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Issue #5,
Spring/Summer 2002
Heron
A newsletter from the Islands Trust Fund
A Map of Protected Land or a Work of Art?
T
he Islands Trust
Fund
(ITF)
is pleased to
present a unique image of
the land it has protected
in the Trust Area. A
full color map has been
beautifully painted by
Denman Island artist
Peter Karsten. “Protecting
a Rare Island Paradise:
The Islands Trust Fund
at Work” shows all the
Nature Reserves and
Conservation Covenants
that have been created by
the Islands Trust Fund in
the Trust Area.
Carolyn Stewart. ITF Manager, and Louis Bell, ITF Board Chair, present the map on Salt Spring Island.
In addition to showing these protected
areas, the map depicts one-hundred and
twenty-five species of animals and plants
that live on the Gulf Islands.
This Issue
page
Recent Protected Isands
If you love the Islands...
Habitat and Species Profiles
People behind the special places
3
4
6
7
“We are delighted to have a record of our
conservation work in the Trust Area,” said
Louise Bell, chair of the Islands Trust
Fund. “Part of our mandate is to preserve
and protect the unique characteristics of
the Gulf Islands. This map shows where
we’ve done that.”
Calling the painting a “map” is a slight
misnomer. Many who have seen the
painting refer to it as a work of art. It
was done with acrylic paint on illustration
board and the frame was made by the
artist of local red alder wood. Part of the
Bowen, Denman, Hornby, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender and Thetis Island
beauty of the map relates to the fact that
it will be a “living” map. As the Islands
Trust Fund protects additional land on
the Gulf Islands, Peter will paint these
areas into the painting.
Peter Karsten, the artist, donated his time
and skills for the project. “Volunteering
to do the map is my way of contributing
to the land conservation work of the
Islands Trust. Painting the map became
a mission beyond a piece of art. I like to
think I can be an ambassador for nature
by promoting its beauty and drama
through my art.”
continued from page 1
Peter’s past work as Director of the
Calgary Zoo and Executive Director of
the Calgary Zoological Society—not to
mention his international success as a
wildlife illustrator and artist—made him
an ideal and accomplished candidate for
the project.
The map was received by the Islands
Trust Fund during a February reception
on Denman Island. It was officially
presented to the public on Salt Spring
Island during the March 25-26 Trust
Council Town Hall session. The map
has now joined the Salish Sea Map
Community Mapping Project that is
traveling the Gulf Islands.
The Salish Sea Mapping Project
(sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance
of BC and West Coast Islands
Conservancy), brings together local
Gulf Island communities to record
and communicate their islands’ distinct
natural, economic and cultural heritage
in vibrant, artistic maps. All maps will
be gathered and printed in book form
to create an Atlas of the Salish Sea
communities.
After the map completes its tour of the
islands, it will be on permanent display at
the Islands Trust offices. The Islands Trust
Fund plans to make prints of the map for
fundraising efforts, and to present prints
to those who have made contributions to
Islands Trust conservation efforts.
“The map celebrates the
rich wildlife heritage
and the establishment
of protected lands by the
Islands Trust Fund on the
islands in the Salish Sea.
The artist tried to convey
the notion of amazement
and great joy that touches
us when we look into a
treasure chest filled with
precious jewels. We look
in from above and see
the islands and the great
wealth of biodiversity
that exists here. The artist
hopes that the artwork will
inspire many more islanders
to set land aside for nature
conservation.”
The map depicts 125 species living in the Islands Trust Area including:
River Otter
Steller’s Sealion
Townsend’s big-eared Bat
Shrew
Raccoon
Western Painted Turtle
Sharp-tailed Snake
2
Cutthroat Trout
Limnetic Stickleback
Coho Salmon
Great Blue Heron
Virginia Rail
Black Oystercatcher
Rufous Hummingbird
Pelagic Cormorant
Pacific Tree Frog
Propertius Duskywing
Rough-skinned Newt
Common Camas
Calypso Orchid
Garry Oak
Phantom Orchid
Howell’s Montia
Recent Protected Lands
Protecting a Tiny Pond
and a Huge Cliff on
Sidney Island
The Islands Trust Fund thanks the
far-seeing group of Sidney Island
landowners—led by Ozzie Sexsmith—
who protected 35.3 hectares with
conservation covenants.
Looking After Grouse on
Salt Spring
The Islands Trust Fund thanks the
landowner on Salt Spring who protected
her land so that Ruffed Grouse and
other birds can use the protected area
for nesting. This dedicated naturalist
contacted the Islands Trust Fund to help
her protect the land with conservation
covenants.
