Gulf
& Mt. Tuam SMART Project
Islands Sea
Presentations and discussion
Presentations and discussion
2:30 – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 pm Breakout group discussions:
Given the identified challenges and collaborative opportunities, what
knowledge and actions can you or your organisation contribute?
What steps can be taken to improve on information and data sharing of
SEAR and Cultural Species/Ecosystems?
What are the pros and cons of setting up a working group dedicated to
Islands SEAR?
What role should the Islands Trust Conservancy play in this working
group?
Plenary review of ideas and confirmation of next steps
4:30 pm Meeting ends
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx 15Appendix B: Workshop Participants
First Name Last Name Affiliation
Judith Lyn Arney PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
Mike Badry Ministry of Environment
Jenny Balke Denman Conservancy Association
Sarein Basi-Primeau Nature Conservancy of Canada
Rachel Bevington Salt Spring Island Conservancy and Stqeeye' Learning Society
Carly Bilney Judith Cullington & Associates
Andy Blackburn Denman Conservancy Association
Rob Brockley Gabriola Land & Trails Trust
Danielle Buckle HAT
Lynn Campbell BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
James Casey Birds Canada
Kelly Chapman CDFCP, KWEST inc.
Wayne Crossland Parks Canada
Ian Cruickshank Parks Canada
Judith Cullington Judith Cullington & Associates
Chris Currie Coastal Partners in Conservation, South Coast Bat Conservation
Society, Carex Ecological
Kimberly Dohms Canadian Wildlife Service
Shauna Doll Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Chris Drake Coast Alive Stewardship Services
Kate Emmings Islands Trust Conservancy
Sue Ellen Fast Islands Trust Conservancy
Micaele Florendo Maddison Consultants Ltd.
Carla Funk Islands Trust Conservancy
Jeannine Georgeson IMERRS
Jemma Green Islands Trust Conservancy
Ken Gurr Gabriola Land and Trails Trust
Luise Hermanutz Denman Conservancy Assoc., DCA
Judith Holm Squamish Environmental Conservation Society
Isabelle Houde shishalh Nation Rights and Title Department
Gregg Howald Coastal Conservation
Adam Huggins Galiano Conservancy Association
Karen Iwachow TLC The Land Conservancy of BC
Sarah Jim PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
Sara Lax Habitat Acquisition Trust
Sabina Leader Mense Friends of Cortes Island Society (FOCI)
Kathryn Martell Islands Trust Conservancy
Carrina Maslovat Maslovat Consulting
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx 16First Name Last Name Affiliation
Laura Matthias Consultant
Marian McCoy BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Else Mikkelsen Keats Island Conservation Group
Kristen Miskelly Satinflower Nurseries
Aimee Mitchell Coastal Partners in Conservation Society
Dana Moraes Naut'sa mawt facilitator
Nuala Murphy Islands Trust Conservancy
Candace Newman K’ómoks First Nation
Brad Nixon Gabriola Land and Trails Trust
Vanessa Ong Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council
Jesse Patterson
Aimee Pelletier Parks Canada
Briony Penn The Land Conservancy
Carol Petroski Gambier Island Conservancy and Brigade Bay Homeowner's Society
Kathleen Reimer Island Stream and Salmon Enhancement Society
Robyn Renton BC Conservation Data Centre
Gordon Scott Lasqueti Island Nature Conservancy LINC
Suzanne Senger Sunshine Coast Conservation Association
Jeffrey Shatford BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural
Development
Andrew Simon Institute for Multidisciplinary Ecological Research in the Salish Sea
Ruth Simons Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society
Carmen Smith Islands Trust Conservancy
Lyndsey Smith Coastal Douglas-fir Conservation Partnership
Kate-Louise Stamford Chair, Islands Trust Conservancy
Katrina Stipec BC Conservation Data Centre, BC Government
Kevin Telfer BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural
Development
April Treakle Tla'amin Nation
Wendy Tyrrell Islands Trust Conservancy
Rob Underhill Mayne Island Conservancy
Emily Upham-Mills BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural
Development
Leanna Warman The Nature Trust of British Columbia
Leah Westereng BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Ronna Woudstra Habitat Acquisition Trust
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx 17Appendix C: Presentations
1. ITC’s Species at Risk Program: Wendy Tyrrell (Islands Trust
Conservancy)
2. Strengthening collaboration in Atl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere
Region: Ruth Simons (Howe Sound Biosphere Initiative)
3. Species at Risk Restoration and Monitoring and Sharp-tailed Snake
eDNA research Mount Tuam: Carinna Maslovat (Maslovat Consulting)
4. Collaborative SAR Conservation - Linking Landscape and Site
Chris Currie (Coastal Partners in Conservation)
5. PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation: Relational Restoration
Judith Lyn Arney and Sarah Jim (PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation)
ITC_2022-04-11_SAR-Workshop_March17-2022_Summary-
Notes_FINAL.docx 18ITC’s Species at Risk Program
Wendy Tyrrell
Species at Risk Program Coordinator
Islands Trust Conservancy2022-03-23
ITC’s Species at Risk Program
© D’Arcy Island, K. Mayes
1
Species at Risk Program
• 3-year grant awarded by Environment and Climate Change
Canada (ECCC) from the Canada Nature Fund’s Priority Places
Species at Risk Stream.
