Conservation and Recreation Partnerships

BC Parks encourages community involvement in helping to conserve natural values through partnerships. Key to the BC Parks partnership strategy is improved collaboration among the many individuals and organizations that share our conservation goals. By working together and sharing resources we can take advantage of the wealth of knowledge, experience and commitment of those who make up the BC Parks community.

Parks

BC Parks partners with many organizations and community groups around the province to deliver conservation and recreation services. Partnerships projects include: trail building and maintenance, infrastructure improvements, weed pulls, restoration projects, and interpretive programs. To find how you can get involved, contact BC parks.

Ecological Reserves

Ecological Reserve (ER) Wardens are a team of dedicated volunteers across the province who make significant contributions to the parks and protected areas system. In partnership with BC Parks staff, ER Wardens provide an array of services that include: manual invasive plant control; inventory of flora and fauna; and, trespass monitoring.  ER Wardens are the eyes and ears for BC Parks in our ecological reserves. These dedicated volunteers care deeply for the ecological reserves they work in and serve an invaluable role in the long-term protection of the reserves.

Find out how to become an ER warden

Conservation Lands Management

Agreements with Ducks Unlimited Canada

The Ministry of Environment and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) signed a 30-year provincial umbrella agreement in 1983 to formalize the cooperation of the two parties on wetland habitat preservation and enhancement with a special emphasis on wetlands deemed essential to waterfowl.

The ministry has signed over 130 site-specific agreements with Ducks Unlimited Canada authorizing DUC to manage specific wetland values including the construction and operation of dams and other works to manage water flows. 

DUC retains responsibility for maintaining and operating the works and the ministry assists in obtaining any required permits or authorizations.

Land leased to the Ministry of Environment to manage

BC Parks and the ministry, through long term lease arrangements, partners to bring new areas into the provincial system of protected lands. 

For example, The Nature Trust of BC, which holds title to land with high conservation values, may lease all or a portion of that land to the Ministry of Environment to manage for conservation purposes - usually for 99 years.

BC Parks will take on such lease properties when the area enhances ministry protected land values and is more efficiently and effectively managed in conjunction with adjacent public lands.

Once land is leased to the ministry, it is considered Crown administered land and may be included as part of a designated park, protected area, conservancy, ecological reserve, or wildlife management area and managed under the associated provincial legislation.  Even if not designated, leased properties may still be managed under the terms of the lease agreement with the land owner and applicable Crown legislation.

The ministry currently has over 155 lease agreements in place encompassing approximately 12,000 hectares of valuable habitat.

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation: Land Management Funding

BC Parks and the Ministry of Environment work closely with the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) to support operations and maintenance activities on ministry and partner conservation lands in the Province.

In the past several years, over $14 million has been endowed to HCTF to help fund land management activities. Dispersed by HCTF, these funds are used for approved land management projects in sites such as wildlife management areas, lease held lands or for conservation acquisitions.

Lands owned by the Ministry of Environment, managed by other agencies

BC Parks may purchase or acquire land it then leases to an organization or agency to be managed in ways that align with the conservation interests of BC Parks.

In 2004, BC Parks partnered with Metro Vancouver, the Pacific Estuary Conservation Program, the federal government, the City of Pitt Meadows and several others to purchase approximately 100 hectares of valuable wetlands at Codd Island in Pitt Polder. The 28 hectare parcel purchased by the ministry was subsequently leased to Metro Vancouver to be managed as an ecological conservancy area within its regional park system. Find out More »

Vancouver Island Conservation Land Management Program

The Vancouver Island Conservation Land Management Program (VICLMP) is an innovative strategic partnership program which involves the management of over 60 conservation areas on Vancouver Island.

This partnership includes many coastal wetlands and estuaries owned by The Nature Trust of BC and managed by the Ministry of Environment as well as designated wildlife management areas and other ministry conservation lands.

The partnership has been in place for over 15 years and includes BC Parks, The Nature Trust of BC, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service. Funding has also been provided by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

VICLMP projects are coordinated by a Conservation Lands Manager who assists the partners in achieving the seven objectives:

• developing management and restoration plans;
• assisting with private land acquisitions;
• coordinating land management programs;
• expanding the volunteer warden program;
• developing third party management agreements;
• guiding stewardship programs focussing on public education and community involvement; and,
• developing and implementing site monitoring and evaluation programs.