A National Park on Bowen Island?

Oct-2011: Letter to the Undercurrent concerning the National Park

A National Park for Bowen

The Bowen Island Conservancy has a stewardship role with the objectives of conserving, protecting, sustaining and enhancing the quality of the natural environment and heritage of Bowen Island. Our organisation seeks to participate in and contribute to the management of Bowen Island’s natural resources. Consequently it is appropriate that we formally declare our position regarding the Revised National Park Concept in the context of conservation.

The Board of Directors has concluded that the approach taken by Parks Canada on environmental issues is closely aligned with the Mission Statement and Purposes of the Conservancy. We believe that the experience, expertise and financial strength of Parks Canada will provide strong support for our conservation objectives on Bowen. In addition, our local nature organizations and residents of Bowen have extensive local knowledge and skills which can complement the management and operation of the National Park Reserve.

Bowen Island Conservancy therefore supports the concept of a National Park on Bowen and encourages the continued analysis and investigation of how the concept can be further developed and refined to the benefit of our natural lands/creatures, residents and visitors alike.

However, we have concerns about the details of the final agreement on the composition of the Park and how it should be managed. Consequently, Bowen Island Conservancy is keen to be part of the on-going discussions to ensure that the agreement reflects the local circumstances and unique character of the lands on Bowen and the long term objectives of conservation, stewardship and effective protection of our natural heritage.

From: Board of Directors of Bowen Island Conservancy
(Ellen Coburn, Peter Drake, Rob Dufty, Andrea Kaufman, Laura Koch, Owen Plowman, Josephine Riley, Adrian van Lidth de Jeude, Everhard van Lidth de Jeude, Alan Whitehead)

CC: Parks Canada, Bowen Island Municipality, Mayor and Council

Oct-2011: Our meeting with Parks Canada

On October 4th, 2011, the Conservancy’s Board of Directors of the Conservancy met with representatives of Parks Canada. This web page summarizes the topics discussed and the responses from Parks Canada.

Park Management

Advisory Group

Parks Canada stated that it is the current intention to have a specific Advisory Group for Bowen. The existing Advisory Group for the Gulf Island National Park Reserve is a combination of two elected representatives (one each from Island Trust and the Capital Regional District), three members of the public, and two employees from Parks Canada (one of which is the Park Reserve’s Superintendent).

The objective of the Advisory Group is to achieve consensus relative to the issues under discussion. If consensus is not achieved, the matter is referred to the CEO of Parks Canada for resolution. To date, this has not occurred with the Gulf Islands Advisory Board. We understand that a similar approach could be taken for the Advisory Group on Bowen. It would therefore have much more significance than the liaison groups that currently exist on the Gulf Islands.

Management plans are reviewed every five years to determine whether changes are needed. All stakeholders’ input is considered. Parks Canada pointed out that stakeholder engagement resulted in changing the proposed location for a backcountry campsite on Saturna Island and a new location was proposed as a result.

Value of Bowen Island to Parks Canada

Parks Canada stated that they were interested in Bowen Island due to its representation of the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone of the Strait of Georgia Lowlands natural region (wetter zone). Species at Risk would be protected and the potential for habitat restoration would be assessed by Parks Canada.

Visitor Limitation

Parks Canada is confident that there should be no problem with ensuring that sensitive land is protected from destruction by too many visitors: it is an issue that is well known to them in many other Parks. There are a variety of tools used, such as zoning, trail layout, education, access control, and enforcement. Visitors are directed to the areas that are more robust and can survive heavy use, while other areas can be reserved for educational and research purposes or only visited with a guide. An important approach is to provide the pertinent information so that visitors can understand why they should stay in one area and not trample on others. A reservation system could be implemented to control numbers of visitors accessing a particular area/trail if user levels are posing a risk to the long-term protection of the areas resources.

Parks Canada will have approximately 12 full time equivalent staff available for assisting with Park management and access. They emphasized that resident privacy is an important aspect of park visitor management that would be monitored to ensure people do the “right” thing (behavior wise). The peak season would involve up to 20 full time staff with less staff during the off-season. ATVs would not be allowed. Activities and access can be restricted in environmentally-sensitive areas.

Preservation of Huszar Creek watershed

Though Parks Canada had some early contact with the Cape Roger Curtis owners, Parks Canada is very clear that it has no mandate to consider any land other than that owned by Government of one level or another. Any initiative regarding rezoning, land dedication or acquisition, density changes, and so on would have to be independent of Parks Canada because they do not have jurisdiction over these lands. They stated that if a “Yes” vote occurred as a result of the community opinion vote on November 19th, and if a park was established, then Parks Canada would proceed to identify specific areas for protection through management planning.

They suggested that the Conservancy respond to the OnLine comment form and inform elected representatives of all levels of government that private lands in Cape Roger Curtis or elsewhere are an important aspect of park creation. They also suggested that the Conservancy draft a letter for distribution concerning private lands and the conservation of intact ecosystems, such as the Huszar Creek watershed and its marine components.

Inclusion of Headwaters Park

At this stage, Headwaters Park is omitted from the proposed lands to be incorporated into the National Park Reserve, since the Municipality did not include it in the land to be considered. Parks Canada would be open to considering this property if the Municipality were to put it forward.

Management Plan for Fairy Fen

Parks Canada has no position on any of the details of the Management Plan and its implementation. However, unofficially, we have been offered help if we would like some advice on specific issues that lie within PC expertise.

