A new beginning for 160 acres of land
We are delighted to have purchased 160 acres of land at Cape Roger Curtis from Metro Vancouver, through the support of our generous donors.
The lands include all remaining undeveloped coastal lots, stretching from the east side of the Wild Coast Nature Refuge to the eastern boundary of the Cape. Also included in our new lands are several inland lots, across Cape Drive from the Wild Coast Nature Refuge. With these lots we’ve been able to protect the course of Huszar Creek where it flows out of the Crown Lands, down to where it flows into the ocean.
Click on the map to see a full-size view.
Our purchase represents “a new beginning” because we have much to do. The land is made up of housing lots, planned and with driveways and building plots constructed several years ago. Much destruction of the area took place, and it will take time to restore the area to a more natural environment, as well as to assess what else needs to be done.
For now, let’s celebrate the fact that these lands will be protected and preserved in perpetuity, and are an important asset for Bowen Island and the Átl’ka7tsem / Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.
We couldn’t have accomplished this without our generous donors
We are indebted to an amazing set of generous donors who made it possible to purchase these lands. We, and the Bowen Island Community, are very grateful for their kindness and support for nature on our island.
Some answers to your questions
We know that you will have many questions about the lands, and what the Conservancy is going to do with them. We’ve anticipated some of those questions, and you’ll find them below, with answers. We’ll post additional Q&A here as we learn more from the community and work out our strategy for the entire area.
What is the Conservancy planning to do with these lands?
We have a lot of work to do! We will take time to consider the precious nature of this land and how to protect it. Our decisions will be based on creating a major contiguous corridor of land to preserve and protect all aspects of plant and wildlife habitat.
At the same time we recognize the need to find a balance between protecting the natural environment and meeting human wants and needs. The local community has enjoyed these lands for years! So the reality will be some form of mixed use. Over the next few years, we’ll look at user-impact studies, together with ecological assessments, to determine public use that’s appropriate for the areas that are fragile or resilient.
We will also figure out how to begin to mitigate the impacts of past human interference, so that there can be both recovery of nature and recreational uses. Thoughtful, strategic planning will take time, but the end result will leave a rich legacy.
It will be a lot of work, but for now, we are simply taking a moment and celebrating. We look forward a eventually creating a wonderful mixed use biodiverse area that can recover and be enjoyed by all.
Will camping be permitted on the lands?
Camping will not be allowed. And currently our Municipality does not wish to allow camping on Bowen Island.
Can we visit the lands now?
Currently there are Municipal trails that cross the lands, as well as Municipal roads running through the area. These are still available for public use.
Of course we ask that the private lands bordering trails and roads be respected.
May I visit the lands with my dog?
It is honestly too early to answer that question fully, other than to say that we understand the special bond between humans and their dogs so we will try to find ways to meet everyone’s needs. Until we know more, we can’t yet make informed decisions about what places would be more resilient to the impact of dogs.
For now, you may walk with your dog on the existing trails and roads. Please pick up dog waste and pack it out with you if you walk around outside the Wild Coast Nature Refuge.
Please remember that dogs are not allowed at all in the existing Wild Coast Nature Refuge.
Where did the money come from to buy the lands?
There are some very generous people in this world who want to protect the environment. We are very fortunate that the Conservancy’s initiative to protect these lands captured the imaginations of these people.
This is a lot of land. How is the Conservancy going to manage it?
When we purchased the land that became the West Coast Nature Refuge, we took two years to plan what we would do with it, based on the science of conservation. The management plan for those lands was developed over multiple seasons and required a great deal of study and discussion. We expect to take at least two years, and possibly more, following a similar process for these new lands, and will probably approach the planning in incremental steps.
In the meantime we will reach out to other conservation organizations for their wisdom and experience in managing similar properties.
How much did you pay for the lands?
We negotiated a price for the land based on the donations that we received.
Why didn’t you buy all of the Metro Vancouver lands?
We bought as much land as we could, based on the donations that we received.
Media
- “Land at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island Protected for Conservation“
Joint media release from Metro Vancouver and Bowen Island Conservancy - Conservancy Media Kit
Congratulations!
“I am thrilled at the Conservancy’s acquisition at Cape Roger Curtis—160 acres of land that will come under their care and stewardship for generations to come. I was happy to introduce the Conservancy to Metro Vancouver many months back, following the progress since, in service of balancing public use of those lands with strong protections for the sensitive ecosystems that exist there.”
Mayor Andrew Leonard, Bowen Island
Photo gallery
Click on any photo below to see the full size image.
