Lower Mt. Erskine Management Plan

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Lower Mount Erskine Nature Reserve  
Property Management Plan  
Salt Spring Island, BC 
 
Photo 1. Maturing second growth forest with arbutus trees in Lower Mount Erskine Nature Reserve, 
Salt Spring Island. Photo: C. Maslovat 
Prepared for: 
Islands Trust Conservancy 
 
Lower Mount Erskine Nature Reserve Management Plan  
Prepared by Joel Ussery, February 1994 
Revised: January 2005 by Chris Ferris 
REVISED January 2020 by: Carrina Maslovat, R. P. Bio. #1407 
 
APPROVED BY 
Islands Trust Conservancy Board on January 26, 2021, Resolution 2021-005 
Nature Conservancy of Canada, March 5, 2021 and the Habitat Acquisition Trust, April 9, 2021 

Lower Mount Erskine Nature Reserve Management Plan Final – December 14, 2020 
 
   
 
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i. Executive Summary 
Islands Trust Conservancy acknowledges and respects that Salt Spring Island is within the 
territory of Coast Salish Peoples, the Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, 
MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nation, BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin) First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, SEMYOME 
(Semiahmoo) First Nation, Stz'uminus (Chemainus) First Nation, W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) First Nation, 
SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation, Tsawwassen First Nation, W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) First Nation, 
Ts'uubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan) First Nation. The historical relationship to the land, culture, and 
spirit of this place continues to this day. Islands Trust Conservancy 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 Lower Mount Erskine Nature Reserve is a 
living document that will evolve as opportunities for knowledge sharing arise and 
understanding grows
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The Lower Mount Erskine Nature Reserve was donated to the Province of British Columbia in 
1976 as a park and greenbelt by Dr. J.H. Fisher and in 1996, the title to the Reserve was 
transferred to the Islands Trust Conservancy. The initial management plan was prepared in 
1994 by Joel Ussery and revised by Chris Ferris in 2005. In 2019, the management plan was 
updated with additional field work undertaken by Carrina Maslovat. 
 
Lower Mount Erskine Nature Reserve is located on the northwest slopes of Mount Erskine 
between Booth Bay and Erskine Point on the northwestern part of Salt Spring Island. The 
Reserve consists of a steeply sloping forested area with rocky bluffs and outcroppings. The 
elevation ranges from 60 metres to 250 metres. The area has been logged and is now maturing 
young forest, primarily Douglas-fir, but in drier areas with thinner soils there are large amounts 
of arbutus. The Reserve is a popular hiking destination and there is a well-used trail network 
that leads to the summit of Mount Erskine in the adjacent provincial park. Lower Mount Erskine 
Nature Reserve (22.46 hectares or 55.57 acres) along with the adjacent Mount Erskine 
Pro

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