Northern BC – 285 Acres of Vulnerable Habitats

The Nature Trust of British Columbia is fundraising to raise $1.5 million to protect two critical conservation areas, totalling 115.2 hectares (284.6 acres) of rich ecological landscape across Northern BC.

The two properties The Nature Trust of BC plans to acquire are known as Crescent Spur and Cranberry Marsh-West and they are located within the traditional territory of both the Simpcw and Lheildli T’enneh First Nations.

The Crescent Spur property is comprised of three parcels totalling 76.9 hectares (190 acres) of land and located 55 km northwest of the community of McBride and within the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. The property includes ancient inland forest, with trees older than 1000 years, and rare riparian ecosystems.

The area contains two different types of ecosystems – the Sub-Boreal Spruce and the Interior Cedar-Hemlock. Both exhibit a very wet and cool climate and are at-risk ecosystems. Currently, only 4 per cent of the Sub-Boreal Spruce and 11.2 per cent of the Interior Cedar-Hemlock are protected provincially. The property provides critical habitat for a variety of endangered, threatened, and at-risk species, including the Little Brown Myotis, Barn Swallow, Short-eared Owl, Common Nighthawk, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Horned Grebe, Grizzly Bear, Rusty Blackbird, and the Wolverine.

Cranberry Marsh-West contains 38.3 hectares (94.6 acres) of wetlands as well as low shrub and grass ecosystems with pockets of forest. The property is adjacent to the Cranberry Marsh/Starratt Wildlife Management Area, and once this property is purchased, the total conservation area will be 357 hectares (882 acres), increasing connectivity for wildlife.

Cranberry Marsh-West is located approximately 292 km southeast of Prince George, within the Regional District of Fraser – Fort George. It has a hot and dry climate and provides habitat for several species of wildlife, including the endangered Black Swift and the of Special Concern Western Toad. The wetlands contain crucial breeding grounds for birds as well as a migratory bird stopover along the Pacific Flyway.

The purchase of these ecologically and environmentally valuable properties adds to the legacy of The Nature Trust of BC, demonstrating its steadfast commitment to protecting BC’s most vulnerable ecosystems to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

You can support The Nature Trust of BC in purchasing and protecting these vital land properties by donating to our campaign. The deadline for fundraising is March 31, 2024.