Conservation and Environmental Stewardship
Lead: Marja de Jong Westman
The Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Committee was formed to:
Promote active member engagement and community involvement in projects and initiatives of the VIC.
Document and monitor the important animal and plant communities and ecosystems of the lands and waters of Valdes Island.
Promote responsible care and respect for the natural environment through conservation and restoration.
Work with Lyackson First Nations, Mosiac Forest Management, West Vancouver Yacht Club, Provincial Government and community land and leaseholders regarding recreational and educational access to their lands.
Work with Lyackson First Nation, Mosiac Forest Management, West Vancouver Yacht Club, Provincial Government and community land and leaseholders to identify sites, preserve and restore sites of special biodiversity value on the island.
Promote connections and engage with post-secondary institutions, researchers, other Gulf Islands conservation groups and societies to ensure the efforts of the Conservancy are scientifically informed and shared.
Promote environmental best management practices according to provincial and federal legislation to maintain the biological integrity and biological diversity of Valdes Island’s lands and waters
Engage in community projects to maintain and enhance the Valdes Island biodiversity database.
Organize and implement the annual Valdes Island Bioblitz.
One of our projects is the partnership with the Galiano Conservancy Association in researching and promoting the various Rockfish Conservation Areas found throughout the Southern Gulf Islands. These key areas restrict fishing in order to protect the highly sensitive rockfish species found within.