• The goals of the ITC SAR Program are:
➢ Coordinate the compilation & analysis of SAR data for the
Islands Trust Area (ITA)
➢ Inventory, monitor & manage SAR & SAR habitat in ITC’s
protected areas
➢ Deliver SAR outreach to the Islands Trust staff, officials
and the public
➢ Develop relationships and collaboration with First
Nations for more effective SAR Program delivery
➢ Increase land conservation with a focus on SAR
protection & recovery
2
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SAR Habitat
Gambier Restoration,
Island Surveying
Restoration- &
Long Bay
Monitoring Projects
Wetland on ITC’s
Nature Protected Lands
Reserve
• Partnering with local
Island Conservancies on
SAR projects.
• Surveying for Species at Risk
and Critical Habitat
• Restoring SAR Habitat
• SAR Surveys and Ecological
baseline studies for new
conservation lands
• Invasive plant management
in SAR Critical Habitat
• Installation of habitat
structures
3
Gambier Island Restoration- Long Bay
Mt. Tuam Pollinator
Wetland and
Nature SAR Project
Reserve
• Led by SAR Biologists Carrina
Maslovat & Laura Mathias
• More than 20,000 meadow species
installed, and 2 million seeds
distributed
• Part of the larger Mt. Tuam Special
Management Area Resource Team’s
(SMART) SAR habitat restoration
efforts
• Coastal Scouler’s Catchfly
(Silene scouleri ssp. scouleri)
• Yellow Montane Violet
(Viola praemorsa var. praemorsa
• Zerene Fritillary
(Speyeria zerene bremnerii)
4
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Pre-workshop Survey
Survey Highlights:
Top Challenges
➢ Insufficient funding
➢ Capacity
➢ Expertise
Zerene Fritillary Butterfly © Laura-Matthias
Collaboration & Data Sharing
➢ 99% polled said YES! “More data =
Islands-wide Working Group more knowledge =
➢ 98% polled said YES! more informed decisions.”
5
Pre-Workshop Survey
• Was there something missing?
– Is there a question that you would have liked to have
seen on the survey?
• Put ideas in the chat.
– we can come back to them in future gatherings!
6
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Questions?
Wendy Tyrrell
wtyrrell@islandstrust.bc.ca
© Galiano Island, K. Mayes
7
THANK YOU TO ENVIRONMENT &
CLIMATE CHANGE CANADA –
for making this workshop possible.
© Wetland, K. Mayes
8
4KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Ruth Simons
Howe Sound Biosphere Initiative
“Strengthening Collaboration in
AǶtl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Region”2022-03-23
Strengthening collaboration in
Átl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Region
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 1
1
www.howesoundbri.org
10/25/2021 2
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3
• 218,723 hectares,
• 84% terrestrial and 16% marine.
• 5% of the terrestrial is privately owned or “urban”
• 89% of the terrestrial area is under the management and
shared stewardship of the Province of BC and First
Nations.
• Approximately 42% of the terrestrial area within the
region is under some form of management for
conservation values.
• This is the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
Úxwumixw, Squamish Nation people. Tseli-Waututh,
Musqueuam, Sto:lo, Shishalht, St’at’imc-Lillooet Tribal
Council, In-shuck-ch, Katzie, Lil’wat and First Nations
within the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group have claims in the
region.
