Crown Land Acquistions
Under the Province of BC’s Free Crown Grant program, Trust Council and the Trust Fund Board can work together to seek the sponsorship of the Minister of Community Development for one parcel of Crown Land in the Islands Trust Area each year.
A Crown land parcel will only be short-listed for consideration if it meets the following requirements:
- Must be vacant and unencumbered (for example, land should not be encumbered by Land Act leases and licenses, provincial reserves, Ministry of Transportation gravel reserves, owned by another Crown Corporation, subject to an active treaty settlement process, active mineral claims or woodlot licenses);
- Must not be reserved from disposition under the Land Act; and
- Trust Council, the relevant Local Trust Committee or Island Municipality, First Nations, and the Trust Fund Board must be in favour of its protection through the Islands Trust Fund.
When evaluating eligible lands staff will consider if the potential sites support the Trust Fund Board’s Regional Conservation Plan and whether there is sufficient support from the local community, and potential management groups. Trust Fund Board staff will also consult with local trust committees, island municipalities, and relevant regional districts.
Based on resource and staff availability, the Board will request the support of Trust Council for one Crown land acquisition through the Free Crown Grants Program for each fiscal year. Applications for additional parcels could be made if Trust Council makes additional resources available to support the application process and the management of any land acquisitions.
Local communities are encouraged to support acquisition costs with fundraising initiatives.
Our Applications
2005 (Gabriola Island)
In 2005, the Trust Fund Board applied for its first Crown Land Transfer, a quarter section of forest land on Gabriola, for a nature reserve with walking trails. The Trust Fund Board received title to the 65 hectare forest in May 2006.
The creation of the Elder Cedar (S’ul-hween X’pey) Nature Reserve (formerly known as the UREP lands) represents a community effort spanning more than 15 years to protect the last remaining stand of old-growth trees on Gabriola Island. Several streams and small wetland complexes are scattered throughout the reserve. Red and blue listed plant communities are found within the nature reserve’s boundaries and blue-listed wildlife species including the Western Screech-Owl and Townsend’s big-eared bat call the property home.
The property is located on North Road at the south end of “the Tunnel” –a stretch of road aptly named for the corridor of giant trees that arch over North Road.
2006 (Gambier Island)
In 2006 the Trust Fund Board applied for a 107 hectare parcel on Gambier Island which would protect much of Mount Artaban. With Gambier Island Conservancy leading the fundraising campaign needed to cover the costs of surveying and creating a management plan for the reserve, the Trust Fund Board satisfied the conditions of the Free Crown Grant transfer and received title to this land in June 2008.
The Mount Artaban Nature Reserve, when combined with neighbouring local, regional and provincial parks, creates Gambier Island’s first protected area network at 525 hectares – an area 25% larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park. The Mount Artaban Nature Reserve protects old-growth trees, a wetland, and several at-risk plant communities. The reserve and adjoining protected areas offer an exhilarating hiking experience extending from the Long Bay and Brigade Bay waterfronts, up to Mount Artaban’s peak, and south through Halkett Bay Provincial Marine Park.
2007 (Bowen Island)
The Board’s most recent Free Crown Grant application is for 18 hectares (45 acres) of a valuable Bowen Island wetland known as Fairy Fen. The application has received sponsorship from the Ministry of Community Services (now Ministry of Community Development) and has been offered a Free Crown Grant for this parcel. The Trust Fund Board is currently working with the Bowen Island Conservancy to raise funds and complete a survey to satisfy the requirements of the Free Crown Grant program.
Future (Lasqueti Island)
The Trust Fund Board will be focusing its next application on Lasqueti Island. A public meeting was held on Lasqueti Island on February 19, 2007 to prioritize suitable areas. The Board will evaluate the shortlist against the priorities in the Board’s Regional Conservation Plan and seek the approval of local First Nations, the Lasqueti Local Trust Committee and the Powell River Regional District for its choice.
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