Protecting Crown Land

Approximately 23% of the islands’ land base is Crown land, owned by the provincial government. This land is often natural and holds some of the region’s most ecologically significant habitats. Unless protected as a park or ecological reserve, Crown land is open to forestry, mining, and high-impact recreational use (subject to the government’s permission). Crown land can even be sold.

Many island communities have expressed concern about the status of the Crown land on their islands, and would like to see some of these special places better protected. The Islands Trust Fund, in partnership with Trust Council, is able to apply to the Provincial government to acquire Crown land through B.C.’s Sponsored Crown Grant program. To be eligible, the Crown land must meet several criteria. We work with island communities to identify Crown land most in need of protection, and with the support of local First Nations, we ask the Province to transfer the property to us for community purposes.

An application for Crown land must be sponsored by the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and is limited by an annual budget. If our application is successful, the land is transferred and protected as a nature reserve, preserving the ecosystem services the land gives to the community and providing walking and hiking opportunities for the public. With the help of local land trust partners, we ensure the property remains natural forever through careful management.

Although we do not have to purchase the land, there are costs associated with the Sponsored Crown Grant program. The Islands Trust Fund partners with community groups to raise funds for the survey, appraisal and the management plan required for each property. Please help us support this work by donating to the Islands Trust Fund. Your gift will help protect some of the region’s most admired landscapes.

Your support helped protect these iconic island landscapes through the Free Crown Grant program

Elder Cedar Nature Reserve, Gabriola Island [More]
Mt. Artaban Nature reserve, Gambier Island [More]
Fairy Fen Nature Reserve, Bowen Island [More]

Contact Information

To learn more about how the Islands Trust Fund protects crown land, please contact:

Manager, Islands Trust Fund
(250) 405-5191