Monitoring locations were established in each Region in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. At each site, berry and traditionally consumed plants were counted within one metre of a 50m line (transect).
Each spring and summer our team revisits each location to track berry health, productivity, and assess the role climate and its changing conditions have on berry populations.
Project Highlights:
- 36 monitoring sites have been established in each Region.
- In 2020, 18,000 individual plants were counted consisting of 17 species of berries and medicinal plants.
- Most counted species were blueberry, wild rose, saskatoons, and raspberries.
- In 2021, the flowers and buds of 1,200 plants were counted.
- The plant with the most flowers in Spring 2021 was a chokecherry in Region 5 with 5,771 flowers.
Berry Picking? We need your help! Let us know what you see by filling out the forms below.
Over 400 Citizens previously shared their concerns about the plants they harvest, including changing plant communities and populations, deteriorating plant health, and decreasing berry production.
Once again, Citizens can assist us in understanding the factors affecting plant health by
becoming Askîy Guardians. Askîy is our community-based environmental monitoring initiative that uses Citizens’ observations to help us determine what factors are contributing to their concerns.
To show our appreciation, we will be awarding prizes to MNA Citizens who submit forms by November 30, 2023. Grand prizes of $250 Cabela’s gift cards will be awarded for each category (berry harvesting trip and harvested berry health).
Draws will be held, and all prizes distributed by December 2023.
Would you like to join us the next time we go berry picking together? Find out more info here!