Coastal Oak and Prairie Working Group

A key objective of the Coastal Douglas-fir Conservation Partnership (CDFCP) is to provide a forum for collaboration, communication, and action to effectively protect and steward the Coastal Douglas-fir forest and its associated ecosystems. Within this region, Garry oak ecosystems are among Canada’s most endangered. Virtually the entire plant community associated with Garry oak, particularly in coastal British Columbia, is listed on the provincial Red List as critically imperiled due to extensive habitat loss and fragmentation. Today, fewer than 3–5% of original Garry oak landscapes remain intact. Over 100 species that depend on these habitats are now at risk, many listed as threatened or endangered at provincial and national levels and protected under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA).

But the importance of these ecosystems goes beyond biodiversity. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have stewarded Garry oak and prairie landscapes through cultural practices such as controlled burning and selective harvesting. These practices sustained food systems, medicines, and cultural traditions, and shaped the very landscapes we see today. Protecting and restoring Garry oak ecosystems means not only conserving rare species, but also honoring cultural heritage and supporting reconciliation through respect for Indigenous knowledge and stewardship.