The Heron Newsletter Summer 2017

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Summer 2017  A newsletter from the Islands Trust Fund, a conservancy for Canada’s Islands in the Salish Sea
Heron
the
Islands Trust Fund
A unique unspoiled waterfront forest on the east coast of 
Thetis Island is now permanently protected and marks the 100
th
 
protected place for the Islands Trust Fund.  
The Islands Trust Fund, in partnership with the Cowichan Community Land Trust and 
the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy, has created a nature reserve to protect 21 hectares 
(52 acres) of Moore Hill. This conservation purchase was made possible thanks to the 
conservation vision of the previous land steward, the incredibly generous support of a local 
donor family and a grant from the federal Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk. 
The property is certified as an Ecological Gift under Environment and Climate Change 
Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. 
Moore Hill forms one of the highest peaks on Thetis Island and contains a rich mix of 
habitat types. The hill features dramatic sandstone cliffs. In places the cliffs have fractured 
into huge blocks, tumbling together to form caves that provide habitat for bats. Huge first 
growth Douglas-fir trees rise from the cliffs on the west side of the hill, and in small grassy 
openings camas, fritillaries and other wildflowers grow amongst the Garry oaks and arbutus. 
The eastern slope is a second growth Douglas-fir forest, with a diverse understory mosaic of 
mosses and ferns. This hill is culturally significant to First Nations people.
The Islands Trust Fund will carefully manage Moore Hill to ensure its ecological and 
archaeological features are monitored and maintained. Due to the steep cliff faces and its 
important species at risk habitat, Moore Hill will not be open to the public. The donors 
who made the protection of Moore Hill possible have made a tremendous contribution to 
the recovery of rare species and ecosystems on Thetis Island. Combined with the adjacent 
Nature Trust of BC reserve, protection of this property results in a 24 hectare protected 
area, spanning seashore to hilltop. 
The Islands Trust Fund will work with the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy, the Co-
wichan Community Land Trust, First Nations, archaeologists and species at risk biologists 
to develop a comprehensive management plan to guide the care of this special place.
Conservation Success Creates 100th 
Protected Place for Islands Trust Fund 
Our 100 Protected Places
•	The 14 branches on the tree in the 
100 Protected Places logo represent a 
protected place on each of the 13 local 
trust areas and Bowen Island Munici-
pality that make up the Islands Trust 
Area. The tree’s reflection in the water 
symbolizes the Salish Sea that connects 
us all.
•	The first ITF property was protected  
in 1992; we reached 50 protected 
places in 2005 and 100 protected 
places in 2016.
•	Our smallest nature reserve is 0.25 
hectares (0.62 acres) on Gabriola Island 
– Coats Millstone Nature Reserve. This 
small nature reserve

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