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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Land Trust Alliance of BC - The Early Years
by B. van Drimmelen, August 2020
In September 2019, as a director for the Land Trust Alliance of BC (LTABC) I was invited to the annual general meeting of the Cowichan Community Land Trust in Duncan. As I had been a director with LTABC for several terms over the years, I touched on the origins of the organization. However, John Scull, a director of that land trust and also a former director of LTABC, was able to gently correct some of that early history.
I realized that the facts around the inception of LTABC resided primarily in the memories of several individuals, information that might be fading away and in danger of being lost. Someone should collect information and recollections and document some of that early history of the LTABC. Why not me? ...
Find the link to the full document here.
LTABC thanks Ben van Drimmelen for preparing this important historical document. We also wish to thank everyone who participated in the formation of LTABC.
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In Memory of John Scull
John William Scull passed away on July 24, 2020. John was one of the founding members of the Cowichan Community Land Trust in 1995, and a member of the Board of Directors. He was also a positive and energetic participant in the formation and early years of LTABC. John will be deeply missed by the BC land trust community, which is forever in his debt. This excerpt from John's obituary provides a glimpse of this remarkable man:
"John had a deep sense of wonder with the natural world and an endless curiosity. He took great joy in learning and sharing his wonder with others, (especially his grandchildren) through teaching and mentorship. He appreciated the small and beautiful things in life; word-play, the smiles that appeared when he pulled out one of his tiny ukuleles and the pleasure of biting into a Pirate cookie, with the wind at your back as you’re headed for harbour."
LTABC sends its condolences to all who loved and admired John. Read his full obituary here.
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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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Photo by Sandra Tassel
Oh Canada 2020! Photography Contest
American Friends of Canadian Conservation invites amateur photographers to submit their images of Canada’s nature for a chance to win! There are seven categories and submissions must be in by September 15. Find all the contest details an entry form on their website.
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Abkhazi Garden ~ 20th Anniversary of Conservation
In 2000, TLC The Land Conservancy, with community support, purchased the beautiful 1-acre property once owned by Prince and Princess Abkhazi, whose war-torn romance culminated in them marrying in 1946 and settling in Victoria BC. The couple spent the rest of their lives building and tending “The garden that love built.” The garden is designed to take advantage of its exquisite natural features and vistas. It flows around the rocky slopes and showcases an impressive collection Japanese maples, rhododendrons, naturalized bulbs, alpine and woodland plants which combine to provide interest all through the year. “We are honoured to be a member of the community that supports Abkhazi Garden. Volunteers and partners continue to work together to see this special place grow while honouring the legacy of Prince and Princess Abkhazi,” said Cathy Armstrong, TLC Executive Director.
Community support is essential to the care and maintenance of this property. Find more info about how to support the garden on TLC’s website, and in the Anniversary press release. Read more here about the history of Prince and Princess Abkhazi, or reserve a table for lunch or afternoon tea.
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Goat-powered Conservation
Target browsing to manage invasive plants is being utilized by the Edmonton an Area Land Trust at their Pipestone Creek property. A herd of goats (and their human and canine shepherds) have been contracted to remove Common Tansy and Canada Thistle among other invasive species. Goats tend to browse woody and broad-leafed plants, and can be trained to browse on specific plants. Read more about this project and the benefits of goats in habitat management on EALT’s blog.
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Victory for US Conservation
The Land Trust Alliance is the voice of the land trust community in the United States. They recently announced that the Land and Water Conservation Fund now has full and dedicated funding. This victory marks the conclusion of the land trust community's 50-year effort to secure full funding for LWCF. $900 million will be committed each year to protect important land, water and recreation areas that benefit all Americans. Read the full story here.
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Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT)
For more than 30 years, the Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) has been conserving and restoring land as habitat for wildlife. With rapid population growth in the Okanagan Region, pressure from development threatens many of the natural spaces that remain. Through purchase, donation and collaboration with other conservation organizations, SILT has protected over 1000 hectares throughout BC’s southern interior.
SILT was established in 1988 as The Okanagan Region Wildlife Heritage Fund Society, and is a registered not-for-profit charity run by an independent volunteer board. SILT seeks to create a legacy of protected, important habitats for all living things. To meet that goal, SILT selectively acquires and maintains gems of wildlife habitat in the BC southern interior that act as “stepping-stones” for ecosystem connectivity. A senior RPBio manages SILT’s operations. SILT is a member of the Land Trust Alliance of BC, and has adopted the CLC "Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices" as the Society's Guiding Principles.
In 1989, SILT began its conservation legacy by proposing and facilitating the purchase of two properties: 12 hectares of the Skaha Lake Bighorn Sheep winter range just outside Penticton, and the 40-hectare Sandner Property at the north end of Christina Lake. With partnership collaboration, the Skaha Lake property has grown to 150 hectares held by the Nature Trust of BC. Sandner, now part of a Gladstone Provincial Park, encompasses old growth cedar forest, 1000 metres of shoreline, and two of the principal kokanee and trout spawning streams on the lake.
