Conservation

Easy does it on the islands

Gulf Islands Tourism: Conservation
River otters take a vacation on a Salt Spring dock

If it isn’t obvious that the Gulf Islands are a special place, their inclusion in the Islands Trust Area underlines the fact.

The Islands Trust is a land-use authority created by the B.C. government in 1974 with a special mandate to preserve and protect the area. It stretches from Hornby Island in the north to Saturna Island in the south, and the Islands Trust Fund has also protected several properties through purchase and covenants.

For more information, see the website at www.islandstrust.bc.ca.

As well, Pender, Galiano, Gabriola, Mayne and Salt Spring Islands all have active conservancy groups. Conservancies hold protective covenants on ecologically sensitive parts of the islands and educate people on stewardship issues. Visitors may enjoy conservancy educational programs offered throughout the year.

Here are some tips for visitors from the Salt Spring Island Conservancy:

• Help preserve the beauty and inspiring attributes of the great outdoors for yourself and generations to come by swimming, hiking and walking responsibly.

• Stay on the trail even if it is rough and muddy. Walking on the trail edge and cutting switchbacks increase damage and cause erosion.

• Walk single file to avoid widening the trial.

• Avoid sensitive vegetation. Watch where you put your feet. If you disturb groundcover, such as moss, please replace it.

• Take a photograph, not the plant.

• Carry out what you carry in.

And here are some tips on preserving the islands’ scarce water resources:

• Don’t wash yourself, your clothes, your dog, or your boat in any lakes.

• Keep pets leashed on shorelines to prevent disturbance to birds and waterfowl.

• Remember: no gasoline motors are allowed on any local lakes; electric motors only.

• Don’t leave water running or otherwise waste it.

FIRE HAZARD

Unusually dry summers in the past few years have brought the threat of forest fires to life for Gulf Islands residents. In 2006, Galiano Island faced a major wildland fire that resulted in evacuation of residents and the need for an all-out emergency response from the islands and province of B.C.

Visitors are urged to use extreme caution when it comes to smoking outdoors, and to heed burning and campfire bans and fire regulations. All populated islands have fire halls and fire hazard notices.

 

DEER ALERT

Caution should always be exercised on the narrow, winding roads of the Gulf Islands - and visitors should be on the lookout for one of the islands' most cute, yet dangerous, inhabitants.

Local deer have a habit of strolling onto roadways just as a vehicle approaches, especially in the evening when visibility is at its lowest point. On the other hand, they make charming photo subjects when you see them during the day.