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B.C., Nature Conservancy, cooperate to ensure protection of sensitive lands

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The Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Government of British Columbia have partnered to ensure the continued protection of several ecologically-sensitive properties formerly owned by The Land Conservancy of BC.

These high-priority properties contain some of the most biodiverse habitats in B.C., and are home to a wide variety of wildlife.

In October, the Province assumed ownership of the following properties:

  • 3.7 hectares (two land parcels) along the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island, which includes streamside habitat with a maple forest grove and rare wildflowers.
  • 45 hectares on the Similkameen River, featuring a rare riparian floodplain and upland grasslands habitat for species at risk, which is part of the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area.
  • 35 hectares known as the Woods Family property, which provides habitat for bighorn sheep and is adjacent to Syringa Park near Castlegar.“The Nature Conservancy of Canada was extremely motivated to ensure these important properties remain protected, and to uphold the expectations of the donors who had originally contributed to their conservation,” said Nancy Newhouse, B.C. Regional Vice President with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The Honourable Mary Polak, B.C. Minister of Environment, says she is “thrilled that the Province and the Nature Conservancy of Canada worked together to ensure these important properties remain protected for future generations to enjoy.”Quick Facts

“These lands will complement B.C.’s already beautiful world-renowned parks system,” she added.

“We are grateful for the support of the Province in helping to ensure these conservation lands will continue to be part of the British Columbia’s incredible conservation legacy.”

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The Province intends to add these properties to existing parks and protected areas within the next five years. Additional properties to be acquired as part of this partnership will be announced next year. The Province has committed $1 million and will assume ownership of several of the 26 conservation properties transferred from The Land Conservancy to the Nature Conservancy of Canada in September 2015. The Province‘s contribution supports the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s agreement with The Land Conservancy, which required a cash contribution to assist in the repayment of creditors.

Quick Facts

  • There are 1,029 provincial parks, recreation areas, conservancies, ecological reserves and protected areas covering more than 14 million hectares or approximately 14.4% of the provincial land base
  • British Columbia has one of the largest protected areas systems in North America.
  • One of the largest park systems in the world, British Columbia has the highest percentage of its land base dedicated to protected areas of all provincial Canadian jurisdictions.
  • Since 2004, the system of Class A parks, conservancies, ecological reserves and protected areas has increased by more than 3.3 million hectares.
  • Since 1962, Nature Conservancy Canada and its partners have helped to protect more than 2.7 million acres of land (1.1 million hectares) coast-to-coast

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