Petition Regarding Large-Scale Removal of Himalayan Blackberry Habitat in Nanaimo

While Himalayan blackberry is classified as an invasive species in British Columbia, the current large-scale clearing occurring across parts of Nanaimo is creating immediate and visible harm to urban wildlife.

In several areas, dense blackberry thickets have been removed without any replacement habitat. As a result, rabbits and other small animals are now stranded in open dirt corridors near busy roadways with no shelter, shade, or food source.

Although non-native, these blackberry thickets had been providing essential survival functions for local wildlife, including:

• Dense protection from predators and traffic

• Shade during high summer temperatures

• Cover for nesting birds and small mammals

• Nectar and fruit for pollinators

• Soil stabilization on slopes and disturbed land

With the sudden removal of this vegetation, animals are left exposed to heat stress, dehydration, predation, and increased road mortality. In many of these cleared areas, native vegetation has not yet been replanted, leaving an ecological gap rather than a transition to restoration.

We respectfully support responsible ecosystem restoration. However, restoration must include a transition plan that protects the wildlife currently living in these habitats.

We therefore request that the City of Nanaimo implement the following measures:

Phased removal of blackberry thickets rather than large-scale clearing all at once
Immediate replanting of dense native shrubs such as snowberry, Nootka rose, and red-osier dogwood
Wildlife impact assessments prior to major vegetation removal
Temporary habitat buffers or brush piles to allow animals safe relocation
Clear public communication outlining restoration timelines and wildlife protection measures

Ecological stewardship should not unintentionally increase the suffering of animals that have come to rely on these habitats.

We ask the City of Nanaimo to adopt a more thoughtful and humane transition plan that protects both environmental restoration goals and the well-being of local wildlife.