BC Parks Foundation

BC Parks Foundation and Province of BC pledge $300 million to tackle biodiversity loss in collaboration with First Nations

The BC Parks Foundation and the Province of BC jointly announced funding to improve biodiversity and climate security in BC in collaboration with First Nations.

The Province of BC committed $150 million, and the BC Parks Foundation commits to secure an additional $150 million through its crowdsourcing and partnership model.

The commitment is part of a unique 'made in BC' public-private partnership approach where the Foundation guarantees the matching funds to the Province, donors can contribute to projects knowing their dollars will be matched by Provincial funding, and First Nations and other partners can propose projects knowing long term stable funding is available.

Funds will be managed within the Foundation and overseen independently from government by a Strategic Oversight Committee made up of experts, half of whom will be First Nations.

The interim committee has spent the last six months designing the Fund, and we are now inviting Expressions of Interest.

Furthering the ecological integrity and resilience of parks 

British Columbia contains more biodiversity than anywhere else in North America and is home to over 75 per cent of Canada’s mammals. With the increasing pressures of climate change, park usership and other stress factors, we are seeing impacts on wildlife and other values that parks were established to protect. As a result, there is a need to develop a deeper understanding of our parks and how we can protect and enhance them into the future.

Our Wildlife Forever program uses various forms of data collection including remote wildlife cameras, eDNA and community science initiatives to grow our understanding of the state of B.C.'s parks. These combined tactics and technological advances are leading to unprecedented levels of observations which help to inform management decisions and engage a critical network of park stewards throughout the province. 

By combining insights from new big data analytics technology, we can create more holistic views of wildlife and their habitats, along with lasting conservation outcomes.

Results!
 

• Nearly 3 million observations in B.C. recorded by community scientists on iNaturalist and other nature-observation apps
• More than 30,000 individual community scientists actively uploading observations 
• Knowledge of the threats facing key species - mainly climate change - is being continuously updated and is contributing to the development of mitigation measures, recovery plans and management strategies.

Thank you to our Wildlife Forever program partners:

Increasing access to the health benefits of nature 

Experience the Healing Power of Nature 

A growing body of scientific evidence confirms that when you interact with nature, you can become healthier and more productive. 

We want to make sure all British Columbians have the opportunity to experience parks and their healing power. 

Doctors recommend spending a minimum of 2 hours a week outside. Through our Healthy By Nature initiative, you can access tips and information about the healing power of nature.  

Join the 25x25 expedition to find out how you can be healthy by nature: www.25x25.ca

Get a Nature Prescription

Through Park Prescriptions, we are working with healthcare professionals to prescribe time in nature to those who need it most.  Featuring practical resources like quick tips and patient handouts, its goal is to make prescribing time in nature straightforward and effective. Each prescriber who registers with PaRx will receive a nature prescription file customized with a unique provider code, and instructions for how to prescribe and log nature prescriptions. If you are a health care professional or would like more information about Park Prescriptions:  www.parkprescriptions.ca

Learning by Nature

Connecting to nature has proven to make kids smarter and healthier. The Learning by Nature initiative will ensure that youth and communities have equitable access to nature spaces for their health and education through scaling nature-based solutions on school grounds.

Learn more about the outcomes from the Learning by Nature meeting where we were joined by leaders in the fields of health, nature, and education to connect and learn from each other and expert panelists from around the world.

Thank you to our Healthy By Nature program partners:

Inspiring British Columbians and guests to discover, experience and care for nature 

BC’s world-class parks are not only the backbone of our tourism economy, but also serve as a haven for family time, recreation, education, inspiration, culture and personal fulfillment. In 2018/2019, BC’s parks had over 26 million visits – an increase of nearly five million over five years. While it’s great that more people are getting outside, some of our natural areas are under pressure due to increasing visitation.

Discover Parks brings together nature, art, technology and culture to connect people to nature.

• Discover Park Ambassadors: Engage with passionate Ambassadors who guide and inspire park visitors, promoting nature appreciation, outdoor safety, and responsible park use.
  
• Nature Houses: Visit essential hubs for visitor information, educational programming, and community engagement, contributing significantly to fostering a sense of shared responsibility for park protection and appreciation.
• Discover Trails: Immerse yourself in a self guided interactive park experiences that weaves through BC's parks, telling stories, fostering cultural connections, and nurturing stewards for the future.
  
• discoverparks.ca: Dive into our online hub, your go-to resource for park experiences, and community engagement. Discover diverse content and resources, all in one convenient space.

Join us in our mission to create a legacy of responsible park stewardship, showcasing British Columbia's unique stories to our children and the world. Together, let's embrace the harmony between nature, technology, and culture, and build a future where our parks thrive for generations to come.

Expanding and enhancing parks and Indigenous protected areas 

BC’s Parks and Indigenous protected areas are more than just beautiful places that we enjoy, that drive our economy, and that are at the core of who we are as British Columbians. They also provide essential life support functions for us and other species. 

Because of increasing pressures like climate change and park visitation, it is more important than ever to protect and restore more of BC, including creating corridors so wildlife can survive threats such as fire, disease, or habitat loss.  

