The Heron Newsletter - Summer 2025

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A newsletter from Islands Trust Conservancy | Protecting islands in the Salish Sea | islandstrust.bc.ca/conservancySUMMER 2025
        
Celebrating New Conservation 
Covenants p. 2
For links and additional media, visit the Heron Newsletter online: 
www.islandstrust.bc.ca/conservancy/heron-newsletter/
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
left to right: dave bodaly, Snuneymuxw Elder and Knowledge 
Keeper, yarrow aiko koontz, Landholder,  hugh skinner, galtt, 
wendy tyrrell, itc, anne landry, galtt, kathryn martell, itc. 
the
Heron
bull kelp. Photo: lauren man.
The BC Kelp Resilience 
Project  p. 4
SKYE   lARMOUR   naptep   covenant.   
salt spring island. 
p. 3
Take me home!
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Yarrow’s Story:
Koontz NAPTEP 
Covenant

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 and that their deep connection to 
the islands continues to this day. We are committed to reconciliation, to upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples, 
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 and territorial lands and waters of the BOḰEĆEN, Cowichan 
Tribes, K’ómoks, Lyackson, MÁLEXEȽ, Qualicum, scəẃaθən, səlilw ̓ ətaɬ, SEMYOME, shíshálh, Sḵwx
̱
wú7mesh, 
Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, Songhees, Spune’luxutth’, SȾÁUTW
̱
 , Stz’uminus, ɬaʔəmen, Ts’uubaa-asatx, 
Wei Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, W
̱
 JOȽEȽP, W
̱
SIḴEM, Xeláltxw, Xwémalhkwu, Xwsepsum, and xʷməθkʷəy.
Photo: Lisa wILCOX
Celebrating New Conservation Covenants
In October 2024, Islands Trust Conservancy registered two new Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEP) 
conservation covenants: Skye Larmour NAPTEP Covenant on Salt Spring Island, and Koontz NAPTEP Covenant on Gabriola 
Island. Islands Trust Conservancy manages NAPTEP on behalf of Islands Trust Council, holding the conservation covenant 
while Council grants the property tax exemption. NAPTEP provides island landholders with an annual 65% property tax 
reduction on the portion of their land protected by a conservation covenant. This incentive is unique to the Islands Trust Area.
Skye Larmour NAPTEP Covenant, Salt Spring Island
In  October  2024,  Skye  Larmour  protected  2.45  ha  of  land  on 
Salt Spring Island with a NAPTEP conservation covenant. This 
covenant  expands  habitat  protection  provided  by  the  adjacent 
Larmour Lands Nature Reserve, generously transferred to Islands 
Trust Conservancy in 2023, and is part of honouring the legacy 
of  Skye’s  father,  Mike  Larmour,  a  dedicated  Salt  Spring  Island  
conservationist. The new conservation covenant protects mature 
forests,  wetlands,  and  habitat  for  multiple  at-risk  species  while  
allowing the working farm to continue running on the remainder 
of the property. This covenant is co-held with S

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