After its abundant biodiversity has been stewarded by First Nations for thousands of years and itB次元官网网址檚 been eyed for pristine parkland for a century, parts of an island off B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Central Coast are closer to being protected forever.
At a March 13 ceremony in Victoria, Tula Foundation founders Eric Peterson and Christina Munck announced they would be transferring two parcels, totalling 55 acres, of Calvert Island to the BC Parks Foundation.
The land will be incorporated into the islandB次元官网网址檚 Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy, which is collaboratively managed by the province and the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv First Nations.
The founders also announced a donation of $92 million to Tula in support of the organization advancing its scientific innovation.
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Peterson called Calvert Island the most iconic place on B.C.B次元官网网址檚 coast as it features breathtaking beaches and incredible biodiversity. ItB次元官网网址檚 also a sacred place for First Nations, he said, noting inhabitants have gathered on the land for over 10,000 years.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just any piece of real estate, itB次元官网网址檚 an extraordinary place,B次元官网网址� the Tula founder said, highlighting the islandB次元官网网址檚 complex coastlines carved by glaciation and how it sits among a labyrinth of land and sea along the Central Coast.
Those comments were echoed by Andy Day, the BC Parks FoundationB次元官网网址檚 CEO, as he touted the incredible stretch of beach and ecology that make up the donated plots. With the site also hosting rich old-growth forests, Day said the Calvert lands are emblematic of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 ecological bounty.
Species are under threat around the world, Day said, adding 70 per cent of the worldB次元官网网址檚 biodiversity has been lost in the last 50 years. Protecting land in perpetuity though actions like the Calvert donation is among the only ways to address that crisis, he said.
B次元官网网址淎long with First Nations people and the province of British Columbia, we will make sure that it continues to be managed responsibly for all British Columbians to enjoy and for all the species in that area to enjoy,B次元官网网址� Day said.
The CEO hopes the move inspires people to connect with B.C.B次元官网网址檚 natural areas and spurs other land donations.
The gifted plots have had a complex and fraught history, Peterson explained. Archaeological findings show signs of human settlement on the island from 13,000 years ago and around 5,000 years back, it hosted industrial-scale shellfish agriculture with clam gardens, processing areas, drying racks and trading sites.
First Nations oral histories recount a settlement known as Luxvbalis that was visited by Captain Vancouver. Luxvbalis was devastated by the smallpox epidemic of 1862 and many of the dead were abandoned in one of the islandB次元官网网址檚 bays.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 many souls from many Nations that have never been properly mourned in this place,B次元官网网址� Peterson said.
The donated lands were surveyed after the First World War and a group envisioned it as protected parkland around 1925. The sites welcomed gathering and recreation for the next 40 years as they were effectively used as a park, but were then bought after the protections were never made official, Peterson said.
The sites were then logged for their cedar giants before they were taken over in the B次元官网网址�90s to host a beach resort. That resort created friction with First Nations, other neighbours and BC Parks as the area was closed off from the public. Those tensions escalated in the 2000s under a new U.S. owner who gated the land.
Since Tula bought the plots in 2009 and reopened them to the public, Peterson said heB次元官网网址檚 thrilled by their current partnership with neighbouring First Nations and he hopes to start conversations with them and all levels of government on transferring a third Calvert property.
B次元官网网址淭hey can be assured now that the future of these two parcels is secured for everyone to enjoy,B次元官网网址� Peterson said.
The Tula FoundationB次元官网网址檚 Hakai Institute hosts an ecological observatory on Calvert Island that has opened research opportunities to those like Brian Starzomski.
HeB次元官网网址檚 one of the many University of Victoria researchers to study at the facility, and said the chance to work there has been lifechanging for scores of students.
B次元官网网址淭he most amazing things would happen at this place,B次元官网网址� he said, recounting scientists from diverse disciplines debating the origins of CalvertB次元官网网址檚 geography while they dined together at the island.
B次元官网网址淪o many great research programs and papers came out of these discussions, itB次元官网网址檚 one of Eric and ChristinaB次元官网网址檚 great skills, they bring people together and support them with everything they need to do amazing things.B次元官网网址�
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