Land management is the true measure of our success as stewards of BC’s natural legacy. Everyone understands the need to come together to acquire property; what resonates with our communities and stakeholders is how we manage that valuable land. When an acquisition is complete, the real work begins.

A basic premise of The Nature Trust’s acquisition and management of over 61,000 ha (150,000 acres) of sensitive habitat has been that, over time, these sites will receive the management and maintenance necessary to ensure that the long-term ecological and habitat values for which they were acquired is achieved.

The complexities and ramifications of good stewardship planning and practice will reflect on us as we move forward. This is what we will be measured by down the road. To say the least, this is a challenge in a time of reduced public funding, ever-growing competition for recreational access, and reductions in provincial wildlife staff. Our partners in conservation are key.