Last weekend, Ecofishers participated in the Cumberland Wetland’s Conference – a fantastic forum for networking and brainstorming with local government, professionals and community members and in general, sharing enthusiasm about wetland function, management and conservation in the Comox Valley. Neil Fletcher, prominent wetland educator in the province and Wetlands Program Manager for the BC Wildlife Federation said it was the best wetland event he’d been to!
Friday’s sessions focused on wetland management and protection tools and were followed by an evening fundraiser for the Cumberland Community Forest where Ecofish Wildlife Biologist and wetland enthusiast Leah Ballin spoke. Saturday’s sold out workshop included topics ranging from wetland science and ecology to wetland protection tools, and featured a pit cook lunch prepared by the K’omoks Guardian Watchmen. On Sunday, there were a number of tours, including one led by Leah Ballin, which examined the ecology of the wetlands past and present based on indicators such as soils, vegetation composition and the landscape context. Two of our expert hydrologists, Dan Greenacre and Dave West provided hydrology analysis support for data collected by a local group of volunteers. The analysis provided great insight to the function and capacity of the Cumberland wetlands and generated ideas for future research questions.
Ecofish Biologist and Wetland Specialist Leah Ballin educates locals on plants and wildlife during a tour of the Chinatown Wetlands.
A big thank you to the conference organizers and to the K’omoks Guardian Watchmen for a beautiful lunch, we are more committed than ever to raising awareness for these delicate ecosystems, in our own communities and elsewhere. See you at the next event!
A member of the K’omoks Guardian Watchmen prepares a traditional lunch over the pit fire.