Savary Island

The Nature Trust of BC acquired interests in properties in the mid section of Savary Island in 2002. Since that time there has been a growing recognition of the unique and threatened ecosystems and associated species on these properties. The challenge is for this “recognition” to be incorporated into the land use decision making processes to enable decision makers to understand the significance of what could be lost with decisions that convert or degrade the unique ecological values of these land parcels.

In April 2002, The Nature Trust of British Columbia, the province and Environment Canada announced the acquisition and partial interests in various land parcels, including the 133 ha parcel of land on Savary Island known as DL 1375. This area contains Western Canada’s only intact example of a rare forested-dune ecosystem that is home to numerous species of plants and animals. Data on the special nature of this area came in part from the Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory.

This site provides one of the best examples of the geography of coastal dune ecosystems in Canada. Along with the dunes is a unique, complete, and therefore very rare plant successional sequence: beach, beach strand, foredune, dune meadow, young dune forest and older forest(1).

Since that time it has been substantiated that DL 1375 is considered ecologically and biophysically significant on a provincial, national and a global basis for a number of the ecosystem types.

Ecological Significance from a Provincial Context

The 2008 milestone report Taking Nature’s Pulse: the Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia articulated the significance of this province’s biodiversity as well as the main threats and concerns facing biodiversity in BC. The fifty science experts that contributed to this report concluded with 23 major findings from which action is required to protect BC’s natural treasures.

One of the seven major findings on ecosystem diversity states “the Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) biogeoclimatic (BEC) zone is the rarest BEC zone in BC and of great conservation concern”(2). The Savary Island lands are in the CDF and more specifically:
• the CDF is the rarest of the 16 biogeoclimatic zones in British Columbia and exists only in a small portion of the southwest coast of British Columbia (and a small portion of Washington State)
• a large proportion of the ecological communities that occur within the CDF Zone do not exist elsewhere in Canada or in the United States
• the CDF has the highest density of species of both provincial and global conservation concern of any biogeoclimatic zone in British Columbia
• the CDF is of considerable concern from a conservation perspective with almost 50% of the CDF Zone being converted to non-reversible land uses and seriously impacting biodiversity in this Zone. The remaining ecosystems within the CDF Zone are highly fragmented (due to subdivision and development) and only a few large contiguous patches of forested and non-forested ecosystems remain. The conservation status of the CDF Zone has been assessed as “imperilled”

This last point is even more critical for the land parcels on Savary, as the ability to maintain large contiguous patches on islands is of greater significance. Maintaining contiguous ecosystems of herbaceous and forested ecosystems on DL 1375 which represents about 1/3 of the area of the island is an opportunity to preserve not only representation of the CDF zone, but also several very unique ecological communities.

Unique Ecological Communities within the CDF

The unique complex of ecosystems supported by the dunes is not known elsewhere in British Columbia and, given the unprotected status of the property, it is “extraordinary” that the dune ecosystems have survived relatively intact. Three of the seven terrestrial ecosystem types that are present on DL 1375 are endemic (occur no where else in the world) and are ranked at the highest global ranking (3).

The active dunes support specialized dune plants and graduate inland to more stabilized dunes with grasses, lilies and other herbs and small shrubs, and graduate further to young forests of lodgepole pine and salal, and then to mature and old forests predominantly of two different vegetation communities (being lodgepole pine-Douglas-fir-(western hemlock)/lichens on old stabilized dune ridges and western hemlock-Douglas-fir/evergreen huckleberry-salal on slopes of dune swales and in troughs).

The occurrence of any old forest ecosystems is rare in the Georgia Basin. DL 1375 has old forest along the southern part of the property and a mix of old and mature forest covering the remainder.

With only a few large contiguous patches of forested and non-forested ecosystems remaining in the CDF, BC (Crown and private landowners) have the highest possible management responsibility for these ecosystems.

Unique Geomorphology

DL 1375 includes approximately 70% of the island’s unique geomorphological feature; - the aeolian dunes (i.e., dunes shaped by wind) that have formed over the past 10,000 years. The dunes are underlain by glacial deposits over “Quadra Sands”, and this pattern is not known elsewhere in British Columbia except for a small area near Comox (now heavily developed with sandpits and urbanization)

Dune ecosystems are extremely fragile and are subject to destruction as a result of construction and development, vegetation removal, trampling and excessive recreational usage (4, 5). The dune ecosystems on DL 1375 are sensitive to disturbance and need to be preserved for their own sake and to protect the vital habitat they provide for several plant and animal species found only in sand dune environments.

