LTABC | 201-569 Johnson Street Victoria BC V8W 1M2 | 250-590-1921 | info@ltabc.ca
The Land Trust Alliance of BC is dedicated to the stewardship and conservation of our natural and cultural heritage through support of land trusts, conservancies and others. We provide education, research, communications and financial services.
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Welcome Nicole!
Hi! I’m Nicole and I’m working as a student intern for the LTABC. I’m currently completing my undergrad degree at Queen’s University in Earth Systems Science and am very excited to be a part of the LTABC team for the summer. I’ll be working to develop bilingual resources, projects and public outreach to help the alliance in their meaningful work to protect and conserve land, ecosystems and habitats across BC and Canada. I grew up in Victoria and have been very fortunate to spend many of my summers split between the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast. The time I spend exploring combined with actively listening and learning from the teachings of Indigenous Peoples has fueled my love and passion for the outdoors, and drives me to play my part in the conservation and preservation of these environments for generations to come.
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Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia accepts donations year round to aid in our conservation programs. These can be one-time, monthly, corporate matching, and planned giving. Read more about donation options here. Find a full list of our member organizations here.
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Coming Soon! Year 2 of the NHCP-LTCF Small Grant Program
The Year 2 of the LTCF Small Grant program will be launching in late June / early July 2020. This program is primarily designed to cover associated costs for land securement projects (e.g., staff time, appraisal, legal fees, etc.), not including funds directly for land acquisition. Eligible project expenses will be those that have been incurred in the same fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) as the associated LTCF program round, for projects with closing dates between April 1, 2020 and December 15, 2020. Application information, including eligibility and project requirements, is available at: whc.org/ltcf.
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Impacts of the pandemic survey
The World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) is conducting a COVID-19 survey on the impacts, positive and negative, of the pandemic on parks and protected areas. The data collected will be analyzed with worldwide data. The deadline to provide input is July 20, 2020.
Please fill in and/or share this survey with your network to help gather data. Find the survey here.
* Note: the survey is available in English.
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Important new acquisition in the Kootenay region
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has added 260 hectares (637 acres) of prime grassland and open forest to the Kootenay River Ranch Conservation Area, thanks to the support of numerous funding partners. This project enhances existing conservation efforts in the Rocky Mountain Trench, south of Canal Flats. These lands feature native bunchgrass savannah with areas of ponderosa pine, larch and Douglas-fir forest, and even a small wetland. Badgers, bears, elk, deer and many species of birds are just some of the wildlife that rely on these wild lands for their survival. The valley-bottom habitat supports several species at risk, including Species At Risk Act-listed grizzly bear (special concern), American badger (endangered) and Lewis’s woodpecker (threatened).
“The Nature Conservancy of Canada is grateful for the ongoing support from our partners and the community as we work to conserve and enhance natural habitats in Rocky Mountain Trench,” says Richard Klafki, Canadian Rockies Program Director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “The rolling hills, beautiful bunchgrass and open forest of the Kootenay River Ranch Conservation Area is prime wildlife habitat, especially in the winter for elk and deer. We look forward to doing restoration projects on these new lands to improve the habitat for all the native plants and animals found here.”
Read the full press release here.
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Nature Conservancy of the North Okanagan Society
The North Okanagan Parks and Natural Areas Trust (NOPNAT) was established in 2000 as a registered charity to receive donations and bequests of every kind, including properties and monies. Last year the organization officially changed its name to Nature Conservancy of the North Okanagan Society (NCNO) with the intent to simplify the vision of the society. Visit their new website ncno.ca.
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Conservation Award Winners in the Comox Valley
The Morrison Creek Streamkeepers and Comox Valley Land Trust were recently honoured as recipients of Project Watershed’s annual ‘Keeping it Living’ award. The award, an original painting by local artist Bev Byerley, is presented to an organization in the Comox Valley that has made a significant contribution to the restoration and protection of the K’ómoks Estuary and its watersheds. In the past year, the Morrison Creek Streamkeepers and Comox Valley Land Trust worked together to fundraise and acquire a private land parcel in the Morrison Creek Headwaters. The purchase of the property was a first step toward protecting the entire Morrison Creek Headwaters Area. The Morrison Creek Headwaters is a wilderness oasis that provides habitat for a remarkable diversity of wildlife including wide-ranging carnivores, robust salmon runs and the endangered Morrison Creek Lamprey – a population found only in the Morrison Creek and no other place on earth. For more information, please visit Project Watershed’s website.
Sign of the times, garbed in face masks and gathered around the Keeping it Living Award are (from left to right) Don Castleden – Project Watershed Board member, Kathryn Clouston – Morrison Creek Streamkeepers, Piet Rutgers - Comox Valley Land Trust and Jennifer Sutherst – Project Watershed Estuary Coordinator. Photo by Isadora Datt.
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NALT turns 25
Congratulations to the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT) for 25 years of conservation! Thank you for all you do! -
“Over the past quarter century we have raised awareness of watershed health both in our forests and our backyards; secured natural values and habitat with conservation covenants and through acquisition; worked with our partners to deliver seminars, symposiums and workshops; promoted and propagated native plants at the Natural Abundance Native Plant Nursery; and otherwise worked to build our community of environmental stewardship. Even as we all are asked to reduce our activities and interactions to mitigate the spread of COVID 19, NALT Volunteers and Staff are planning for the days when we can gather together again. We are solidifying partnerships and securing funding to launch a new water stewardship initiative; exploring topics for seminars, symposiums and workshops; looking for innovative ways to secure habitat; and safely delivering our ongoing stewardship activities. Together we continue our mission to support, promote and protect the natural values of land and water in our area.”
