Courtney Robichaud

Liber Ero Fellow
Ecologist & Conservation Scientist

Community Ecology

As a community ecologist, I've studied many aspects of ecosystems. This includes plants, invertebrates, birds, sediment, water, and contaminants.

Invasive aquatic plants

My research has focused on invasive wetland plants such as European common reed (Phragmites australis subsp. australis). I evaluated the multi-trophic effects of invasion and large-scale management.

Ecological Restoration

Restoration provides hope for repairing ecosystems and our relationship with nature. I continue to pursue projects about assisting degraded ecosystems.

Applied Conservation Research

Ecology and conservation science is most effective when used to make on-the-ground changes. My research is driven by questions relevant to practitioners about how we can better take care of the land.

As a Liber Ero fellow, I am thrilled to be working with my mentorship team on our project: Developing community-based watershed monitoring in the Great Lakes

Primary mentorship Institutions: Carleton University (Dr. Joseph Bennett), Healthy Headwaters Lab at University of Windsor (Dr. Catherine Febria), and Ode’imin Indigenous Knowledge Circle (Candy Donaldson).

Summary: The land now called Canada is home to almost a quarter of the remaining wetlands in the world. Despite their ecological, cultural, and spiritual importance, wetlands are destroyed disproportionately more than other ecosystem types. In southern Ontario, only 11% of marshes from pre-European settlement remain. Ecological restoration provides an opportunity to repair relationships with the land, water and people, resulting in impactful and meaningful conservation work.

As a Liber Ero Fellow, I am working with my mentorship team to support local First Nation partners who are developing a community-based watershed monitoring program, with a focus on wetland restoration and carbon monitoring. This work will weave western science approaches with community-led priorities, building community capacity in all aspects of co-creation, training and mentorship, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

By walking together, we will strengthen local First Nations communities of practice and be one example of how authentic place- and trust-based partnerships can contribute to the improved health of Nayaano-nibiimaang Gichigamin (The Great Lakes basin).