https://www.galtt-naturestewards.com/
On Thetis Island we are starting a Nature Stewards program. As part of our preparation we visited Gabriola Island and met members of the GALTT (Gabriola Island Lands and Trails Trust) and toured a couple of properties that have joined the steward program.
The goal is to get property owners to committ to conserving 30% of their property in a natural state. As nature stewards we will meet with interested property owners. We help them assess their property, discuss what is valued by them, and what has environmental value. Working with their personal goals (for example I am keen on making a food forest and hugelkulture options) we develop a site plan.
Key to the plan is working with invasive plants. There are many, and we are not going to eliminate them all. However we can focus on the 'bully' invasives like Daphne and Broom Brush. Conversely, if we identify habitat for species we want to find ways to support it. On Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands Prairie Oak is a species at risk and if we can find ways to support it we will. GALTT has a native plant sharing program and we hope to mirror it on our island.
On Thetis we are planning to include expertise from the neighbouring Penelakut Tribe. It is important that our work is done with an understanding that we live on ancient territories with histories that need to be respected. For example along the shore line their are examples of breakwaters built to indicate fish and particularly shellfish harvesting territories allocated to different family groups. On the island itself care needs to be taken to identify areas of shell midden which often will have cultural importance.
Participation in the program is voluntary. You get a cool sign showing your participation (which can be taken away). Our hope is that little nodes of preservation activity will spread and that the voluntary covenant will become a desired achievement.
I saw once that 20% of the climate action required is personal and 80% is government's responsibility. We need to ensure that we are doing our part. Once society demonstrates a committment to the 20% it will make getting politicians to take care of the 80% a lot easier (I would even say it is a necessary step).