Remote Sensing: Garry Oak Species Detection Project
Presentation by Ryan Senechal at the GOMPS AGM on November 17th, 2024
Summary
Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society is a volunteer-run non-profit based in Saanich, BC that advocates for individual Garry oak and Garry oak ecosystem protection and stewardship. Mapping and analysis of the overall Garry oak ecosystem and individual trees in the Capital Regional District is out of date. LiDAR is a cost-effective, high accuracy method of forest analysis that enables measurements such as change to tree populations through intensifying land development. Our interest is in developing a new approach to map Garry oak species presence using LiDAR and machine learning. By conducting species specific detection analysis to form a species composition baseline, we can enable future analysis opportunities that are Garry oak and Garry oak ecosystem specific. This is an important contribution to a growing body of regional urban forest mapping that could influence changes in tree protection policies (e.g., enhanced existing tree protections and requirements for Garry oak replacement trees through private development), and management and planning for Garry oaks on public property.
Analysis
Our initial analysis goals are to perform Garry oak species detection within a minimum of a single municipality (City of Victoria) and eventually expand the method to survey all municipalities in the Capital Regional District. We hope to have located and calculated the overall Garry oak canopy area. Our goal is to offer the Garry oak mapping and high resolution raw LiDAR/ortho data flown for this project publicly. This data sharing will support researchers, community members and other nonprofit organizations with our Garry oak species analysis, and also enable additional novel data analysis approaches supporting Garry oaks and Garry oak ecosystems.
Presentation slides (.pdf)
Summary
Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society is a volunteer-run non-profit based in Saanich, BC that advocates for individual Garry oak and Garry oak ecosystem protection and stewardship. Mapping and analysis of the overall Garry oak ecosystem and individual trees in the Capital Regional District is out of date. LiDAR is a cost-effective, high accuracy method of forest analysis that enables measurements such as change to tree populations through intensifying land development. Our interest is in developing a new approach to map Garry oak species presence using LiDAR and machine learning. By conducting species specific detection analysis to form a species composition baseline, we can enable future analysis opportunities that are Garry oak and Garry oak ecosystem specific. This is an important contribution to a growing body of regional urban forest mapping that could influence changes in tree protection policies (e.g., enhanced existing tree protections and requirements for Garry oak replacement trees through private development), and management and planning for Garry oaks on public property.
Analysis
Our initial analysis goals are to perform Garry oak species detection within a minimum of a single municipality (City of Victoria) and eventually expand the method to survey all municipalities in the Capital Regional District. We hope to have located and calculated the overall Garry oak canopy area. Our goal is to offer the Garry oak mapping and high resolution raw LiDAR/ortho data flown for this project publicly. This data sharing will support researchers, community members and other nonprofit organizations with our Garry oak species analysis, and also enable additional novel data analysis approaches supporting Garry oaks and Garry oak ecosystems.
Presentation slides (.pdf)
VCAN Community Mapping Project
Presentation by Carollyne Yardley at AGM November 17, 2024.
A conversation about the distribution of biodiversity within and between the City of Victoria's neighbourhoods.
To complement the City’s excellent inventory of all trees on public land, the Victoria Community Association Network (VCAN) has involved each neighbourhood in an inventory of Garry oaks and other elements of biodiversity on private property. Each neighbourhood developed their own approach and will be reporting back to residents on what they learned and what we have learned about the larger patterns within our urban forest.
The urban area of the City of Victoria is the Garry oak ecosystem (GOE)–– a fact often left out of discussions on the urban forest. Objectives of the project include:
Presentation slides (.pdf)
Printed slide deck at wrap up event by Jacklyn Jolicoeur (.pdf)
A conversation about the distribution of biodiversity within and between the City of Victoria's neighbourhoods.
To complement the City’s excellent inventory of all trees on public land, the Victoria Community Association Network (VCAN) has involved each neighbourhood in an inventory of Garry oaks and other elements of biodiversity on private property. Each neighbourhood developed their own approach and will be reporting back to residents on what they learned and what we have learned about the larger patterns within our urban forest.
The urban area of the City of Victoria is the Garry oak ecosystem (GOE)–– a fact often left out of discussions on the urban forest. Objectives of the project include:
- to connect people, cultural connections to the territory, map current Garry oak distribution, enhance canopy equity.
- to directly benefit residents and wildlife, wildlife corridors for the movement and dispersal of organisms, and establish nodes of functioning.
- assist in protecting and restoring the function of sensitive ecosystems and natural areas, including habitat corridors and assist with the parks acquisition strategy (9.2 of the Official Community Plan).
Presentation slides (.pdf)
Printed slide deck at wrap up event by Jacklyn Jolicoeur (.pdf)
Zoom to enlarge areas on the map. The City of Victoria Garry oak tree inventory data is noted in green. Other points represent individual trees or areas where Garry oaks exist. Please note, this is not an individual Garry oak tree count and does not represent all Garry oak trees in the City of Victoria. Neighbourhoods participating in this community building project included Burnside Gorge, Downtown, Fairfield / Gonzales, Fernwood, Hillside Quadra, James Bay, North Jubilee, South Jubilee, North Park, Oaklands, Rockland, Victoria West.
Garry Oak Trees and Ecosystems with Ryan Senechal
Garry Oak Trees and Ecosystems with Ryan Senechal, President of the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society. The Rockland Neighbourhood Association invited its members to attend a presentation on the native Garry oak (Quercus garryana) woodlands and meadows and the preservation, protection and restoration of a key part of Victoria BC's natural ecosystem.
Here is the full PDF file of the presentation.
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Indigenous land stewardship is key to the survival of this rare ecosystem | Creator Network
CBC Vancouver
The Garry oak ecosystem is home to hundreds of species, many of which are endangered and are not found anywhere else. These meadows exist today because of the stewardship of Indigenous peoples. In this video, wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell and filmmaker Emily Robertson meet two Indigenous stewards PEPAḴIYE (Ashley Cooper) and ŚW̱,XELOSELWET (Tiffany Joseph), as they explain the importance of the Garry oak meadows for traditional food, medicine, culture and biodiversity. Indigenous peoples continue to steward these meadows today and are ensuring that they survive for future generations. Featuring: PEPAḴIYE Ashley Cooper - PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ ȽTS Program Director ŚW̱,XELOSELWET Tiffany Joseph - Language & Cultural Revivalist Connel Bradwell - Co-Director & Host Emily Robertson - Cinematographer, Editor, Co-Director & Host Produced for CBC Creator Network.
The Garry oak ecosystem is home to hundreds of species, many of which are endangered and are not found anywhere else. These meadows exist today because of the stewardship of Indigenous peoples. In this video, wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell and filmmaker Emily Robertson meet two Indigenous stewards PEPAḴIYE (Ashley Cooper) and ŚW̱,XELOSELWET (Tiffany Joseph), as they explain the importance of the Garry oak meadows for traditional food, medicine, culture and biodiversity. Indigenous peoples continue to steward these meadows today and are ensuring that they survive for future generations. Featuring: PEPAḴIYE Ashley Cooper - PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ ȽTS Program Director ŚW̱,XELOSELWET Tiffany Joseph - Language & Cultural Revivalist Connel Bradwell - Co-Director & Host Emily Robertson - Cinematographer, Editor, Co-Director & Host Produced for CBC Creator Network.