CARL began in 2021 as the Mt. Maxwell Project, focused on understanding the health of the forests above Maxwell Lake and reducing growing wildfire risk in a critical drinking water source.

With early support from Transition Salt Spring, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and North Salt Spring Waterworks District, the project quickly expanded in scope and ambition. Over time, it evolved into the Climate Adaptation Research Lab (CARL), reflecting a broader commitment to ecological restoration, climate adaptation, and applied research.

Since then, CARL has carried out wetland restoration, native planting, and fuel reduction work to improve watershed resilience. Alongside this, we have established a long-term ecological monitoring program and developed practical fire risk reduction tools for the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem.

Education is central to our approach. From elementary to university level, students actively participate in field and classroom research, contributing to real-world data and gaining hands-on experience in ecosystem stewardship. 

Now an independent Society, CARL is building on this foundation - growing partnerships, deepening research, and supporting climate adaptation efforts across the region.