These covenants were named the
“Ruffed Grouse Ridge” covenants by
the landowner (who wishes to remain
anonymous). The first covenant covers a
7.5 hectare forested property with a small
meadow. The second covers 4.1 hectares
with a small wetland and large alder grove.
The land is interspersed with rocky ridges
and arbutus trees, and both areas provide
habitat for grouse and other wildlife. The
Douglas-fir/Arbutus plant community on
the property is considered “at risk” in the
Province of BC, as is the red-legged frog
that inhabits the wetland.
Islands Trust Fund holds these covenants
jointly with The Land Conservancy of
BC.
Sidney Island, has a colorful history as
a reserve for exotic game hunting in the
early 1900s. Peacocks, wild turkey, and
deer were brought to the island as game
and now roam freely about.
The covenants—legal agreements that
outline how land can be used—were
created by the landowners and the
Islands Trust Fund, to preserve rare or
fragile ecosystems such as Garry Oak
and Coastal Bluff. Four of the protected
areas ensure the aesthetic beauty of Sidney
Island—as seen from the water by sailors,
kayakers, and residents of the city of
Sidney—will be retained.
Thanks go to the North Pender Local
Trust Committee (John Money, Wayne
Wright, Em Round) for helping initiate
these covenants.
Mayne Landowners
Donate Oceanfront Lot
The Islands Trust Fund thanks the
American Land Conservancy who
donated a half-hectare of oceanfront
land on Mayne Island to be preserved
forever as the Horton Bayviary Nature
Reserve. The Conservancy gave the
land to the Trust Fund to preserve and
protect it, with special consideration for
bird habitat.
By donating the land, the Conservancy
and previous landowners ensure the
unique natural values on the waterfront
property are protected. These include
a pristine woodland with a mixture
of Maple, Fir and Spruce, habitat for
numerous birds and wildlife, and a low
bank shoreline. The Horton Bayviary
becomes a protected Nature Reserve,
managed by the Islands Trust Fund.
(“Bayviary” is a name created from
segments of the previous landowners’
grandchildren’s names.)
This donation marks the first occurrence
of an American agency donating land
to the Islands Trust Fund. The land is
located near Horton Bay.
3
If you love the Islands…
Laughlin Lake, Galiano Island
South Winchelsea
Island
This special island located off Nanoose
Bay has been protected by the Islands
Trust Fund, The Land Conservancy
and Nanaimo Area Land Trust but
requires a final effort to complete the
land purchase.
The Project
The finish line is in sight. We are halfway toward completing the purchase of
Laughlin Lake, the largest freshwater lake
on Galiano Island.
Who’s Involved?
The Project
The partners are raising funds to complete
the purchase through mail campaigns, the
sale of satellite images, and a February
Tea-Party Auction on Galiano that raised
$6,000. Mountain Equipment Coop has
provided $20,000, and the Barrowclough
Foundation added $3,000.
Laughlin Lake is a thriving natural
area that provides habitat for a diverse
population of birds, mammals and
amphibians. There is no human
development along its shores and the
total area size is 11 hectares. Freshwater
lakes are rare on the Gulf Islands—less
than 1% of the islands are wetlands. Lakes
provide vital living areas and nourishment
for a variety of animal and plant species,
and are valuable for humans as sources
of fresh water.
4
The Islands Trust Fund, Habitat
Acquisition Trust, Galiano Conservancy
What’s been done?
What’s Next?
The amount needed to complete the
purchase is $74,000. Help complete the
project by making a donation using the
form in this newsletter. All money goes
directly to acquiring Laughlin Lake, and
all donors receive tax receipts.
South Winchelsea is a 10 hectare
island in the Ballenas Winchelsea
Archipelago, north of Nanaimo. This
uninhabited island is in the UNESCO
Mount Arrowsmith Ecological Reserve.
It represents the Coastal Douglas-fir
biogeoclimatic zone, which is not found
anywhere else in Canada and of which
less than 1% remains in an unaltered
state.
… Conservation Projects
Who’s Involved?
The Islands Trust Fund, Nanaimo Area
Land Trust, The Land Conservancy of
BC
as water of varying depths,
wet meadow, sedge
marsh, alder bottom,
dry banks, and steep
rocky outcrops. It’s part
of a 32.4 hectare parcel
threatened by imminent
industrial logging and
development. The area
so far has benefited
from limited human
disturbance.