Click here to support the expansion of BC’s Parks and Indigenous protected areas, beyond government responsibilities. 

Results so far - Over 114,600 hectares of land protected!

Here is just a selection of the lands protected through the dedication and generosity of our community:

• 800 hectares of land was protected in Princess Louisa Inlet in 2019.  It is one of the first crowdfunded parks in the world.  

• A new park was created on Cowichan Lake in 2019, preserving 2 hectares of land and an additional 46 acres along Cowichan River in 2020. 

• 2020 saw almost 10 acres secured at Gowland Todd. 

• In 2020, we protected another 260 hectares of land in Princess Louisa Inlet, including the iconic One Eye Mountain. 

• We successfully helped raise funds for the Mt. Erskine Trail connector in 2020, securing an acre of land to ensure trail continuity. 

• We also protected West Ballenas Island in 2020, over 40 hectares. It is one of the most biodiverse spots in the Salish Sea with rare and endangered species. 

• A new 3,500-hectare conservancy was created in 2021 to protect the environment and wildlife within Tahltan territory, in an area of northwestern B.C. historically known as the Ice Mountain Lands, adjacent to Mount Edziza Provincial Park. 

• In 2021, the legacy of the Edwards family was preserved with the purchase of 62 hectares at Lonesome Lake, where the trumpeter swans were brought back from near extinction. 

• Another gem of the Salish Sea was secured in 2021 with the acquisition of the 10 hectare Saturnina Island. 

• Largely supported by the community of Lasquetians, 256 acres at Young Point on the southwest end of the island were secured. 

• Supported by the historic gift from Age of Union, we protected over 296 hectares in the Upper Pitt River area, creating vital wildlife corridors between the 3 major provincial parks bounding the land. 

• Through a cohesive partnership with the Nanaimo Regional District, Save Estuary Land Society, Friends of French Creek Conservation Society and Qualicum and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations, we secured over 20 acres at French Creek Estuary to create Vancouver Island's first eagle sanctuary. 

• In 2022, we added nearly 205 acres in Spences Bridge, Kamloops to the list of protected areas. 

• Assisted the province in securing over 33 hectares near Wells Gray. 

• With the support of the Saulteau First Nations, just over 615 acres were protected at Falling Creek, near Chetwynd, BC that was at risk due to industrial zoning. 

• Contributed to protecting 41-acres of sagebrush-dotted grasslands at the Bourguiba Springs property in the South Okanagan. 

• Closed off 2022 by securing 85 acres of land in Agassiz with riverfront access, which will be restored. 

• Contributed to the initiative by Ducks Unlimited Canada to conserve nearly 122 acres near Burges James Gadsden Park.
  

• Partnered with the Comox Valley Land Trust to protect the home of the lamprey - 715 acres at Morrison Headwaters. 
  

• Secured over 329 acres in Christian Valley, in BC's interior. 

• Successfully fundraised to protect 151.7 acres at Okanagan Mountain Lake. 

• Protected 561 acres in Cowichan Road on Vancouver Island. 

American Donor?

• If you are an American donor interested in receiving an American tax receipt, visit https://conservecanada.org/portfolio-item/b-c-parks-foundation/ to donate. 

Everyone Outside, No Obstacles

Grounded in the scientific research that shows time in nature promotes positive mental and physical health and well-being, we want to ensure that everyone has access to our great outdoors. This means addressing inequalities and barriers that prevent British Columbians from getting outside, obstacles such as transportation, logistics, equipment, park accessibility and more.

Spark Grants

BC Parks Foundation’s Spark Grants empower community-serving groups to lead projects in parks across the province. To date, recipients of Spark Grants have spent over 86,000 hours outside and collected over 67,000 community science observations of nature. Their initiatives help protect BC’s parks and promote participant well-being through nature’s restorative powers. 

Recipients of Spark grants design their own initiatives, aimed at both protecting the parks themselves and enhancing participant well-being through the restorative power of nature.  

Past rounds of funding have supported nature observing activities such as bioblitzes and birdwatching surveys, nature walks, hikes, and camping trips, nature therapy sessions, volunteer-based conservation activities, and responsible recreation training activities.  

The initiatives led by Spark recipients are crucial to BC Parks Foundation’s mission to create the greatest park system in the world. 

Park Improvement Initiatives

Another key aspect of removing barriers to access is to ensure that our parks and the facilities at the parks are accessible and well maintained. Donors like you have shown great committment to such projects.

What You've Accomplished So Far:

• Thousands of park supporters from across British Columbia and globally showed their love and appreciation for B.C.'s parks by giving to our Foundation.
• New facilities were created in Gwillim, Drumbeg, and Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Parks.
  
• Accessibility improvements were completed at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park to make it easier for seniors and disabled visitors to enjoy the facilities.
  
• The volunteer-led, Mitlenatch Island Stewardship Team have been supported in continuing their important work protecting the bird refuge that is Mitlenatch Island.
  
• Surveys are being undertaken and restoration work in Desolation Sound.
• Work is underway to replace the dock, refurbish and add new tent pads and upgrade ranger facilities at Top of the World Provincial Park.
  
• Accessibility improvements were completed at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.