What does the Island Trust and its trustees do anyway?

Missing Data on Sensitive Ecosystems

Last year, the Islands Trust received a grant to fund a biologist tasked with preparing a report on how to integrate biological information into land use planning decisions. This task uncovered some stunning findings regarding sensitive species on the Gulf Islands. In February of this year, before her temporary position was over, Patrica Woodruff gave a Power Point presentation to the Trust Regional Planning committee. Her findings included:

• 16 different species at risk populations were declining or disappearing.
• For many species the trends were unknown, there is no recent data
• Critical species habitat is not being protected.
• There were four cases where development had a direct adverse impact on the species.
• Trust maps don’t match sensitive ecosystems.

It would seem that knowing where sensitive species are located and their status would be essential to protecting them.

It is unfortunate and concerning that the response of the Trust Council rejected authorizing a permanent biologist position, missing the opportunity that could have helped start the gathering of this critical information. What they did fund, were two new permanent staff positions, both second positions for “communications” and First Nations consultation.

Is this a case of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”? If we don’t know where the species at risk are located, we can avoid doing anything to protect them. Is this how the natural environment of the Gulf Islands is being protected?

Finally, on July 24, staff recommendations and the full biologist report were released to the Islands Trust Regional Planning Committee. Our delegation to the committee asked that the staff recommendations be approved, which they were. But, we are still a long way from making major progress on this issue. We will keep you up to date on what does happen.

Island Events

As our time allows, Friends of the Gulf Islands (FOTGIS) board members enjoy attending island fairs and markets to provide information and meet new people. We have been at events on Mayne, Pender and Galiano. However, recently the Galiano Saturday Market Board refused our request to attend an August Saturday Market, held outside on the Lions’ field. Though the vendor agreement explicitly allows for community groups to have a table, we were informed that “The Saturday Market is not a venue for public discussions that have been historically divisive.” Our response letter says, “Protecting our local environment and supporting the “preserve and protect” mandate of the Islands Trust are not divisive topics. They are foundational principles of our island community, and the foundational principles of FOTGIS. These are topics of interest to many people. As a non-profit, conservation-based organization, our activities are strictly educational, peaceful and focused on ensuring sustainability on the Trust islands.” Paradoxically, the response from the market Board also stated, “We wholeheartedly support free speech and open discussion…”. A puzzling statement indeed. But do come see us at the Fall Fair on Pender!