KEEPING THE “WILD” IN NATURE IS IN ALL OUR HANDS.

Over two-thirds of the island is privately-owned. Only 12% is protected.

We can’t rely solely on our parklands. They are not enough.

GaLTT's Nature Stewards is an inspirational program, full of opportunities for community collaboration. It’s a decade-long challenge for all of us to voluntarily make sure we conserve at least 30% of our properties in a natural/nature-friendly state.

Many islanders already preserve natural areas on their land. Nature Stewards is here to recognize your conservation efforts, and help all of us do a little more for our island’s sensitive ecology.

Your help is so important . . .

Letting our remaining trees grow old

Canadian scientists officially listed many species within this eco-region of B.C. as “rare or endangered”.
For that reason, we need to work hard at protecting our remaining forest communities.​
“ . . . A tree can only be as strong as the forest that surrounds it.”


​Gardening for wildlife 

Add flowering plants, put up birdhouses, plant hedgerows for privacy instead of a barrier wall of wooden fencing; let some areas of your garden go wilder and naturalize, allow some old logs or stumps to rot in place . . . these are just some of the ways to help enhance habitat.

Keeping the "wild" in nature is in our hands

Two-thirds of Gabriola is privately-owned land. The most important thing you can do to help on your property is to save or create enough space for trees, plants and other natural elements and living things to co-exist. Especially native species.
 
When we all do this, we make a natural patchwork of habitat connecting with our neighbour’s land and linking up with the protected parks and natural areas across the island.
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That’s thinking like we’re all part of the island’s ecology!

OUR ISLAND GOAL:
to go from 12%
​to ≥ 30% by 2030


 Joining a worldwide effort by governments, scientists and conservation groups . . .

​​let's do our part locally to make sure at least 30% of natural habitat is conserved for biodiversity and wildlife.
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Photo credit: Sharon McInnes

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS

Become a Nature Steward
Join GaLTT's Nature Stewards program and make a pledge to . . .
  • Conserve and enhance as much natural habitat as possible on your private property and the community at large.
  • Our experienced volunteers can visit your property, do a walkabout with you, and suggest ways to conserve and improve things for wildlife habitat and biodiversity on your land.
  • We offer practical resources, incentives and helpful tips. (Many actions are quite simple yet highly effective.)
  • Make a voluntary pledge to conserve ≥ 30% of your property for wildlife habitat benefits and get a Nature Stewards sign. ​ (From farms and large lots to  less than 1/2 acre parcels, every effort is recognized.)
  • Becoming a Nature Steward can be as simple as you like and suited to any lifestyle, budget or space.
  • See our Nature Stewards pamphlet (pdf). Share it with others.
Join us.

EVEN SMALL ACTIONS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

A few nature tips to get you started

  • Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
  • ​Find us on FaceBook
  • We'll be adding more videos in the months ahead, covering practical tips and profiling all the good work islanders are doing to help nature.
  • See our curated list of free online Resources.​​
“We must rewild the world.
​
It’s our only way out of this crisis.
​
And it’s simpler than you might think.”

-- Sir David Attenborough
Coast Salish Peoples have lived on Gabriola and throughout these Salish Sea “gulf islands” for thousands of years.
Today, we are learning how to “Indigenize” our thinking and relationship with our natural world and the deep interconnections First Nations have always maintained with culture and nature.

​We are honoured and grateful to live in the territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

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