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 4
4
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5
6
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10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 7
7
www.howesoundbri.org
10/25/2021 8
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10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 9
9
Place for learning,
connecting with the land
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 10
10
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11
Howe Sound Community Forums since 2000
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 12
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Many forums, many years
13
Collaborating for a sustainable future
Tools for collaboration
• Howe Sound Ocean Watch Report – Ocean Wise
• Marine Reference Guide – Make Way Foundation
• Suzuki Foundation’s Conservation Map – David Suzuki
Foundation
• Cumulative Effects Assessment project - FLNRORD
• iNaturalist Biodiversity Squamish project
14
72022-03-23
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 15
15
Biodiversity
• iNaturalist –
• Biodiversity Squamish Project
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 16
16
82022-03-23
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 17
17
Searching for Slhawt’/herring in
Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound
- Marine Reference Guide
- Citizen Scientists
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish
Nation)
- St’a7mes School
- West Vancouver Foundation
- Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative
Society
- UBC
18
92022-03-23
Eelgrass Plantings in Howe Sound
Seachange Conservation Society and
community conservation groups
19
Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuges
• Vancouver Aquarium/Ocean Wise
• Marine Life Sanctuaries Society
• Underwater Council of BC
• Howe Sound Community Forum/Local governments
• Squamish Nation
20
102022-03-23
Nature Reserve work parties
21
Lessons learned
• Common goals defined
• Building & maintaining
relationships
• Leadership and support
22
112022-03-23
Ruth Simons, howesoundbri@gmail.com
Photo credits:
Adam Taylor Tourism Squamish Chris Christie Bob Turner
Steve Quane Amber Turneau Kris Krug David Suzuki Foundation
Squamish River Watershed Society Bridget John
Fiona Beaty Richard Duncan
10/25/2021 www.howesoundbri.org 23
23
12Species at Risk Restoration &
Monitoring Sharp-tailed Snake eDNA Research
Mount Tuam
Carrina Maslovat & Laura Matthias2022-03-23
Species at Risk Restoration and Monitoring
and Sharp-tailed Snake eDNA research
Mount Tuam
Photo: C. Maslovat
Photo: C. Maslovat
Photo: C. Maslovat
Carrina Maslovat and Laura Matthias, SAR biologists
All Photos: L. Matthias unless noted
1
Mt. Tuam SMART
• Collaborative management
based on ecological rather
than jurisdictional
boundaries
• Annual meetings for 12
years
• SAR monitoring and
surveys- 100s of new
occurrences
• Grant driven
• Restoration and invasive
species removal
2
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3
4
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5
MTPA Pollinator Enhancement Project
6
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Marking locations of
rare plants
7
Mowing and
raking to
reduce thatch
8
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Invasive Species Removal
9
Pollinator
Surveys
10
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Zerene Fritillary
11
Yellow Montane Violet
12
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Acoustic Bat
Monitoring
9 species detected on Transport
Canada lands
Common Name Scientific Provincial Federal
Name Listing Listing
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus
fuscus
Brazilian Free- Tadarida
tailed Bat brazilensis
California Myotis
Myotis californicus
Hoary Bat Lasiurus
cinereus
Little Brown Myotis Endangered
Myotis lucifugus
Silver-haired Lasionycteris
Bat noctivagans
Townsend’s Big- Corynorhinus Blue
eared Bat townsendii
Western Long- Myotis evotis
eared Myotis
Yuma Myotis Myotis
yumanensis
13
Vegetation
monitoring
1m2 plots
14
72022-03-23
Coastal Scouler’s
Catchfly
monitoring
Photo: C. Maslovat
15
Coastal Scouler’s
Catchfly Augmentation
Photo: C. Maslovat
16
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Planting the
MTPA
17
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Native Plants, Bulbs and Seeds
Planted in the MTPA
PLANTS:
• 23 species of native plants
• 11,156 plants
• 9,394 bulbs and corms
• TOTAL: 20,550 plants!!!
SEEDS:
• 25 species of native plant seeds
• estimate of 2,050,492 total seeds
19
Sharp-tailed Snake
monitoring
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Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis)
* Threatened (Committee on the Status of
Endangered Wildlife in Canada-COSEWIC)
* Endangered under the Species at Risk Act
* Red-listed provincially
21
Sharp-tailed Snake
Surveys using ACOs
Photo: C. Maslovat
22
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Snakes are
found using
Artificial Cover
Objects
(ACOs)
23
Novel eDNA surveys for
Sharp-tailed Snake
24
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eDNA vs Traditional Surveys
Results 2018-2019
Number of Samples Detections Success rate Photo: C. Maslovat
6,060 ACO checks 24 snakes found 0.4%
108 ACO swab samples (with and 20 positive eDNA 18.5%
without snakes present) detections
79 soil samples (with and without 16 positive eDNA 20.3%
snakes present) detections
• eDNA can be
detected from soil
and swab samples
even where snakes
not observed: ACO
swabs (8%) and soils
(13%)
25
Thank you ITC
for supporting
Species at Risk
restoration and
monitoring!
