The Heron Newsletter - Summer 2023

Extracted text (beginning)

Heron
the
A newsletter from the Islands Trust Conservancy, protecting islands in the Salish Sea | islandstrust.bc.ca/conservancysummer 2023
Field Season  
in the Salish Sea  p. 5
For links and additional media, visit the Heron newsletter online. 
www. islandstrust.bc.ca/conservancy/heron-newsletter/
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Our first  
Conservation Covenant on 
Lasqueti Island p.2 
Wetland in Livingstone Forest Photo: D. Hopwood,  
Inset: Livingstone Family, stewards of the land for 60 years, in 1915. Photo submitted by: K. Hackett
Photo: C. Funk
Photo: J. Green
Reflections from Summer  
Student Eve Ruth p. 6
Take me home!
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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
2

Land conservation has always been an important 
value to Christine Ferris and Doug Hopwood. 
Doug, a Registered Professional Forester, alongside 
Christine led work in ecosystem mapping, small scale forest 
management, and ecological research throughout their 
careers. “For close to 25 years, Doug and I worked for the 
Islands Trust Conservancy annually monitoring conservation 
areas, and we saw how a covenant can allow landowners to 
protect conservation values while retaining the use of the 
land,” says Christine Ferris. 
“We met many owners who were so 
grateful to know that the features that 
make their properties so special will be 
protected for the long term.” 
– Christine Ferris
In 1992 when they bought the property on Lasqueti Island, 
they wanted to create a demonstration forest to show 
ecologically sustainable forest practices. As time passed, 
Christine and Doug realized that “it was best to leave  
the forest alone.” 
They decided to register an 11.35 hectare 
covenant on the land through the Islands 
Trust’s Natural Area Protection Tax 
Exemption Program (NAPTEP) to ensure 
the long term protection of the property’s 
biodiversity and carbon stores.
Facing page: Livingstone Forest wetland  
Photo: D. Hopwood 
This page: Mature cedar tree and Western Toad in 
Livingstone Forest Photos: D. Hopwood and C. Funk
Introducing 
Livingstone Forest 
NAPTEP Covenant on Lasqueti Island 
continue

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