Ecological Restoration

KES has been involved in multiple ecological restoration projects and prescriptions throughout BC. These
projects involved various tasks, including prescription and planting plan development, coordinating and
assisting with implementation, hands-on planting, and more. Outlined below are summaries of the 2022
restoration projects we were involved in:

Elk River Alliance (ERA) Cottonwood Restoration:
ERA has been conducting an inventory and status of cottonwood forests within the Elk Valley. The goal is
to identify critical sites for restoration and conservation and develop further steps to protect the
threatened species. KES analyzed and mapped the current and historical extent of the Elk Valley
cottonwood forests. Our team then assisted ground-truthing the available information, and developed a
prescription based on the results. For more information on this project, please visit the Elk River Alliance
website.

Pink Mountain Reciprocal Restoration Program:
Historic seismic lines within the territory of Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) have contributed to
degradation of major caribou habitat and areas of high cultural significance to BRFN. KES worked on a
prescription for restoration of native plants and shrubs and implemented this prescription in late
summer and early fall of 2022. This restoration program included an ‘on the land’ training component
for BRFN members that incorporated a hands-on approach about seed collection and processing,
restoration techniques, and earth sciences. The different restoration treatments on the ground included
planting tree and shrub seedlings, building brush fences, throwing out seed balls, earth mounding, tree
felling, and screefing.

Elizabeth Lake Ecosystem Enhancement:
The team worked alongside the Rocky Mountain Naturalists to develop a restoration plan for the area
surrounding Elizabeth Lake. The end goal of this work is to improve plant cover, bird nesting
opportunities, enhance carbon sequestration, and increase fire resistance. Native trees and shrubs were
planted and fenced in the prescribed areas and the revegetation will improve the foraging and nesting
habitat for shorebirds, songbirds, and encourage a broader range of wildlife in the area. Future plans for
the project include installations of turtle habitat basking boards and perches for water birds.

Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation Fire Rehabilitation:
Important habitat areas for Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation members and wildlife have been significantly
impacted by logging, wildfires and mountain pine beetle. The Traditional Food and Medicine
Rehabilitation Project, supported by Tree Canada, was developed to reverse the land-based impacts,
reconnect members to the land, and rebuild diversity on the landscape. The project aimed to
rehabilitate riparian habitats and provide accessible berry harvesting sites within LDN reserves that
wildfires have impacted. The project saw 5000 trembling aspen seedlings, 5000 black cottonwood
seedlings and 1923 Saskatoon and cranberry shrubs planted by KES staff and LDN members.