Laura Judson

In Brief: BC's Garry Oak Recovery Depends on Local Landowners

21 October, 2010 | Laura Judson

THE WILDFLOWERS, butterflies and gnarly trees that characterize Garry oak habitat are feeling the strain of the hordes of people flooding Southwestern BC’s temperate climate. With the Garry oak’s historic range falling on some of Canada’s most valuable property, it’s little wonder that 95 per cent of these ecosystems have been lost to development pressures.

Fortunately, a unique collaboration between the not-for-profit Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) and Parks Canada is giving the remaining slivers of habitat, which support at least 116 species at risk, some much-needed protection. ...

Published in: Biodiversity 36.6

The Pollinators

17 February, 2010 | Laura Judson

A green, freshly cut lawn was once the marker of an upstanding home. So much so that many Canadian cities actually mandate golf-course-style lawns to protect the curb appeal of local neighbourhoods. But a retired Ottawa couple recently challenged the merit of monoculture – and won. Hank and Vera Jones became lawbreakers, and then law reformers, when they designed their lawn to embrace the environment rather than outdated aesthetics.

“We’re rebuilding pollination habitat that people have largely destroyed over the years,” said Hank, who planted a half-hectare pollination garden this spring. …

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