The Matson Conservation Area (MCA) contains at-risk Garry oak ecosystems, which are cultural keystone ecosystems for the lək̓ʷəŋən and other Coast Salish Nations. The MCA is the last section of intact Garry oak ecosystem along the Victoria Harbour front, located within the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (VHMBS). The VHMBS serves as a critical locale for birds migrating along the Pacific flyway, stretching from Mexico to Alaska. Lands such as the MCA provide critical habitat for birds to feed, rest, and breed along their journey, especially within urban environments, which have limited habitat options. Eric Pittman and Ryan Wilkes have documented hundreds of hours of hummingbirds at the MCA, much of which is featured in their award-winning documentary “The Bird in my Backyard,” which showcases how crucial this habitat is to these incredible tiny creatures. 

Migrating birds such as the rufous hummingbird, sparrows (golden-crowned, white-crowned, song, Lincoln’s, and fox), and purple martin (blue-listed) rely on this habitat. Year-round ecologically significant birds, including Anna’s hummingbirds, great blue herons, Northern flickers, bald eagles, owls, corvids, and gulls, also frequent the MCA. Additionally, a North American river otter den cohabitates with these bird species within the MCA.  

Several rare and endangered plant communities live within the MCA, including Douglas-fir/Arbutus, Douglas-fir/Alaska onion grass, Garry oak/California brome, Garry oak/Arbutus, and Garry oak/Oceanspray—all of which are provincially listed as S1 or S2 (“imperilled” or “critically imperilled”). Garry oak ecosystems, like those found at MCA, host the highest number of species-at-risk of any ecosystem in the region. Nationally, less than 5% of intact Garry oak ecosystems remain, and they are at a high risk of extirpation. Culturally important species at this site include kwetlal/ḰȽO¸EL/qʷəɬáʔal (camas) and KEXMIN (bare-stem desert parsley). Geographically, this unique parcel of land provides a valuable ecological buffer and oasis of habitat within a fragmented urban landscape.  

The current condition of the ecosystems ranges from intact kwetlal meadows habitat to degraded coastal Douglas-fir forest. The site once housed a large residence with extensive European gardens, leading to our current challenge with invasive species, including Scotch broom, English ivy, English hawthorn, English holly, Himalayan blackberry, Daphne laurel, periwinkle, and several non-native grasses, including highly invasive orchard grass and sweet vernal grass.  

Critically, MCA holds a great cultural significance, containing two shell middens confirming extensive land use by First Nations. With less than 5% of traditional lək̓ʷəŋən food systems left intact in lək̓ʷəŋən territory, the importance of this site as an eco-cultural nexus cannot be overstated. The importance of MCA for building care-based relationships between conservation organizations and Indigenous people also makes this site one of particular value and importance in this geography.  

The MCA is zoned as conservation lands, with HAT as the fee-simple landowner. A section 219 conservation covenant co-held by the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Township of Esquimalt is also in place. These classifications ensure that stewardship efforts in the MCA will be safeguarded in perpetuity.