Victoria airport teams up with volunteers to remove invasive plants – Vancouver Island Free Daily

Ecological Restoration Initiative at Dickson Woods Aligns with Global Sustainability Goals

Project Overview and Initial Outcomes

A new partnership between the Greater Victoria Green Team (GVGT), a program of Green Teams of Canada, and the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) has been established to restore the ecological health of the Dickson Woods Forest. The initiative’s inaugural event demonstrated significant community engagement and immediate environmental impact.

• Date of Activity: October 19, 2025
• Volunteer Engagement: Over a dozen community members contributed 49 volunteer hours.
• Environmental Impact: Eight cubic metres of English ivy and other invasive plant species were removed, equivalent to the volume of approximately 35 bathtubs.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This community-based restoration project directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing a localized approach to achieving global targets.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The core activity of removing invasive species is a direct action towards halting biodiversity loss and restoring terrestrial ecosystems. By clearing non-native plants like English ivy, the project helps protect and restore the natural habitat of Dickson Woods, contributing to Target 15.8, which aims to prevent the introduction and reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The VAA highlighted the project’s role in overall climate resilience and adaptation planning. A healthy, restored ecosystem enhances regional capacity to mitigate climate-related hazards. This initiative supports Target 13.1 by strengthening ecosystem resilience, which in turn supports watershed health and provides natural flood mitigation, crucial components of climate adaptation strategies.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The project enhances urban green space, making it healthier and more accessible for the community. This aligns with Target 11.7, which focuses on providing universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces. The collaborative nature of the volunteer work also strengthens community bonds and fosters a sense of collective ownership over local natural assets.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for achieving sustainable development. The collaboration between a non-profit organization (Green Teams of Canada), a corporate entity (VAA), and civil society (community volunteers) is a model for Target 17.17, which encourages effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge and resources.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The program’s design intentionally supports the mental and physical health of its participants. Engaging in hands-on environmental action provides physical activity and a sense of purpose and connection to nature, as articulated by a volunteer who found the experience “so satisfying.” This contributes to the broader goal of promoting well-being for all ages.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Future Outlook

Victoria Airport Authority (VAA)

Allison Waldick, Environmental Officer and Sustainability Lead for the VAA, emphasized the link between ecological health and climate resilience. “A healthy ecosystem is a resilient ecosystem providing a ripple effect to further support pollinators, watershed health, and flood mitigation for our region,” she stated, underscoring the shared responsibility in managing invasive species that threaten regional biodiversity.

Green Teams of Canada

Lyda Salatian, Founder and Executive Director, noted the power of such collaborations. “This partnership with the Victoria Airport Authority is a wonderful example of how collaboration between community and industry can have a powerful impact on both people and the planet,” she said.

Forward Plan

The partnership is set to continue its positive impact through a structured plan of ongoing activities.

1. Volunteers will participate in stewardship activities in the Dickson Woods area over the next year.
2. Further volunteer opportunities are scheduled to take place in the fall and continue into the spring of 2026.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The project’s focus on restoring the ecological health of the Dickson Woods Forest and managing invasive species that threaten regional biodiversity directly addresses the degradation of natural habitats and the loss of biodiversity.
  • Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species. The core activity described is the removal of “English ivy and other invasive plants” by volunteers, which is a direct measure to control and reduce the impact of invasive alien species.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article is centered on the new partnership between Green Teams of Canada’s Greater Victoria Green Team (a civil society organization) and the Victoria Airport Authority (a public-private entity), which engages community volunteers (the public). The article quotes Lyda Salatian, who calls it a “wonderful example of how collaboration between community and industry can have a powerful impact.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The work to restore and enhance the Dickson Woods Forest, a natural space near an airport, contributes to improving the quality and health of a green public space for the community.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article explicitly states that ecological systems are central to “overall climate resilience and adaptation planning” and that a healthy ecosystem supports “flood mitigation for our region.”

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The article mentions that a goal of Green Teams of Canada is to engage people in action that “supports mental and physical health.” A volunteer is quoted saying, “I never thought it would feel so satisfying to give back,” which reflects a positive impact on mental well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

  • Volume of invasive species removed: The article specifies that “eight cubic metres of English ivy and other invasive plants” were removed. This is a direct quantitative measure of the action taken to control invasive species.
  • Area of restoration: The project is focused on the “Dickson Woods Forest,” indicating the specific geographic area where habitat restoration is occurring.

• Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

  • Number of volunteers engaged: The article states that “over a dozen community members” and “16 GVGT volunteers” participated.
  • Number of volunteer hours: A specific metric of “49 volunteer hours” is provided, quantifying the community’s contribution.
  • Number of partnerships established: The article announces “a new partnership” between the Greater Victoria Green Team and the Victoria Airport Authority.

• Indicators for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

  • Qualitative feedback on well-being: The quote from volunteer Bahar Sadeghi, “I never thought it would feel so satisfying to give back to the community and to nature,” serves as an implied, qualitative indicator of the positive mental health impact of the activity.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: vancouverislandfreedaily.com