Edwards Pond is a 50 acre wetland-cottonwood complex near Grand Forks. Photo courtesy of SILT.
SILT currently owns six fee-simple conservation properties:
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The 109-hectare DL 492 grassland property east of Grand Forks, and adjacent to Lot A, is year-round habitat for a herd of 200+ California bighorn sheep. It is excellent deer winter and spring range. Several species-at-risk occur, including rattlesnake, gophersnake, yellow-bellied racer, spadefoot toad, tiger salamander and badger.
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The R.E. Taylor Conservation Property, purchased in collaboration with HCTF, is 4.9 hectares of mature water birch-cottonwood forest on the banks of Keremeos Creek near Olalla.
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The six-hectare Ginty's Pond at Cawston near Keremeos, acquired for its wetland, riparian habitat, and community/educational values. SILT's purchase led to establishment of an additional provincial Land Act reserve over a similar-sized and adjacent Crown wetland.
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The 20-hectare Edwards Pond near Grand Forks, acquired for its Western Painted Turtle and wetland/cottonwood values, and its community importance as a huntable, natural area.
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A 1.5-hectare parcel on Wards Lake near Grand Forks. Wards Lake is a protected wildlife area. SILT’s property is managed to provide public access for wildlife viewing and enjoyment.
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The 20-hectare Cold Creek property on the Similkameen River west of Keremeos, acquired for its woodland riparian, dry upland, and talus habitats and managed for wildlife and public access.
Volunteers clean up DL 492. Photo courtesy of SILT.
Restoration of damaged wildlife habitat is another goal of SILT. It has been involved in projects such as the Okanagan River Restoration Initiative, setting back the dykes along this river so its natural flows can be restored, and re-creating acres of wildlife and fish habitat in the South Okanagan. SILT has also helped fund such efforts as kokanee enhancement work being done by a number of local fish and game clubs and the provincial environment ministry; deer fencing in the Grand Forks area; the South Okanagan sheep project; Vaseux Creek fishway; Trout Creek restoration; invasive weed eradication; wildlife inventories; environmental education; and several lake aeration projects. SILT recently brought the national Love Your Lake program to BC for the first time. This program provides personalized, property-specific shoreline stewardship advice to lakeshore property owners, providing them with the information they need to reduce their flood erosion risk, and to protect lake health, water quality and wildlife habitat.
Recently, Brad Siemens (of Grand Forks Wildlife Association and WSSBC) encountered a badger (SARA Endangered) just inside of SILT-owned DL 492. Photo courtesy of Brad Siemens.
Find out more about SILT on their website and find all the latest SILT news on their blog.
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SEPTEMBER. Paint and draw at Abkhazi Garden this September! Artists are invited to set up their easels in "the garden that love built" on Mondays from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is by donation, and artists are asked to reserve a spot by calling 250-896-0864.
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SEPTEMBER 2. The topic for Habitat Acquisition Trust's Webinar 7 is Wetlands for Pollinators. This free webinar runs from 1 to 2:30 pm. More information and registration on their website and facebook event page. This webinar is a collaboration with Island Pollinator Initiative, Saanich Native Plants and Parks Canada.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 10, 17, 24. Sustainability Network presents an online story-telling workshop with Rani Sanderson of StoryCentre Canada. Learn more about the power of personal narratives for positive change. Information and registration for this 4-part series available here.
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SEPTEMBER 17. The topic for Habitat Acquisition Trust's Webinar 8 is Identifying and Monitoring Pollinators. This free webinar runs from 1 to 2:30 pm. More information and registration here and facebook event page. This webinar is a collaboration with Island Pollinator Initiative, Saanich Native Plants and Parks Canada.
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SEPTEMBER 19. Habitat Acquisition Trust presents an Ethnobotany Workshop with JB Williams – 10 am to 3 pm at Oak Haven Park in Central Saanich. The workshop will be in two sessions: the morning session will be an ethnobotany walk and talk along the trails of Oak Haven Park with JB sharing his knowledge of the native plants that grow there and their traditional uses for ceremony, healing and as food; in the afternoon, harvest and make teas and/or learn how to create a Cedar bark gift. Strict social distancing protocols in place. More information and registration at the HAT website. (At time of publication, this event is FULL.)
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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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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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REMINDER: NCHP-LTCF Small Grant Program (Year 2) application deadline is September 15, 2020, 8 pm (EDT). The Small Grant 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.
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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 January 15, 2021. Find more information here.
The Victoria Foundation's offers yearly Community Grants. The application window for 2020 is now closed. Find out more here. On September 14, 2020, the Victoria Foundation is launching the Community Recovery Program. Find all the details 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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