Saanich's Christmas Hill receives groundbreaking biodiversity award

As adventurous schoolchildren roam over rocky outcrops and through grassy meadows, Cara Gibson gently encourages them to return to the marked paths of Christmas Hill and explains the significance of the rare plants that grow everywhere.

“Christmas Hill is really special, so we have to try to stay on the trails… I know it doesn't look like much, but some of these lichens aren't found anywhere else in Canada,” the executive director of the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary tells students as they climb down a rocky hill, and some thank her for the brief ecological lesson.

This educational moment reflects the sanctuary’s daily mission, as the self-proclaimed “living classroom” aims to foster a better understanding of the importance of its natural systems – from the Garry oak forests to the vernal ponds formed by glacial activity.

This mission recently received new impetus when the Christmas Hill site was recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), an official designation given to natural oases that contribute to the conservation of biodiversity at national and global levels.

The designated zones – whose aim is to promote nature conservation because they are home to rare or threatened species and ecosystems – must meet certain criteria to be considered KBA.

“It is a real joy that so many hands and hearts have worked on this place, and it is wonderful to see all of that work recognized,” Gibson said, pointing to the thousands of hours of volunteer work that go into maintaining the site each year.

Christmas Hill's productive ecosystem provides habitat for approximately 250 plant species and a variety of animals, while the larger protected area is home to approximately 10 percent of Saanich's rare, threatened and endangered species.

The site's ecological resilience comes from its stewardship by Aboriginal people. Practices such as controlled burning have helped shape the Garry oak system, along with the camas plants that still grow along Christmas Hill's natural walkways.

Today, the natural area is embedded in an area that will be increasingly built up in the future. This urban interface is clearly visible: the chirping of birds in the afternoon mixes with the hum of nearby vehicles and power tools.

Despite urban pressures, Gibson says the preserve is a backyard for many in the community, as the bastion of biodiversity includes some of the most exceptional habitats in the country. That helps the hill host moss and insect species in abundance found nowhere else in Canada, the entomologist says.

But the flowering plant life can also attract unwelcome guests, such as invasive wall lizards, which disrupt the flora along the way. Other species, such as broom, are kept in check by the reserve's network of volunteers. Gibson says invasive plants can radically change the landscape by stealing soil, nutrients or light from native plants.

“It’s really that community integration and community effort that manages this place and maintains its integrity,” the executive director said of the efforts that were critical to achieving KBA status.

Other aspects of Christmas Hill may seem concerning, but in reality reflect a well-functioning system. Gibson points to the leaves of the Garry oak, which have been heavily eaten by caterpillars. These insects are an important food source for the many birds that flock to the reserve – they help to encourage a diverse mix of plants that range from the branches above the trees down to the ground.

“In many cases, this leaf shedding is an important part of the cycle of allowing light to reach the understory. All the plants down here expect that to happen, and it helps them grow,” Gibson said.

She highlights that Christmas Hill is one of the last places in the region where a Garry oak system exists.

“I think they just have incredible character and are beautiful place indicators,” said the scientist.

Gibson has seen how Christmas Hill and the reserve have brought people of all ages together to enjoy nature.

This takes the form of birdwatchers observing the over 200 species that visit the area annually, local organisations caring for people with disabilities at the site, and helping young people suffering from environmental anxiety by providing them with practical conservation opportunities to ease their worries.

Because the reserve aims to inspire conservation, Gibson says one of her favorite aspects of her job is engaging the community in that effort.

“I think we can all contribute to this.”