Visit the NALT website here.
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Bowen Island Conservancy
The Bowen Island Conservancy (BIC) was established as a BC Society in 1997, and gained charitable status the next year. Their mission is to preserve and protect the natural environment of Nex̱wlélex̱wem/Bowen Island, which is in the mouth of Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound. BIC is currently an all volunteer organization.
Its proximity to Greater Vancouver, with a population of 2.5 million, means that Bowen Island faces challenges from urbanizing development and tourism. Bowen Island Conservancy has the potential to act somewhat like a governor or brake on increased human impact. They remain continually vigilant to ensure that the peaceful nature and natural beauty of the island are maintained.
BIC carries out its mission in various ways. Activities fall into three broad categories: public education, nature reserve management, and collaboration with other organizations on issues affecting the natural environment of the island. Each year’s activities are generally a function of the interests of individual Board members, and specific issues that crop up from time to time; this gives BIC considerable freedom to harness the interests and enthusiasm of its Board and members.
Public education is a cornerstone of BIC's efforts to encourage island residents to learn more about the beautiful and ecologically-rich place in which they live. Each year BIC hosts several events, usually between September and April, where guest speakers or documentary films on various conservation-related topics are featured. BIC is fortunate to have a number of experts on Bowen Island who are willing to share their knowledge, and also brings speakers to the island from elsewhere.
Speaker event, April 2016. Photo Credit O. Plowman
Bowen Island Conservancy manages two Nature Reserves on behalf of the Islands Trust Conservancy: Singing Woods, and Fairy Fen. Besides specific issues that arise, or work which is identified in each Reserve’s Management Plan, BIC maintains general monitoring of these reserves to ensure that they remain intact and free from harmful impact from invasive species or human activities.
Collaboration with other non-profit groups and the Bowen Island Municipality enables BIC to provide input on various important issues, and to magnify its ability to influence the course of events as the island’s population—and consequent human impact on the natural environment— increases. Sometimes this means co-hosting events, sometimes group work parties, and sometimes providing opinions on topics that arise. BIC is named in the Municipality’s Official Community Plan as a key organization “to identify and manage the island’s biodiversity."
This spring BIC completed a major project, underway for 18 months, publishing a Marine Atlas of Nex̱wlélex̱wem/Bowen Island. It has been received with great enthusiasm by the island community. The Atlas tells the story of the island from a marine perspective, and seeks to foster awareness of, and engagement with, the major components of this environment. Modeled on a similar successful Marine Atlas published by Conservancy Hornby Island, BIC's Marine Atlas contains information about various marine habitats (such as beaches, rocky shores, glass sponge reefs) and marine species, while highlighting the good works of local community members. There is more information about the Atlas on their website.
Marine Atlas Open House, October 2019. Photo Credit O. Plowman
A truly significant step Bowen Island Conservancy is taking at present is the move to become a full land trust, able to hold and manage important lands on Bowen Island for conservation purposes. They are part way through this transition and are grateful for the assistance they are receiving from other individuals and groups around the Salish Sea. For many years, since the island has no waterfront park, BIC has dreamed of acquiring suitable land on the ocean to set aside for all to enjoy. They hope that, in the very near future, they will be able to acquire such a parcel of land, with the assistance of a large donation.
More information about BIC is available at: bowenislandconservancy.org.
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Greenways Land Trust has created a video series which – for now – will replace the monthly interpretive walks they usually run April to September in Campbell River, BC.
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Garden Path, Photo Credit Dennis Robinson
TLC The Land Conservancy’s Abkhazi Garden is open to visitors!
This garden is impressive all year long. Visit their website for more info, including links to a virtual tour and new visitor guidelines. And if afternoon tea strikes your fancy, visit this site to peruse the teahouse menu or make a reservation.
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Virtual Pollinator Workshops
Island Pollinator Initiative, Habitat Acquisition Trust, and Saanich Native Plants are hosting a series of virtual pollinator workshops: Selecting Plants for Pollinators, July 8, 1-2:30 pm and Beautiful Butterflies, July 23, 1-2:30 pm. Find more information and registration here.
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Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, group events are cancelled or have been postponed.
Please keep in touch with your local land trusts and watch their websites and
social media for updates about their virtual event and educational activities.
And please support them as much as you can!
Find a full list of our member land trusts here.
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FUNDING
Applications are now closed for the Nature Trust of British Columbia's Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund which aims to promote research, habitat restoration and other stewardship activities that will assist in the management of the land, plants and animals of BC’s native grasslands. See this link for all of NTBC's Scholarship and Funds opportunities.
The Law Foundation of British Columbia 2020 Project Funding is now closed to applications.Visit this link for more information.
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Enhancement & Restoration offers grants for a variety of conservation projects. Click here for the grant overview and information about the latest application deadlines.
Tree Canada offers various grants throughout the year to community groups, schools and individuals to aid their mission to plant and nurture trees in Canadian communities for the benefit of all. Find their list of grants here.
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation's next grant submission deadline is July 15. Find more information here.
The Victoria Foundation's offers yearly Community Grants. The application window for 2020 is now closed. Find out more here.
Vancity Savings Credit Union Community Partnership Program is on hold until further notice. Watch this link for more information.
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Ongoing Funding Deadlines
MEC Grassroots Product Donations are on hold due to Covid-19. Visit here for updates.
Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund from West Coast Environmental Law. Applications are reviewed once a month. Read more here.
Use Giveffect to create an online fundraising campaign. Visit here.
Honda Canada Foundation funds non-profit charities for operating expenses, research or project costs. Details here.
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