The Nature Trust of British Columbia

Our Vancouver office staff were treated to a day in the beautiful Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary this week by the South Coast Conservation Field Crew 🌸 🌿 The crew toured staff around the conservation area, sharing updates on the great work they've been doing with partners to restore this important ecosystem. While touring the estuary, we were lucky to see the stunning Henderson's checkermallow (image 2), a threatened flower that is Blue-listed in British Columbia, and thrives in tidal flats, estuaries, and wet meadows. It was heartwarming to see such an abundance of this flower while touring this conservation area!

Nature Trust of BC CEO Dr. Jasper Lament joined Gloria Macarenko on Thursday for the CBC's On The Coast, where he discussed the Government of Canada's largest-ever conservation commitment to support nature-based solutions to climate change in the country, including a $50 million investment to support three projects in B.C. Listen now: https://bit.ly/4dexFiG

The Government of Canada has made its biggest commitment to conservation in Canada, ever. The Nature Trust of BC joined the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, as he announced this incredible news - $89.1 million for 10 greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects funded through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. Through this fund, $8M will be granted to The Nature Trust of BC to safeguard precious carbon-rich ecosystems across British Columbia. “This new partnership has allowed us to purchase an area of high biodiversity land larger than Stanley Park. This work is incredibly important and involves protecting salt marshes, forests, wetlands and grasslands. But it’s about more than that too. It’s about protecting critical connectivity corridors for grizzly bears, elk and American badgers. It’s about protecting biodiversity for our future and our children’s future. It’s about hope.” Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of BC Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LsBIvQ

Today, The Government of Canada has launched the largest conservation campaign in the country’s history in order to support meeting its emissions reduction targets and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. This includes almost $50 million for major nature conservation projects in British Columbia! Through this campaign, an investment of $8 million has been made to The Nature Trust of British Columbia to secure 552 hectares of carbon-rich ecosystems and provide benefits for multiple species at risk, including the Western Toad, the Grizzly Bear, and the Southern Mountain Caribou, among others. This project will result in the creation of 11 new protected areas, including forest, wetland, and grassland habitats on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the East Kootenays, and in the Cariboo Region. Read more about this incredible commitment to protecting nature in B.C. and Canada: https://bit.ly/3y2HTUd

We'd like to take a moment to thank Emily Griffiths-Hamilton for her eight years of service on The Nature Trust of BC's Board of Directors! Emily has played a pivotal role during her time at The Nature Trust of BC, guiding us forward with the future in mind for wildlife and people. Drawing from her natural ability to lead, The Nature Trust secured a record eighteen conservation areas during Emily's term as Board Chair from 2021 to 2023 - a truly remarkable accomplishment made possible by her guidance and encouragement. Thank you, Emily! The positive conservation impact you have made will continue to be felt for generations to come. Emily will continue guiding The Nature Trust forward in her new role as an Advisory Council member.

By donating to our campaign to protect 13 acres along the Kw'a'luxw (Englishman) River, you are conserving a haven for biodiversity that teems with over 250 species and all five species of Pacific salmon. Hear more from Tom Reid, our West Coast Conservation Land Manager as he explains why protecting this special place is so important in this video created by Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum. We need your help to safeguard the Kw'a'luxw River. Donate today, protect forever: https://bit.ly/3WptcUF

Today, we'd like to spotlight Dr. Sally Otto for her completing her service on The Nature Trust of BC's Board of Directors! Dr. Otto has been a critical part of our conservation success over the past eight years, and The Nature Trust has benefitted greatly from her dedication to the protection of biodiversity in B.C. Under Sally's leadership as Chair of the Board between 2019 and 2021, The Nature Trust of BC added nine new land acquisitions, including Princeton Grasslands – MapleCross Meadow. Princeton Grasslands was the largest, most ambitious Nature Trust land acquisition in decades! During her Board term, many other lands have also been conserved to help protect British Columbia’s rich biodiverse tapestry and natural heritage. Thank you, Sally, for choosing The Nature Trust of BC as the benefactor of your time, passion and commitment. Dr. Otto will continue guiding The Nature Trust forward in her new role as an Advisory Council member.

The Nature Trust of BC was honoured to join Lulumexun - Cowichan Tribes staff, Quw'utsun Elders and Members, and other Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project partners for a traditional Quw'utsun feast prepared by Chef Jared Qwustenuxun Williams late last month. The feast was in celebration of the ongoing successes and partnership to revitalize and restore the Cowichan River Estuary. During the feast, Chef Qwustenuxun discussed the scarcity of many of the menu's ingredients and praised ongoing efforts to restore traditional Quw'utsun agricultural practices. Thank you, Chef Qwustenuxun and all for such an incredible day! 📸: Julian Zelazny

We'd like to welcome two new additions to our Board of Directors - Dr. Winifred 'Wini' Kessler, and Jeff Bay! 🌿 Dr. Wini Kessler comes to The Nature Trust of BC's Board with over 40 years of experience in ecology, conservation, and natural resource education research, and management in both the United States and Canada. 🌿 Jeff Bay joins our Board with over 15 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance, and has also served on The Nature Trust's Audit and Finance committee at The Nature Trust of BC since November of 2018. Welcome Wini and Jeff! Learn more about our Board of Directors: https://bit.ly/3XUOPxe

Our Okanagan Conservation Field Crew recently teamed up with the Canadian Wildlife Service to conduct surveys for the endangered Behr’s Hairstreak Butterfly. These butterflies rely on Antelope Brush as their host plant to lay their eggs however, due to habitat loss and disturbance much of the antelope brush ecosystem has declined. This year, we have spotted almost 40 Behrs hairstreak at this site, a testament to our conservation and restoration efforts in the Okanagan!