The Richelieu Forest Invasive Plant Removal Project

A volunteer initiative of the Vanier Community Association, in partnership with Museoparc, and by agreement with the City of Ottawa’s Forestry department.

The Richelieu Forest in Vanier is Canada’s only operating urban sugar bush. In addition to the sugar maples, there are many important, and some quite rare, native plant species in the forest. The biodiversity of the Richelieu forest makes it a real ecological treasure that we must protect. Invasive plants are threatening the forest.

Invasive plants are the non-native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that prevent native plants from growing. They are ecologically disruptive, having negative impacts on native vegetation, native wildlife and how ecosystems function. Invasive plants will out-compete forest plants and deteriorate soil quality.

There are several invasive plants in the Richelieu Forest, including buckthorn, goutweed, lily of the valley, dog strangling vine, garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, Norway maple, barberry and burning bush. To learn more about invasive plants visit the Invasive Species Centre website: Meet the Species – Invasive Species Profiles

The Richelieu Forest Invasive Plant Removal project is starting in 2026 with the removal of buckthorn, goutweed and dog strangling vine.

Image of buckthorn in a forest setting — A field of buckthorn before …

Image of a forest with buckthorn removed, and garbages bags in the foreground — … and after, leaving the native plants in place. Roots and berries of the buckthorn are placed in dark garbage bags, moved off-site to be solarized and then discarded.

Please help protect and strengthen the Richelieu Forest

When visiting the forest:

Stay on the main paths
Keep dogs on leash

Join a volunteer “work crew” event to help us remove invasive plants:

Email vcaacv@gmail.com to be notified of upcoming dates and to register for a date that suits you.
Review the orientation document to learn more about what is involved in the plant removal work.

Land acknowledgement

The Richelieu Forest is located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. For millennia, the Algonquin people have been the stewards and knowledge keepers of this land, caring for its ecosystems, waterways, and living beings. We also recognize and honour the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples who continue to maintain deep relationships with this community forest. As we work to restore and care for the Richelieu Forest, we strive to learn from Indigenous knowledge, build respectful relationships, and collaborate with Indigenous communities who have long protected this land.