The Heron Newsletter Winter 2014-2015

Extracted text (beginning)

A 
joint fundraising campaign is underway to create the 
first community nature reserve on Thetis Island. Three 
partners, the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy (ThINC), 
the Cowichan Land Trust and the Islands Trust Fund, aim 
to raise $560K to acquire the property known as Lower 
Burchell Hill. Success will mean Burchell Hill forests will 
continue to be enjoyed by the Thetis Island community 
and keep offering ecological services that benefit the island 
and the region.
“The 16-hectare Lower Burchell Hill property has 
regionally important Douglas-fir forest, including 
provincially red-listed plant communities and sensitive 
ecosystems,” said Kate Emmings, Islands Trust Fund’s 
Ecosystem Protection Specialist. “Protecting 
this property is an important step towards 
land conservation on Thetis Island 
and within the Coastal Douglas-fir 
biogeoclimatic zone, which is globally 
rare and has only 9% protected area.”
The property also has significant 
watershed value and offers recreational 
opportunities through its section of a 
popular trail to the summit of Burchell Hill. 
Once the Trust Fund Board acquires the property as 
a nature reserve, two local land trusts will jointly hold a 
conservation covenant to ensure its permanent protection. 
Winter 2014-2015 A newsletter from the Islands Trust Fund, a conservancy for Canada’s Islands in the Salish Sea
Heron
continued on pg 2
the
Thetis Island residents enjoying the future Lower Burchell Hill Nature Reserve.   
Pictured left to right are Leah Howard, Kelly Bannister, Matthias Bannister, and Katia Bannister.  Photo by Kelly Bannister.
Help Create Thetis Island’s First Community Nature Reserve 
Pledge your support for the acquisition of Lower Burchell Hill today!
Islands Trust Fund
ThINC – Thetis Island Nature Conservancy 
ThINC recently launched their new brand, including a new logo designed by Sander Sarioglu. Formed in 
2012, ThINC is the newest land trust in the Salish Sea. ThINC works closely with the Cowichan Land Trust, 
and has goals towards the conservation and stewardship of natural ecosystems as well as promotion of 
community food security on Thetis Island.  www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

The Heron | Winter 2014-2015 | Islands Trust Fund
 
B
etween 1998 and 2002, the Islands Trust Fund worked in partnership 
with the Wild Bird Trust of BC and the Waterbird Watch Collective 
to raise funds for the acquisition of a 5-hectare property on Salt Spring 
Island to create the McFadden Creek Nature Sanctuary. First protected 
in 2002, the property recently transferred to the Islands Trust Fund to be 
permanently managed as a nature sanctuary. In addition, the Salt Spring 
Island Conservancy now holds a conservation covenant on the property, 
providing local oversight of the long-term stewardship of the land.
Once home to over 130 Great Blue Heron nests, the McFadden Creek 
Nature Sanctuary was the first Important Bird Area identified in British 
Columbia. The herons abandoned the site 

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