What’s been done?
Payments have been made over the
past five years. The final payment of
$150,000 is due in the fall of 2002
(original purchase price $600,000).
The island is available as a “holiday
rental” through The Land Conservancy.
Funds from these efforts go towards
completing the purchase.
Who’s
Involved?
What’s Next?
Consider visiting the island for a working
holiday (www.conservancy.bc.ca) or use
the donation form in this newsletter to
make a direct contribution. All money
goes to acquiring the island and all
donors receive a tax receipt.
The Islands Trust Fund,
Denman Conservancy
Association.
What’s been
done so far?
Chickadee Lake,
Denman Island
A strong effort by those living on Denman
brought the importance of this project to
the fore. Many people want to conserve
land to balance the aggressive logging that
has taken place on Denman.
The Project
This 14 hectare freshwater lake acts as
the headwaters for Beadnell Creek which
flows into the Strait of Georgia. It presents
a range of contrasting environments such
The Conservancy is
raising funds through
this summer’s Denman
Island Country Home and Garden Tour
(June 22-23), and the Trust Fund is
seeking corporate and foundation donors
for this project.
What’s Next?
Visit the websites of the Trust Fund
and the Conservancy and be ready to
offer support when a final purchase
price is set. If you would like to make
a donation now towards acquiring
Chickadee Lake, use the donor form in
this newsletter.
5
Habitat & Species Profile:
Red-Legged Frogs in the Islands Trust Area
year). When the red-legged frog
population began to dwindle,
bullfrogs (rana catesbiana) were
introduced to satisfy the demand
for frog legs.
Current Issues for the
Species
Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora)
I
f you live in the Gulf Islands, you
know the animals and plants found
here present a mix of the unique and
the common. The red-legged frog (rana
aurora) is a fairly common animal in the
islands but has become an at-risk species
in other areas.
Ironically, the red-legged frog
soon became prey for the much
larger bullfrog, a threat that extended
to Canada. Bullfrogs are now present in
British Columbia. “The biggest problem
is that bullfrogs eat other frogs. Actually
they’ll eat just about anything,” says
University of Victoria graduate student
Murnima Govindarajulu, who is studying
the biology of the bullfrog invaders.
History
In the late 1800s the red-legged frog was
harvested for food in California (close
to 80,000 frogs were “harvested” each
6
The Islands Trust Fund is working to
protect this species by:
• Recording where the frog is present
and sharing this information with
land- use planners
• Protecting frog habitat through land
acquisition and conservation covenants
• Educating landowners on how to
voluntarily protect this species
Protecting a “common” frog might not
seem like an important task, but if the
red-legged frog were to disappear from
the Gulf Islands its presence would be
missed—not only by turtles, fish, herons
and other species that feed on it, but also
by islanders who have seen, heard, and
enjoyed sharing their land with these
small creatures for years.
Habitat
The red-legged frog lives along the
coast and prefers humid lowlands and
foothills. It inhabits permanent ponds,
marshes, lakes and quiet streams with
abundant vegetation. After breeding
season or heavy rains, it disperses to
moist fields and woodlands. In British
Columbia, these frogs are forest dwellers,
often found along trails, in damp valley
bottoms or sitting on the banks of small
forest ponds. Their reddish-brown skin
disguises them against red cedar and
hemlock leaf litter.
How the Islands Trust
Fund Protect this Species
Spot the Species
Bullfrog (rana catesbiana)
And yet, the Gulf Islands are a safe habitat
for the red-legged frog. Ardice Neudorf,
Land Protection Specialist for the Islands
Trust Fund explains why: “The Islands are
a safe haven for red-legged frogs because
bullfrog species haven’t established a
presence here yet.”
• Back is brown, gray, olive or reddish
with black flecks.
• Side of the face has a dark mask, above
a cream upper lip stripe.
• Thoat and chest are white with black
or grey flecks.
• Lower belly and underside of the legs
are bright red.
People behind the Special Places
Pat and Rosemarie Keough: A Passion for Books, Travel and Protecting Local Wetlands
T
he first thing to know about
Pat and Rosemarie Keough is
that books and travel form a big
part of their lives. These accomplished,
modern-day adventurers have created
seven books about natural areas in need
of protection. Each book raises awareness
about different parts of the world-from
the Niagara Escarpment and Sable Island,
to Antarctica.
“Our books give us the opportunity to
satisfy our artistic inclinations without
compromise, while fulfilling our personal
mandate to assist environmental and social
causes about which we feel strongly.”
