Save the Mighty Braefoot Oaks!  

We the signed, call upon the District of Saanich to save all of the over 100 Garry Oaks at 4015 Braefoot Rd.

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Background:

The majestic Garry Oaks at 4015 Braefoot Rd. in Saanich, British Columbia, are at critical risk. Over 100 of these magnificent trees, many of which have stood for centuries, may be cut down due to proposed developments on the property. These trees are not just flora; they are vital keystone components of the living ecosystem, cultural heritage, and community identity. 

The development proposal is to build 24 townhomes a the former farm.  The proposal will remove 68 of the Garry oaks. They are mostly mature trees (80+ yrs old), including at least four trees whose trunks measure one metre or more in diameter, which Saanich classifies as “Exceptional Trees,” due to their large canopies and the extensive ecosystem services they provide. 

Unfortunately, a similar oak grove was mostly destroyed for construction, not far away - half a decade ago.

North Quadra project raises concerns over loss of Garry oaks - Victoria Times Colonist

The good news is that the developer, who owns the 4015 Braefoot property, has shown that he is not averse to the District making this site a park/space for the protection of Garry Oaks.  That should be our ultimate goal, as this magnificent Garry Oak grove is priceless.

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A crucial belt of Garry Oaks:

This grove is one of the most spectacular examples of part of a belt of Garry Oaks running from PKOLS/Mt. Doug to McKenzie Ave, that was a key component of First Nations Camas-based agriculture, and is crucial for food security.

This area was once proposed by the District of Saanich to be part of a protected Greenbelt linking PKOLS/Mt. Doug to Christmas Hill/Swan Lake, Elk and Beaver Lakes and other areas of ecological importance.  Without ecological linkages, there become isolated pockets of eco-systems, which lacking in their natural connectivity become islands of ecological death.

To prevent this breaking of eco-systems that will be tragic for biodiversity on Southern Vancouver Island, the restoration of what had been proposed as an ecological greenbelt decades earlier, should be undertaken, and this site would serve as a crucial node in that restoration, and serve as a key hub for educating the public about these priceless eco-systems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, please contact SaanichPetition@mail.com

Thank you for all of your support in helping to save this magnificent and irreplaceable eco-system!!!

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Resources:

LETTER: Saanich development would take a toll on Garry oaks, March 8, 2024

Saanich resident looks to halt transformation of Garry oak meadow to townhouses | Saanich News

When Housing Debates Erase Ecology: The Story of 4015 Braefoot Rd. and the Garry Oak Ecosystem – CRD Watch Homepage

Photos of the site

Development company's graphic of the proposed townhomes

 

About Garry Oak Ecosystems:

Garry oak ecosystems are found only in urbanized areas around the Salish Sea. They are the smallest, most populated, most at-risk biogeoclimatic zone in BC (Coastal Douglas-fir), and critical to Canada’s natural and Indigenous heritage. They don’t exist in untouched forests of Vancouver Island, which are mainly Coastal Western Hemlock.

Less than 5% of original Garry Oak ecosystems are left due to urbanization. Western Bluebirds were extirpated on Vancouver Island in 1995 due to Garry Oak loss.

Most of our Garry oak ecosystems always existed in inside the current Urban Containment Boundary of Saanich due to lower rainfall and drier soils favouring Garry oaks and Arbutus habitat.

It would take over 200 years for newly planted Garry oaks to provide the carbon sequestration and native ecosystem services that they provide to Saanich today, including pollination and biodiversity services that support food security.

Map of remaining Garry oaks on southern Vancouver Island:

https://creativelyunited.org/historical-garry-oak-ecosystems-greater-victoria-saanich-peninsula/

 

More Information:

The land was identified as an environmentally sensitive woodland ecosystem eight years ago. Saanich has removed it from the list, but it is still on the Province’s list.  This land should never have been excluded from the rural zone. 

The developers intend to replace twice the Saanich's required amount of Garry oaks – so four saplings for each existing Garry oaks. However, as noted above, it would take over 200 years for saplings to provide the carbon sequestration and native ecosystem services

The development is in its “preconstruction stage.” The land will have to be rezoned before it’s approved. It looks like it will be approved if there's no one there to oppose it, since Saanich asked the company to change its proposal from 8 single-family units (SFUs) to 24 townhomes. 

Saanich Documents that Support Preserving 4015 Braefoot and its Garry Oaks:

Saanich Urban Forestry Strategy

Key Action: "Revise planning and design processes to consider trees earlier in the process." 
[This doesn't appear to have occurred.]

Definition of "Exceptional Tree.”
One attribute of an "Exceptional Tree" is that they have a, ".....large canopy area such that the tree's ecosystem services are difficult to replace."  (p. 4)
[Most trees on this site are mature [defined here as 80 yrs. or older]; four trees on the site are over one metre in trunk diameter, and several are in the 80cm - 90cm range, with large canopies.]

"…the scarcity of large trees within the Urban Containment Boundary underscore the importance of their retention and preservation." (p. 26)
[This property lies just inside the UCB.]

“For example, in Blenkinsop, an even-stepped distribution of tree sizes means there are relatively more small trees and very few large trees. Most of the canopy in Blenkinsop is contributed by trees between 10 and 30 m in height. On the other hand in Rural Saanich there are a large number of tall trees, which contribute most of the area’s canopy cover. Over 100,000 trees in Rural Saanich are estimated to be at least 30 m in height, while several Local Areas have hardly any trees of 30 m or more in height.” (p. 39)

Saanich Climate Plan 2023 Report Card:

Ecosystem Objectives:

"The removal of carbon from the atmosphere by trees, plants and ecosystems in Saanich is increased."

"Ecosystem services are maintained or enhanced."

[Both of these ecological functions would decrease if this proposal was approved, and CO2 would actually be added to the atmosphere when trees were cut and chipped, burned, etc.]

Saanich Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

"In Saanich there are remnant patches of Garry-oak ecosystems which are one of Canada's most endangered plant communities. The protection of this plant community, .....requires support from the public, the District of Saanich, and all levels of government." (p. 5)

"The District's response to the Ministerial Order mandating the delivery of 4,610 new dwellings in Saanich over five years needs to be balanced with other provincial initiatives that prioritize biodiversity and ecosystem health." (p. 6)

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Full cover photo revealing the mighty canopy that the site provides: