Why I volunteer with the Nature Conservancy of Canada
Ellen and Heidi explore a crevice in the alvar landscape (Photo courtesy of Ellen Weatherbee)
The combination of being a botanist and owning land on Cockburn Island has been a natural fit for doing work with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). I have concentrated on doing what I do best — surveying the plants and their habitats.
I like to take people on field trips and to write brochures about Cockburn's plants. I also have identified (and documented the spread) of the island's invasive plants, and this information has been used so that the caretaker and his summer student crew can attempt to eradicate the imposters. I have completed the "Flora of Cockburn Island," which is scheduled to be published this summer.
Ellen and Heidi, Tea Kettle Alvar (Photo courtesy of Ellen Weatherbee)
I have enjoyed working with various experts as they come to the island to look for their own specialties. I find the NCC folks to be very helpful and friendly and very much look forward to our times together on Cockburn Island.