The same passion that led the Keoughs
to create books can also be found in their
efforts to protect land. They recently
created a conservation covenant for a
wetland marsh on their Salt Spring Island
property.
The marsh is located near the Keoughs’
home on an elevated point of land
overlooking Georgia Strait. It’s a
beautifully scenic 0.66 hectare wetland
area that provides habitat for Mallard
ducks, Hooded merganzers, Red-winged
blackbirds and other species. Red-legged
frogs have been spotted there, and older
residents of the island say the marsh was
once a pond where migrating ducks
landed. The importance of the marsh
is heightened by its location in a dry
uplands area. It’s one of the few sources
of summer water available.
the property. The
next decision was
an easy one. The
Keoughs created
a
conservation
covenant that would
limit development
of the marsh area
forever.
Pat and Rosemarie
Many years ago, a corridor directly
through this wetland was designated
by easement as the access route to lands
beyond. As such, the marsh was officially
slated for major upheaval. Two years ago
the neighbors decided to subdivide
their land. For cost and convenience
they planned to put a road through
the marsh. Learning of these plans, the
Keoughs acted quickly and negotiated
to purchase the area around the marsh as
additional acreage for a buffer.
“We believe strongly in private
stewardship and feel that watershed areas
and bird habitat should be protected.”
By acquiring the marsh the Keoughs
ensured the wetland would be protected.
And yet, they knew their efforts might
end once they passed away or sold
“We have no
thoughts of moving
and we sincerely
hope to have a long
life. However, we
also like to know
that future owners of
our land will take care of our marsh with
the same spirit we have.”
“We also like to know
that future owners
of our land will take
care of our marsh
with the same spirit
A conservation covenant is a legal
agreement that landowners use to set
out specific ways their land can be used.
The power of this document lies in the
fact that is “attached” to the title of the
land. All future owners must abide by
the rules set out in the covenant. These
rules can be as broad or as specific as a
landowner wants.
7
ISLANDS TRUST FUND
BOARD MEMBERS
Louise Bell, Denman Island
(Chairperson)
Kim Benson, Keats Island
Katherine Dunster, Bowen Island
Tony Law, Hornby Island
Linda Nowlan, Vancouver
Susie Washington Smyth,
Saturna Island
STAFF
Carolyn Stewart, Manager
Ardice Neudorf, Land Protection
Specialist
Marci Crossan, Communictions and
Fundraising Specialist
Hillaire Molson, Secretary
For example, the Keoughs wanted to
limit future activity near the marsh
that could have a negative affect on
the wetland. They added a line to their
covenant that limits activity which
could cause or permit “silt, leachate,
fill or other deleterious substances to be
released into the covenanted area.” They
also limited activity that would permit
pesticides to be applied or introduced
in the area.
world, from Antarctica to the deserts of
Africa, Pat and Rosemarie Keough still
feel responsible for this island they call
home. “With our profession we could
chose to live anywhere. We chose the Gulf
Islands, specifically Salt Spring, primarily
because of its natural beauty.”
By creating this covenant on their
land the Keoughs influence the future
of Salt Spring Island in a positive
way. Even though most of their time
is spent hiking, photographing and
documenting the rest of the natural
8
Islands Trust Fund
200 – 1627 Fort St.
Victoria, B.C.
V8R 1H8
Phone: 250-405-5152
Fax: 250-405-5155
Email: tfbmail@islandstrust.bc.ca
Website: www.islandstrustfund.bc.ca
Design:
Studio2 Interactive Design
www.studio2-design.com
Each covenant is a two-way agreement
between the landowner and the group
that holds the covenant. The Keoughs’
covenant is held and monitored by the
Islands Trust Fund.
“We wanted to make the covenant a
partnership for the long term good of the
land, with responsibilities for ourselves
and for the holders of the covenant.”
TO CONTACT US
Photography:
Kathy Dunster, M. Karsten, Glen Keough,
Pat & Rosemarie Keough, Stephen Price,
staff of the Islands Trust Fund, The Land
Conservance of BC.
Pat and Rosemarie Keoughs most
recent title is ANTARCTICA, a
limited-edition, elegantly bound art
book that includes 330 stunning
photographs of the “great white
continent.” For more informationand to view photos from the book,
visit www.Keough-art.com
The Heron uses 20% post-consumer
recycled paper and may be recycled
again. The ink is vegetable-based. Please
reuse by passing on to a friend. Printed
in Canada.