Federal Significance

Under the federal Species at Risk Act there are two initiatives that address unique ecological features on DL 1375. One is specific to a plant species at risk and the second focuses on the unique sandy ecosystems in BC that provide habitat for many listed species.

On DL 1375 Camissonia contorta (contorted evening primrose) has been identified at Beacon Point and near Duck Bay. Camissonia contorta is a “red-listed” (6) species in British Columbia. Only nine populations, one of which is extirpated have been found in the province. Camissonia contorta is also listed as “endangered” by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), a committee of experts that assesses and designates which wildlife species are in danger of disappearing from Canada. As a species listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act, the recovery planning is in process. The initial step of the draft recovery strategy has been completed by the Parks Canada Agency.

The Contorted-pod Evening-primrose is one of many species that depends on the unique sandy ecosystems of BC’s coast.

The second initiative underway that recognizes the unique and threatened status of BC’s coastal sand dunes is the Coastal Sand Ecosystem Recovery Team, co-chaired by the province and the federal government to prepare a sand beach recovery plan. Survey work continues for this initiative.

It is hoped that decisions regarding the use of DL 1375 will include recognition of the unique and threatened ecological communities and species present, and will include opportunities to incorporate measures to maintain these significant values for all British Columbians.

1. BC Conservation Data Centre. Site Report: SAVARY ISLAND DUNES. BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, January 2001
2. Austin, M.A., D.A. Buffet, D.J. Nicolson, G.G.E. Scudder and V. Stevens (eds.) 2008. Taking Nature’s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia. Biodiversity BC, Victoria, BC 268pp.
3. BC Conservation Data Centre Biotics Database, 2008
4. Dunster, K. “Sand Dune Ecosystems on Savary Island, B.C. with particular reference to D.L. 1375” March 31, 2000
5. Strix Environmental Consulting, “Savary Island Dune and Shoreline Study Ecological Component”, January 10, 2003
6. A “red-listed” species is a species that has been legally designated as “endangered” or “threatened” under the Wildlife Act (British Columbia), extirpated (i.e., rendered extinct on a local scale) or is a candidate for such designation

June 10, 2010 To the Friends of Savary Island

At The Nature Trust of British Columbia, we have three guiding principals to lead us in how we conduct our business. They are Integrity, Trust and Respect.

For those who know us, these are more than words. We have woven the concept of Integrity, Trust and Respect into who we are and everything that we do.

As a conservation organization founded in 1971, we have worked very hard to conserve some of the best conservation lands in British Columbia and we continue forward with this single purpose in mind. This has been achieved through the acquisition of over 150,000 acres of complex land purchases.

Much has been said about the negotiations to protect the property known as DL 1375 on Savary Island. We have consistently tried to negotiate the best outcome for all parties involved, keeping in mind that DL 1375 contains some of the most unique ecosystems in all of Canada.

In 2002, through an unsolicited offer, The Nature Trust purchased a 50% interest in DL 1375 from Mr. David Syre. Working with the Province and other generous Savary Islanders, our full intent was to negotiate the purchase of the other 50% interest from the Sahlin family. If successful, the property would have been announced as a new Provincial Park for the enjoyment of all British Columbians.

Unfortunately after 8 years of talks and negotiations we have not been able to conclude the purchase of the remaining 50% interest from the Sahlin family. If you do not have a willing seller you cannot conclude a purchase.

In November of 2008, the Sahlin family applied for the partition of the property by presenting the Court with an 8 lot subdivision plan. As the proceedings progressed, members of The Nature Trust Executive Committee met with Mr. Sahlin to ask if he would reconsider selling his 50% interest to The Nature Trust. He declined our offer and the court case continued.

On February 3, 2010, in an affidavit to the Court, we again offered to purchase the remaining 50% interest from the Sahlin family for up to $5 million, based on the most recent appraisal. Again, this offer was not accepted. On the same day, the Judge ruled in favour of Mr. Sahlin and ordered that the property could be divided into 4 or 8 lots.

With the assistance of the Savary Island Land Trust, The Nature Trust has filed an appeal. The case will be heard sometime later this year or early in 2011.

We have always tried to keep our focus on the protection of this “magical place” and we promise that we will continue to do so. We are very concerned that this 4 or 8 lot subdivision will have dire consequences on the ecological integrity of DL 1375.

We sincerely regret that we have been unable to accomplish our original goal, however, we will continue to work towards a positive outcome. We greatly appreciate the outstanding support we continue to receive from the people of Savary Island.

Daniel Nocente
Chairman
The Nature Trust of British Columbia