People wildcrafting and foraging in the river valley and ravine system has increased with the rise in popularity of herbal medicines, and food, and most people have no idea of ethical gathering, (and even ethical gathering following the 10% rule is problematic - if 15-20 people over the course of a week each take 10%, what's left?) let alone knowing that it is actually illegal.



Many of us have become deeply concerned about the promotion of, and amount of, native plants being harvested in the river valley system. It is now clearly established, with legal review, that under Edmonton By-Law 2202 foraging and harvesting in the Edmonton River Valley is illegal. There is more to these actions than just the harvesting: not staying on maintained trails, collecting for commercial purposes, etc.

Bylaw 2202 states:

“The purpose of this bylaw is to regulate the conduct and activities of people on Parkland (WN note: ‘parkland refers to the river valley system, including ravines, and public land) in order to promote the safe, enjoyable and reasonable use of such property and to protect and preserve natural ecosystems for the benefit of all citizens of the City.”

Under the Preservation of natural areas section, the following is stated:

“While on Parkland no person shall:

- enter into any undeveloped or natural area other than on an Improved Trail or an Unimproved Trail;

- remove any rock, gravel, sand or soil;

- move, remove, cut or damage any tree, shrub, flower, other plant or deadfall”

Many people feel that our natural areas are their untapped grocery stores or pharmacies. They fail or refuse to even think about their negative impacts on the overall eco-system or to individual plant, animal, bird and insect species that all rely on every aspect of a healthy habitat. The Park Ranger Service, however, will tolerate folks gathering items for personal consumption, limited in scope/volume and respecting what is laid out in 2202. For example a person is free to pick and eat a handful of berries as they walk along a trail.

Wild harvesting to collect commercial quantities of plant material, or even occasional collecting for things like decorative arrangements, medicinal value, or berries for jam or freezing, can have serious impacts on both the target plant species and the surrounding habitat.

If anyone should notice harvesting of native plants happening in our river valley, please report any and every such incident in a prompt and detailed manner by either calling or e-mailing 311. Perhaps takes a photo of the activity as well.