Taken from a Press Release

The Nature Trust of BC. is a leading non-profit organization that has protected over 180,000 acres of vital land and hundreds of at-risk and endangered species. The climate crisis and rapidly increasing biodiversity loss are two of the greatest threats to humanity and conservation is an integral and natural solution for mitigation both.

The Nature Trust of BC is currently working to raise the remaining $180,000 needed to protect 15 hectares of undeveloped ecologically valuable habitat along the Little Qualicum River on Vancouver Island. The river is rich with biodiversity and is located in a Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) biogeoclimatic zone – one of B.C.’s most at-risk ecosystems. 

If the funds can be raised, the conservation will be protected with a conservation land designation, ensuring that it cannot be developed or sold.

Why this matters: 

• Globally, there has been a 69% decline in wildlife populations between 1970 and 2018 and this number is steadily increasing. 
• Conservation is crucial for human health as our food, water, and ability to avoid disease and harm from extreme weather or natural disasters is directly linked with our ability to protect our planet.
• Sensitive habitats such as wetlands have tremendous carbon-absorbing potential and can store 81 to 216 metric tons of carbon per acre, depending on the location and type of wetland.
• The historic Global Diversity Framework for 2050 launched at COP15 with the aim of restoring nature and reducing the human-induced extinction rate tenfold by 2050. 
• Little Qualicum River is a vital spawning river which supports Indigenous and recreational fisheries and is home to Chinook, Chum, Steelhead, Coho salmon, and Coastal Trout. 
• The Little Qualicum River property contains 250-year-old veteran trees, which can absorb and sequester large amounts of climate-warming carbon.
• The Little Qualicum River area contains at-risk and endangered species such as the Surf Scoter, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Little Brown Myotis, and Northern Myotis.