Our Story

Who we are

The Islands Trust Fund is a conservation land trust, preserving the endangered landscapes and ecosystems of Canada’s islands in the Salish Sea. We empower property owners to protect private land with innovative programs. Islanders are confident entrusting the Islands Trust Fund with the protection of their land, knowing that we can deliver on our promise to protect in perpetuity.

Why we're here

The Islands Trust Area – Canada’s Salish Sea - holds an archipelago of more than 450 islands and islets. The region’s calm waters and warm climate make these islands a sanctuary for a rich diversity of wildlife. The islands are cherished for their stunning beauty and significant biodiversity.

The rare ecosystems of the islands are among the most critically imperiled in B.C. The islands support communities of plants and animals unique to Canada, including woodlands of arbutus, Garry oak and wildflowers. More than 100 species-at-risk are found in the islands.

Bordered by B.C.’s densely populated lower mainland and Vancouver Island, and drawing visitors from all around the world, the islands are under tremendous development pressure. The Islands Trust Fund was created in 1990 by the Province of British Columbia to preserve and protect the Trust Area and environment by holding land as nature reserves. Since then, we’ve grown to be much more than just land holders. We work with landowners to protect natural areas on private property, support island conservancies in their conservation work, and demonstrate the highest standards of land stewardship on our nature reserves.

Our relationship with the Islands Trust

The Islands Trust and Islands Trust Fund were established by the same legislation – the Islands Trust Act. The Islands Trust is a federation of local governments planning land use and regulating development in the Trust Area. Though the purpose of the two organizations is the same – to preserve and protect the Trust Area and environment –we accomplish that purpose in different ways. The Islands Trust is a regulatory body; the Islands Trust Fund is a conservation land trust, protecting land through voluntary measures.

The Trust Fund Board (our governing board) is legally independent from the Islands Trust and its collection of local governments. The land held by the Islands Trust Fund is owned by the land trust, not the regulatory body. The Trust Fund Board is responsible for managing the land and money it receives as donations, and makes its decisions independently of the Islands Trust.

The Islands Trust Fund’s operating expenses are covered through the property taxes collected by the Islands Trust. This means the Islands Trust Fund can offer a unique promise to the people who donate to us, that 100% of every dollar donated to the Islands Trust Fund goes directly to conserving land. No donations are used to pay for paper or pencils, wages or property management.

Our successes | Your successes

Since 1990, the Islands Trust Fund has protected more than 1,000 hectares of natural land through conservation covenants and nature reserves and helped protect another 300 hectares by supporting other conservation agencies working in the region. Some of these special places include Medicine Beach on Pender Island, Squitty Bay on Lasqueti Island, and Morrison Marsh on Denman Island.

These accomplishments haven’t been ours alone. It’s thanks to the vision, dedication and generosity of our donors and partners that we’ll forever have protected, healthy ecosystems in the islands. Whether you’re a property owner, island conservancy member, or visitor to the region, you all play a part in the conservation of these islands we love.