The Nature Trust of British Columbia has successfully raised funds to protect 15 acres of ecologically important undeveloped land along the Little Qualicum River.
The vulnerable habitat, located in the traditional territory of the Qualicum First Nation, which is in a Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) biogeoclimatic zone — one of B.C.’s most at-risk ecosystems, was purchased by the non-profit land conservation organization.
Last February, The Nature Trust of BC, needed to raise the remaining $415,000 by the end of April to conserve the precious land. A successful crowdfunding campaign was launched that allowed the organization to secure its first acquisition along the Little Qualicum River. They met their target through the generosity of donors, the support of the McBride family, and the Vancouver Island and Qualicum Beach communities.
“The McBride family, and our company Island Roots Forestry Services Ltd, are so pleased to have completed this process that we began five years ago to create this important conservation area on the Little Qualicum River. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support we have received to help us protect this beautiful and ecologically rich property,” said Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of B.C. “Conservation is a collaborative effort, and we could not protect these important ecosystems without donations from like-minded folks and the support of the McBride family. It’s thanks to them that Little Qualicum River, and the biodiversity within it, can thrive for generations to come.”
Little Qualicum River is a crucial salmon spawning river that supports both Indigenous and recreational fisheries. It provides spawning and rearing habitat for many salmon species, including Chinook, Chum, Steelhead and Coho. Coastal Cutthroat Trout are also found within the river and there is a salmon hatchery upstream of the property.
Salmon are a vital species in B.C.’s waters, with their life cycle providing various environmental benefits. After salmon hatch, they swim out into the ocean and grow into adults. They gather nutrients from the sea, then return to the rivers when they spawn.
After salmon spawn and die, they decompose, and insects and animals eat them, dispersing the minerals and nutrients from the ocean throughout the riverine ecosystems and surrounding forests. As scavengers drag the salmon into the forest to feed, nitrogen is distributed, fertilizing rare riparian plants and ecosystems. This life cycle stabilizes river banks, promotes healthy forests, and allows future generations of salmon to thrive.
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“It’s staggering to think of the impact that salmon have on these ecosystems. Salmon are key species that provide a vital service for B.C.’s ecosystems to thrive — it’s important that we never take them for granted. By conserving Little Qualicum River we can help to ensure that salmon and the other wildlife that depend on the river can continue to flourish,” said Lament.
The Little Qualicum River is also an area of continental significance to waterfowl, including migratory and species of concern. It is home to at-risk birds such as the Surf Scoter, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow (threatened under the Federal Species at Risk Act), and Olive-sided Flycatcher (threatened under Species at Risk Act).
The conservation area also provides habitat for at least three blue-listed (of special concern provincially) dragonflies, such as the Western Pondhawk, Blue Dasher, and the Autumn Meadowhawk, and federally endangered bats (under Species at Risk Act) like the Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis.
“The conservation of this land could not have occurred without Mosaic Forest Management and The Nature Trust of BC sharing our vision to protect it,” said David McBride, The Nature Trust of B.C. partner and president of the Island Roots Forestry Services Ltd. “Our financial support for this effort will not end with this transfer to The Nature Trust of B.C. as we will continue supporting the ongoing maintenance of this ecologically significant land. We thank Mosaic Forest Management, as well as those many who have supported this initiative and continue to support The Nature Trust of B.C.’s important conservation projects.”
The conservation of the Little Qualicum River tackles the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, allowing wildlife and carbon-absorbing old-growth trees to flourish undisturbed for generations to come. The purchase of this vital salmon spawning river adds to the legacy of The Nature Trust of B.C. and demonstrates its unwavering commitment to protecting the vulnerable ecosystems and rich biodiversity in B.C.
— NEWS Staff
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