Islands Trust Conservancy Report - Overview For Saturna Island

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Conservation Options with
Islands Trust Conservancy
January 29
th
, 2026
KathrynMartell 
EcosystemProtectionSpecialist    
Islands Trust Conservancy

Land Acknowledgement
Islands Trust and Islands Trust Conservancy respectfully acknowledge 
that the lands and waters that encompass the Islands Trust Area have 
been home to Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. We are 
committed to reconciliation and to working together to preserve and 
protect this ecologically, culturally, and spiritually significant region in 
the Salish Sea. 
The Islands Trust Area is located in the treaty lands and territories 
of the BOḰEĆEN, Cowichan Tribes, K’ómoks, Lyackson, MÁLEXEȽ, 
Qualicum, scəẃaθən, səl
̓
ilwətaɬ, SEMYOME, shíshálh, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, 
Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, Songhees, Spune’luxutth’, SȾÁUTW̱, 
Stz’uminus, ɬaʔəmen, Ts'uubaa-asatx, Wei WaiKum, We WaiKai, 
W̱JOȽEȽP, W̱SIḴEM, Xeláltxw, Xwémalhkwu, Xwsepsum, and 
xʷməθkʷəy
̓
əmFirst Nations.

Islands Trust  Bodies



Protecting Special Places
•Over 65% of the Islands Trust area is privately owned
•High species richness, but also a high number of 
species and ecosystems at risk 
•Loss of habitat is one of the largest threats to 
biodiversity
•Maintaining and protecting natural habitat on 
privately-owned land is key to preserving the 
ecological integrity of this region
ITC protects private land through:
•Conservation covenant agreements with landholders
•Fee-simple ownership of nature reserves

© Saturnina Island (Wilson 5 Foundation)
Nature Reserve
•Land donated or transferred to 
Islands Trust Conservancy
•Managed with the primary purpose 
for protection of ecological integrity, 
biodiversity, and habitat features
•Some nature reserves may be open 
to the public, at the Board’s 
discretion, and only if access does 
not compromise ecological or 
cultural features
Key features:
ITC protects forever
Management planning and actions for long-term 
protection of biodiversity

Conservation Covenant
•Tool that allows a landholder to 
restrict what can be done on their 
land, or a portion of it
•Covenantsare registered on the 
property title and future owners 
must live up to the restrictions
•Monitoring and enforcement by the 
conservation organization that holds 
the covenant
Key features:
Retains private ownership
Protect all or part of the property
No public access
Monitoring and enforcement by the conservation 
organization that holds the covenant
Woodpecker Forest NAPTEP (N Pender)

Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption 
Program (NAPTEP) Covenant
Property tax incentive for registration of a covenant 
protecting specific eligible features: 65% exemption on 
covenanted land
Unique to Islands Trust: legislated through Islands Trust Act
29 covenants protecting 160 hectares

Islands Trust Conservancy typically 
accepts proposals that:
•Protect Biodiversity Priorities identified in our 
Regional Conservation Plan
•Are at least 2 hectares in size with priority given to 
proposals that protect larger area

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