| What has been done so far?
From the day Texada Land Corporation’s chain saws arrived, community volunteers have: • organized a series of community information meetings and rallies • mapped the areas suitable for parkland and for community forest and agricultural use • met with the company’s owners and representatives to provide information about critical ecological and scenic values • reviewed logging plans and walked the logging sites with company foresters and representatives • started a letter-writing campaign to politicians • provided articles for and information to the media • begun a fundraising campaign to protect the land 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).
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 Texada clear cut, Mount Tuam |
| What are the next steps?
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!
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