Cottage Restoration

Parks Canada indicated that they have conservation architects on staff who could assist with cottage assessment and conservation within the Davies Orchard.

The Vote

Parks Canada advised that a “No” vote from the community opinion vote would have a very significant impact on the future of the Park. Subsequently, the senior member of the Parks Canada team wrote to the Undercurrent, and, after comments about continuing to seek input from Bowen Islanders and First nations, Islands Trust Fund and Metro Vancouver, stated “But if Bowen residents vote against a national park reserve, we have also promised to respect that and the feasibility study concludes.”

Trail Heads

It is too early to comment on the location of trail heads for the Park in the context of their current locations.

General

Parks Canada emphasized the importance of involving our elected officials to share the viewpoints of our organization.

Mar-2011: Feedback on Preliminary Park Concept

We sent the information below to Parks Canada in March 2011, in response to their request for feedback on the Preliminary Park Concept. The text is formatted in accordance with Parks Canada’s feedback form.

Please note that the answers provided below reflect the views of the Bowen Island Conservancy in the context of our mission statement and objectives, and do not consider other issues such as infrastructural, social or economic impacts.

  • What are your initial thoughts on the preliminary park concept?
    • We have already advised that the draft Vision Statement presented by Parks Canada is closely aligned with the Mission Statement and Purposes of the Conservancy. We endorse the key elements of Parks Canada’s vision—in particular the first item, namely ‘Maintain or restore ecological integrity on national park reserve lands’. Similarly, we believe that the best protection of the natural habitat is achieved by ensuring that the areas protected are of the greatest area possible to maintain environmental integrity. Fragmentation should be avoided.
  • What aspects of the preliminary park concept do you feel work?
    • The protection that would be achieved under the Federal Parks Act is very important. In addition we would hope that the management plan will include a substantial budget to ensure monitoring the Park and taking any measures appropriate to ensure the maintenance of biodiversity and limiting any misuse that can lead to its degradation. Parks Canada has indicated that there will be varying levels of use and that areas such as the Ecological reserve would maintain their ‘off limits’ status.
  • What aspects of the preliminary park concept do you feel don’t work?
    • The lack of any even tentative plan to, or at least acknowledgement of the possibility of, purchasing key private lands to improve the Park–the lots that surround Huszar Creek watershed are a critical example.
    • There is insufficient stress laid on the need for a truly cooperative approach with the local community. The Advisory group must be more than window dressing with final decisions always resting with Parks Canada.
    • The process flow indicated suggests limited input from Bowen Islanders once a Yes vote is achieved. This is unacceptable and jeopardizes the outcome of the vote.
  • What are your thoughts on the proposed park boundary?
    • The area comprising Headwaters Park should be included. In addition, the only parts of Crown Block 6 that should be excluded are those that are part of existing leases.
  • What are your thoughts on the marine component of the proposed park boundary?
    • We have not had the opportunity to address this aspect in detail. Our preliminary observations are that it would be worth considering the expansion of the Marine Park to include the south shore of Bowen (Cape Roger Curtis) and include Collingwood Channel. Perhaps Worlecombe, Paisley and Hutt Islands, also. There are about 22 other small islands around Keats/Bowen/Gibsons: Could they also be considered?
  • What improvements would you suggest to make a better park concept?
    • More attention should be addressed to Connectivity to Crown parcels across either Municipal or private lands. For example, one improved connection would be the park strip at the corner of Adams and Bowen Bay Roads which runs parallel with Bowen Bay Road; there is then a road right-of-way to Crown land – Mt Gardner. At this corner—Adams and Bowen Bay Roads—there is an opportunity to create a much needed rest stop for hikers and bikers: picnic tables, bus stop, sani-cans, trail kiosk indicating Tunstall Bay, Mt. Gardner, Bluewater, etc.
  • Is there anything else you would like to share?
    • Not at this time.

Nov-2010: Response to the draft National Park Vision and Concepts document

In November 2010 the Conservancy Board sent the following letter to the Bowen Island Municipality. Copies have been sent to Mayor and Council, as well as Parks Canada.

“The Bowen Island Conservancy organization has a stewardship role with the objectives of conserving, protecting, sustaining and enhancing the quality of the natural environment and heritage of Bowen Island and seeks to participate in and contribute to the management of Bowen Island’s natural resources. Consequently it is appropriate that we formally declare our position regarding the National Park concept.

It should be borne in mind that this position is entirely in the context of conservation, enhancement and protection of Bowen Island lands and does not nor should address the many social, economic and political issues that are raised by the National Park concept.

The Board has concluded that the draft Vision Statement presented by Parks Canada is closely aligned with the Mission Statement and Purposes of the Conservancy. We believe that the experience, expertise and financial strength of Parks Canada will provide strong support for our conservation objectives on Bowen. In addition, our local nature organizations and residents of Bowen have extensive local knowledge and skills which can complement the management and operation of the areas that might eventually become a National Park or Reserve.

Bowen Island Conservancy therefore supports the concept of a National Park on Bowen and encourages the continued analysis and investigation of how the concept can be further developed and refined to the benefit of our natural lands/creatures, residents and visitors alike.

However, we have concerns about the details of the final agreement on the composition of the Park and how it should be managed. Consequently, Bowen Island Conservancy is keen to be part of the on-going discussions to ensure that the Agreement reflects the local circumstances and unique character of the lands on Bowen and the long term objectives of conservation, stewardship and effective protection of our natural heritage.

Board of Directors
Bowen Island Conservancy”