Sandy Beach Nature Reserve, Hoak-pus, Management Plan

Extracted text (beginning)

SANDY BEACH NATURE RESERVE 
MANAGEMENT PLAN 
Hoak-pus, KEATS ISLAND, BC 
 
PREPARED BY: 
Claudia Schaefer, M.Sc., R. P. Bio. #1001 
PREPARED FOR: Islands Trust Conservancy 
APPROVED BY: 
Islands Trust Conservancy Board on May 24, 2022 
Resolution ITC-2022-028 
Sunshine Coast Conservation Association on June 
16, 2022 
TLC The Land Conservancy of BC on June 24, 2022 
 

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i. Executive Summary 
 
Islands Trust Conservancy (ITC) acknowledges and respects that Keats Island is within the 
lands and waters of the Siwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and is the homeland 
and gathering place of many Coast Salish Peoples. The historical relationship to the land, 
culture, and spirit of this place continues to this day. ITC is committed to honouring the rich 
history of Indigenous stewardship in the lands and waters of the Islands Trust Area and to 
building mutually respectful relationships between Indigenous and non- Indigenous partners 
in conservation. Therefore, this Management Plan for Sandy Beach Nature Reserve is a living 
document that will evolve as opportunities for knowledge sharing arise and understanding 
grows
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. 
 
Sandy Beach Nature Reserve (SBNR) is located at the southwestern end of Keats Island, one 
of the many islands in the Salish Sea. The Siwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw knows this area of what is 
now called Keats Island, by the name Hoak-pus. SBNR has experienced minimal human 
disturbance since the widespread logging of the coastal region in the 1900s. Its 
predominantly mature, coniferous forests blanket moderate to steep north- and north-
facing slopes. The forests of the reserve provide habitat for many species of wildlife and 
plants, and with the unfragmented forests adjacent support an extensive greenway for 
wildlife movement. 
 
Four provincially at risk ecological communities and several Sensitive Ecosystems occur in 
SBNR, a high diversity given its size. This community diversity also provides a high 
biodiversity of plant species, from those restricted to dry, nutrient poor soils of the coastal 
bluffs to ones requiring rich, moist soils on the eastern slopes. SBNR also has a significant 
number of old growth trees. There is suitable habitat for numerous wildlife species at risk. 
 
This Management Plan assesses the current condition of SBNR, sets out conservation 
objectives, identifies ecological and/or cultural values, identifies relevant management 
issues and provides recommendations for the continued ecological health of SBNR. 
Recommendations include ensuring minimal human disturbance by interpretive signage, 
prohibiting motorized vehicles and bicycles, camping, and fires of any kind, improving the 
access to the beach for the public, removing invasive species, supporting or sponsoring 
additional ecological surveys to better manage and understand the qualities of SBNR, and 
monitoring for threats to the integrity of the reserve and its inherent features. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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First Nations/reconcili

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