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.

LTABC NEWS

British Columbia Conservation Areas Summary Report

The 2019 BC Conservation Areas Summary Report is now available to read and download from our website. Find it here.

CONSERVATION NEWS

NTBC Campaign to add 61 hectares to their White Lake Basin Biodiversity Ranch

The Nature Trust of British Columbia has been protecting the rich biodiversity of South Okanagan rolling native grasslands for many years on the White Lake Biodiversity Ranch, a combined sustainable ranch and grassland conservation area. NTBC has the opportunity to add 61 hectares to this complex with the Park Rill Floodplain property, which boasts natural grassy and wetland terrains. The South Okanagan hosts more at-risk species than anywhere else in BC. This addition to the White Lake Ranch property will increase the conservation of biodiversity and connectivity of wildlife habitats. For more information about this campaign and to donate, visit NTBC’s website.

White Raven spotted near Coombs

Nature photographer and author Mike Yip reports that a fledgling white raven was spotted by a local resident in Coombs on Vancouver Island. Yip has been photographing white ravens since 2007. He says “This marks the continuation of one of nature’s most fascinating spectacles, and is rare everywhere in the world except in the Coombs-Qualicum region on central Vancouver Island.” Read the full article from West Coast Traveller here.

Read about Mike Yip’s newly published local birding guide here.

MEMBER PROFILE

Gambier Island Conservancy

The Gambier Island Conservancy (GIC) was founded in 1995 to address mounting concerns about changes in Gambier Island's natural habitat. The founding Directors believed that enhancing public awareness and increasing environmental knowledge was essential to ensure sustainable development on the Island.

In the late 1990s, one of the GIC's earlier initiatives was a Streamkeepers program which involved mapping and documenting the creeks, watersheds, wetlands, old growth forests and environmentally sensitive areas on the Island. Grants were obtained to hire students from Capilano College to conduct much of the research. One result of the study was the creation of topographic maps identifying the major watersheds, environmentally sensitive areas, and age categories of old-growth forests on the Island.

In 2003, the GIC published a brochure featuring a map of Gambier's trail network. It served as a useful guide for over 15 years to those wanting to explore the natural attributes of Gambier's Crown land. In 2020, the GIC obtained funding from the BC Government to employ three Island residents to GPS and improve the Island trail network. Some youth volunteers from Ocean Bridge also did some trail work. This recent work will help ensure the preservation of the trail network and the safety of visitors to the Island. Updates to a new trail map are available on the GIC's new website.

At the peak of Mt Artaban for the official opening of the nature reserve in 2009.

In 2005, the first two nature reserves on the Island were established through an agreement with the developer of the Brigade Bay subdivision by which the ownership of the land was transferred to the Islands Trust Conservancy. With the assistance of this organization, the GIC raised over $47,000 to fund a survey and a management plan needed to establish, in 2008, the Mt. Artaban Nature Reserve. This nature reserve is contiguous with one of the two existing nature reserves to the north, and the Halkett Bay Marine Provincial Park to the south. In 2009, the GIC was appointed manager of the three nature reserves and, in 2013, became a joint holder of conservation covenants over these nature reserves with the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association. Supported by the Island's Trust Conservancy, the GIC has conducted, between 2015 and 2021, five volunteer restoration work parties to plant trees and remove invasive species in the nature reserves.

Signs at the trail head of the trail to Mt Artaban.

In 2013, the GIC initiated and led a campaign against the BC Government's plan to log two new woodlots, encompassing 30% of the Crown forest land on the Island. With the support of the Squamish Nation, the campaign stopped the creation of these woodlots in the heart of the Island, preserving some of the remaining stands of old-growth forests. In 2012, the GIC expanded its conservation mandate to the surrounding waters of Howe Sound by becoming a coalition partner with the Future of Howe Sound Society to promote a renewable and sustainable marine environment. To this end, from 2018-20, the GIC participated in the Salish Sea Nearshore Habitat Recovery Project, which involved eelgrass restoration in four bays on the Island.

Earlier this year, to address concerns about logging in the headwaters of one of the Island's few salmon-bearing creeks, the GIC commissioned environmental studies to identify species at risk and to examine the bio-diversity in the area of the proposed logging within the established woodlot. These studies have revealed to the public the significance of this ancient forest.

Presently, the Gambier Island Conservancy has over 100 members. Going forward, the GIC plans to expand its membership by informing the public of the importance of preserving the Island's natural beauty, and engage the public in conservation activities such as a proposed Adopt-a-Trail program.

Learn more about Gambier Island Conservancy on their website, gambierislandconservancy.ca/

EVENTS & EDUCATION

TLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia is pleased to announce its 2021 VIRTUAL Passport to Nature Program. The fourth year of the Program will include nine free VIRTUAL events throughout 2021. Find more information, a full list of all nine events, and links to register here.

TLC The Land Conservancy of BC’s EDUCATION HUB

TLC’s Education Hub is a FREE resource sharing library. Publications covering a wide variety of topics (including gardening, ecosystems and resources for children) are available. Find out more on TLC’s website.

Galiano Conservancy Association YouTube Channel

Galiano Conservancy’s YouTube Channel is a great resource of informative and educational videos and webinars. You can also find Fergus TV here - humorous and informative nature education puppet shows starring Fergus the Fungus and his team of highly charismatic micro-flora and fauna.

Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Beginner Birding Series

Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship has produced an excellent series of Beginner Birding webinars. Check them out on their website.