The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) and the WSÁNEC Leadership Council have announced a landmark partnership agreement that will transfer title of SISCENEM, also known as Halibut Island to the First Nation.
The Island was recently purchased by TLC for $1.55 million. The transfer is significant as it’s the first of its kind between a land trust and an Indigenous community in Canada. TLC will work together with the WSÁNEC Leadership Council to draft and register a conservation covenant and develop a co-management plan that will incorporate Indigenous land management principles that will provide access for cultural, education, research, and monitoring purposes.
Dr. Tara Martin, Department of Forest and Conservations Sciences Professor at UBC says an eco cultural restoration plan for the island will developed.
TLC will be raising funds this spring to support ongoing restoration and monitoring work on the island.
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