26
13PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation: Relational Restoration Judith Lyn Arney & Sarah Jim PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
2022-03-23
PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation:
Relational Restoration
Judith Lyn Arney & Sarah Jim
PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
1
W̱SÁNEĆ Homelands
Saltwater People’s Atlas, Dave Elliot Sr
2
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PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱: the blossoming place
3
W̱SÁNEĆ Youth: Restoration of Sacred Places
4
22022-03-23
Emerging W̱SÁNEĆ
Land Stewards
5
QENENIW̱ Restoration Project
6
32022-03-23
July 2021: ĆENŦAKI Moon
W̱SÁNEĆ First Salmon Ceremony
Healing the Land, Connecting to Culture
7
Relational Restoration:
Connecting to the Land
& Each Other
8
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HÍSW̱ḴE SII,ÁM!
pepakenhautw.com
9
5Collaborative SAR Conservation: Linking Landscape and Site Chris Currie & Aimee Mitchell Coastal Partners In Conservation
Collaborative SAR Conservation:
Linking Landscape and Site
Aimee Mitchell
Chris CurrieWho are we? • Society established 2018 • Umbrella organisation for group of self-employed biologists • Monitoring and restoring SAR pop’ns and habitat • Partnerships and outreach • Filling gaps
Who are we? • Initially focused on Western Painted Turtle and amphibian SAR • Found a need/opportunity to branch out to other SAR in region • Lots of gaps • Lots of opportunities
What do we do?
• Northern Goshawk • Oregon Spotted Frog
• Tailed Frog • Western Toad
• Coastal Giant • Great Blue Heron
Salamander • Rigid Apple Moss
• Little Brown Myotis • VI Beggarticks
• Townsend’s Big- • Streambank Lupine
eared Bat • Giant Chain Fern
• Sharp-tailed Snake • California Sword Fern
• Rigid Apple Moss
• Rubber Boa
• Western Screech-owl
• Pacific Water Shrew
• Western Toad
• Red-legged FrogOur approach • Connect site level conservation & restoration and landscape level EBM • Efficiencies – travel and access • Bridge between specialist expertise, local knowledge and ongoing First Nations and stakeholder stewardship
Example Case #1 • Western Painted Turtles: Coastal Painted Turtle Project • 2008-present – all of region 2 • Focus on population monitoring and restoration • Realization of how many gaps could be partially addressed through overlap
Example Case #2 • SAR Conservation in Coastal Douglas-fir and Associated Ecosystems (CDFAE) in qathet from 2016-2018 • Focused on six Species at Risk: ○Western Toad ○Red-legged Frog ○ Little Brown Myotis ○ Western Screech-owl (kennicottii subsp.) ○ rigid apple moss ○ Sharp-tailed Snake
Typical Project Flow 1. Identify, map and monitor populations and habitats 2. Prioritize sites, create site management plans, follow through on restoration and threat mitigation 3. Formally protect priority habitats wherever feasible 4. Engage and educate stakeholders, facilitate ongoing stewardship
Identify, map and monitor
populations and habitats
• Look at existing records and maps
– Reach out!
– MARXAN tool developed by CDFCP
• Consult with local stakeholders and First
Nations
• On the ground surveysResults: Red-legged Frog
(Rana aurora)Identify, map and monitor
populations and habitats
• Look at existing records and maps
– Reach out!
• Consult with local stakeholders and FN
• On the ground surveys
– Leverage time on the ground
– e.g. amphibian egg mass surveys = assessing
habitat for turtles, WESO, Pacific Water Shrew etc.
• Get data into SPI at minimumPrioritization management
planning threat mitigation &
ecological restoration
• Prioritization requires understanding of site and
landscape level considerations
• Identify threats
• Ecological restoration
– Often limited to site level: mitigating imminent
threats, enhancing key habitat features
– View through landscape level lens
– Enable local stewards/land managersFormally protect key habitats • Use tools available to shift from immediate mitigation to long term conservation – WHAs – Conservation Covenants – Land Trust Acquisition – Other designations • Prioritization might lead to moving forward with actions regardless
Education, outreach, partnerships,
and collaboration
• Ensure local stakeholders and FN have
information to enable stewardship
– biologists come and go
• Partner with existing initiatives
– Helping stewardship groups navigate the labyrinth
of government
– Lend our expertise
– Use our connections to link local stewards to
other expertsSAR Collaboration for just CDFAE and CPTP
programs
– CDFCP – Nature Trust BC
• Leverage these connections to empower–local
Sunshine Coast
stewards
– Local landowners – Texada Trekkers Wildlife Project
• Connect laypeople to experts – WPT Working
– LINC – Lafarge
– Malaspina – BC Parks Group
Conservancy – Friends of – WESO ke Working
– First Nations (12) Stillwater Bluffs Group
– Municipalities – Imagine Lot 450 – SCCP
(21) – Powell River – BCCF
– Regional Districts Orphaned Wildlife – SWSK
(4) Society – Schools (21)
– MoE – BC Community – FVC
– ECCC Bat Program – FVWC
– MFLNRORD – BC Bat Action – GV Zoo
– IT Team – SRWSThank You!
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