The Islands Trust Fund envisions the islands and waters of the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound as a vibrant tapestry of culture and ecology where humans live and work in harmony with the natural world. This special place will have a network of protected areas that preserve in perpetuity the native species and natural systems of the islands. Engaged residents and conservation partners will work together to protect large natural areas and key wildlife habitat. Viable ecosystems will flourish alongside healthy island communities.

When natural habitat is lost, the diversity of life it supports diminishes too. The loss of even one species can have far reaching impacts on natural systems and other species, including humans. Core conservation areas support a diversity of life, giving plants and animals a protected home to live and breed.

The Islands Trust Fund will help islanders protect natural areas through land acquisitions, land donations and conservation covenants. To make sure the ecosystems of the islands remain healthy, we will focus on protecting natural areas with the highest biodiversity value. The Islands Trust Fund will monitor and manage core conservation areas to protect the natural features from invasive species, climate change and other threats.

We know we can’t preserve all of the islands in core conservation areas. People are an important part of the islands. With careful stewardship, agriculture, forestry and residential development can co-exist with island ecosystems. The Islands Trust Fund will encourage and help islanders to use the land in a way that supports biodiversity.

Eighty-six percent of the Islands Trust Area is under water. Marine areas are as rich and varied as the terrestrial areas of the islands, and support the health, beauty and economy of the region. The Islands Trust Fund will work with and support partner organizations conserving marine ecosystems and habitats.

Development can be the single largest impact on biodiversity. The Islands Trust Fund is committed to helping the region’s local government – the Islands Trust – to take into consideration the biodiversity priorities of the Regional Conservation Plan when regulating development.