On November 1, 1999 almost 5000 acres–over one tenth–of Salt Spring Island was purchased by the newly formed Texada Land Corporation. This area is in the southwest part of the island and is the largest undeveloped area of the Southern Gulf Islands. It includes the forested hills along the Fulford Valley, parts of Mount Tuam and Mount Maxwell, and both shores of Burgoyne Bay–all part of the magnificent picture-postcard views that visitors from around the world come to see. Ninety percent of these lands contain sensitive, rare, or endangered ecosystems.

The new owners are logging heavily. As logging on these lands is unregulated, they have a legal right to do so. The scale and speed of this unregulated logging operation seriously jeopardizes future parks, community forests, and tourism. One hundred acres next to the Buddhist monastery on Mount Tuam were clear cut between November and Christmas of 1999, and the company is moving on to Mount Maxwell, where they will be clear cutting three to five acres each day. At this rate, by the end of the year 2000, over 1,000 acres of forest will have disappeared. Try to visualize a clear cut the size of 500 soccer fields–is this what we want for our island?

The southwest area of Salt Spring is a special place–a diverse environment with rare and endangered Garry oak meadows, rocky arbutus bluffs, eighteen kilometres of undeveloped coastline, four of the highest mountain peaks and the largest expanse of Douglas-fir forest in the Southern Gulf Islands, lush red cedar wetlands, outstanding outdoor recreation and scenic areas–many of which can be viewed from as far away as the Malahat.

And our governments agree that this area of Salt Spring is a special place. Mount Maxwell Provincial Park was created back in 1938. Two ecological reserves were created in the area in the 1980s by the provincial ministry of the environment. In 1999, southwest Salt Spring was identified as a priority area for park acquisition as part of the Capital Regional District Parks Master Plan of regional parks and trails.

The Land Conservancy of BC is spearheading the fundraising efforts and negotiations with Texada Land Corporation. Members of the South and West Salt Spring Island Conservation Partnership are directing the land protection and acquisition process. The partnership members include The Land Conservancy of BC, the Capital Regional District (CRD) Parks, BC Parks, the Salt Spring Island Conservancy, the Salt Spring Water Preservation Society, the Islands Trust Fund, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Habitat Acquisition Trust, the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee, several land owners with an interest in conservation covenants, and the Salt Spring Island Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission (PARC).

The owners have indicated that they are willing to sell the land. CRD Parks have indicated that they intend to help purchase some of this land for parks. Other sources such as the Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy– a partnership of the federal and provincial governments–and the Georgia Basin Ecosystem may also be willing to help. While the Texada lands are worth many millions of dollars, the cost of protecting the key values on these lands will be significantly reduced by entering into partnerships with regional, provincial, and federal agencies. By using covenants and stewardship agreements with private buyers, protection can be achieved at much lower cost than outright community acquisition. (Conservation covenants are voluntary written agreements between a land owner and a conservation organization, in which the owner promises to protect the land in a specified way. Covenants are registered on the land title and bind future owners.) Also, some properties acquired by the community can offset some costs with revenues from eco-forestry and agriculture activities.

Now we are looking for:

• conservation angels –donors, large and small

• conservation buyers –people to purchase individual parcels that have conservation covenants placed on them

• community forest and farm trust sponsors (sponsors who hold land for community sustainable forestry and agriculture)

We have already received many donations, including one to cover the costs of covenants, appraisals, and other expenses. Now we need you to help us make our dream of protecting this land a reality.

Remember that we already have great success stories on this island with the purchase of the Mill Farm and the McFadden Creek Heronry. We can do it again!