The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) says the previous 12 months were its biggest-ever for fundraising, with almost $27 million raised and ensured 845 hectares of land would be protected across B.C., including several places in the Kootenays.
Dr. Jasper Lament, NTBC CEO, says the Nature Trust acquired 353 hectares of land in the East Kootenay across two conservancy areas.
“We acquired Wycliffe Prairie, between Kimberley and Cranbrook, and Bummers Flats-MapleCross Benchlands. Both of these are additions to existing conservation complexes,” said Lament.
“These were strategic acquisitions that build a more resilient landscape for wildlife.”
Wycliffe Prairie spans 171 hectares while Bummers Flats-MapleCross Benchlands covers 182 hectares of wildlife corridor.
“This helps animals like grizzly bears move back and forth across the landscape,” said Lament.
“We’re linking these up with other areas the NTBC has previously conserved along with our other conservation partners. Together, we’re building a resilient landscape where animals can move without coming into conflict with humans.”
The NTBC said Bummers Flats-MapleCross Benchlands is mainly dry, open forest and grassland situated above the Kootenay River floodplain.
Animals such as elk, grizzly bear, mule deer, and white-tailed deer use the area as part of their migration patterns.
It also serves as a habitat for the endangered American badger and supports diverse plant species, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
The NTBC raised almost $1.4 million to purchase and preserve this property.
Meanwhile, Wycliffe Prairie is an ecologically diverse landscape that includes riparian forests along Luke Creek, wetlands, grasslands and dry, open forest habitats that play home to grizzly bears, the endangered Lewis’s woodpecker, and American badgers.
“The protection of Wycliffe Prairie expands the Wycliffe Conservation Complex to over 1,450 hectares. This protects habitat for many endangered or other at-risk species,” said the NTBC.
The NTBC raised over $2.5 million to ensure this property was protected and combined with a larger conservation complex.
“Establishing new conservation areas is a great way to protect the biodiversity of B.C. and to counter the effects of climate change,” said Lament.
“The wetlands, grasslands and forest of the East Kootenay are very carbon-rich, so protecting intact habitat helps keep that carbon in the soil and plants.”
Most recently, the NTBC has raised $415,000 to acquire a 171-hectare parcel of land known as Lower Wolf Creek.
“It’s a really important piece of habitat, it has forests, wetlands and grasslands,” said Lament.
“A lot of types of wildlife in this area. It’s an exciting project and we’re down to the final stretch of fundraising for Lower Wolf Creek.”
The land serves as a home and wildlife corridor for American badgers, grizzly bears, and elk.
The NTBC is still accepting donations to make up the final push to acquire Lower Wolf Creek.
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