To read further coverage on this conservation milestone, read this article by Mike Vanden Bosch at the Fraser Valley Today.
The Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF) has recently acquired two clusters of private land inholdings totaling just over 55 hectares within the unceded traditional territory of the Kanaka Bar Band, about a four-hour drive northeast of Vancouver along Highway 1, and inside the boundaries of Kanaka Bar’s proposed Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area (IPCA), zuminstm e tmíxʷ kt ƛ̓əq̓ƛ̓áq̓tn̓ (which means “we care for the lands of T’eqt’aqtn”). The acquisitions protect exceptionally diverse old-growth forests, including habitat that features Canada’s largest documented Rocky Mountain juniper, and they build on NBSF’s earlier purchase of the “Old Man Jack’s” parcel in 2022 – bringing the total to three private properties to be returned to Kanaka Bar through Indigenous-led conservation, title-registered legal protection, and long-term stewardship funding.
“Return of these properties to the Kanaka Bar Band helps us secure and protect lands and waters at the heart of our IPCA” – Sean O’Rourke, Director of Lands and Culture, Kanaka Bar Band
“We’re proud to be closing in on the funding we committed to ensure the protection and stewardship of both the private lands and the unceded crown lands within the 320km² proposed protected area of the Kanaka Bar Band. These ecosystems are among the least represented in BC’s protected-area system. They support multiple species at risk and include rare old-growth Interior Douglas-Fir forests, which are also of great cultural significance.” – Emilie Carrière, National Conservation Director, Nature-based Solutions Foundation
Protecting rare old growth within Kanaka Bar’s proposed IPCA
Commonly known as the Jackass Mountain and Across the River properties, these acquisitions secure two of the last remaining private inholdings within the proposed IPCA. Together, they close key gaps in a high-priority conservation landscape contiguous with the Stein Valley Heritage Park, strengthening landscape connectivity and reinforcing the long-term integrity of the broader conservation area.
They also protect ecosystems with critical importance for species recovery. The Across the River parcels include a key low-elevation habitat along the Fraser River, in the range of the imperilled Stein–Nahatlatch grizzly bear population. The Jackass Mountain lands fall within federally identified/designated critical habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl, considered essential to the species’ recovery.
Across the River comprises five contiguous parcels near Kwoiek Creek on the west side of the Fraser River, where an exceptional range of ecosystems comes together; old-growth Douglas-fir, cedar, and cottonwood forest, ponderosa pine and juniper woodlands, and a wetland–riparian complex fed by a waterfall and active beaver ponds.
Jackass Mountain includes four adjoining parcels on steep, west-facing slopes above the Fraser River, in a rare transition zone where wet and dry-adapted forests meet. The area protects mature and old-growth stands with many large-diameter trees, as well as dry-belt grassland patches.
Pioneering conservation agreements registered on title
Each property will be re-gifted to Kanaka Bar and protected by a pioneering conservation agreement registered on title, designed to reflect Kanaka Bar’s vision for conservation and stewardship and to align with the IPCA framework. The agreements ensure Kanaka Bar owns and governs the lands, with uses guided by community priorities and cultural stewardship, while placing legally binding conservation protections on title. A dedicated stewardship endowment tied to each property will fund long-term care and monitoring to support stewardship for generations.
The stewardship endowment: strong protection requires long-term funding
Long-term protection depends on long-term stewardship. These private lands will be supported by a dedicated stewardship endowment tied to the properties, set at 30% of land value. NBSF has already secured over 50% of the stewardship endowment required for these private lands.
NBSF is now working to close two remaining funding gaps:
- ~$100,000 to complete the stewardship endowment tied to these newly protected private lands
- ~$113,000 to complete Kanaka Bar’s Crown lands stewardship and sustainable economic development fund for the wider ~32,000-hectare proposed IPCA. This fund will support IPCA planning, stewardship initiatives, and the creation of sustainable jobs and businesses
Donations will directly support Kanaka Bar’s long-term stewardship capacity across the private parcels and the broader proposed IPCA.
To donate: https://www.naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org/donate/
About the Kanaka Bar Band
The Kanaka Bar Band—also known as ƛ̓əq̓ƛ̓áq̓tn̓mx (T’eqt’aqtn’mux), or “the crossing place people”—is a Nlaka’pamux Nation located in the Fraser Canyon south of Lytton and adjacent to the Stein Valley. Kanaka Bar has advanced one of the most significant and developed IPCA proposals in British Columbia, grounded in Indigenous stewardship, cultural revitalization, and conservation outcomes.
About the Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF)
NBSF is a national organization dedicated to safeguarding Canada’s most endangered ecosystems by addressing conservation funding gaps and partnering with land-embedded communities to advance durable protection and stewardship, including Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas and conservation financing solutions.
For more information, please visit www.naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org or watch The Key to Protecting Canada’s Most Endangered Ecosystems
Acknowledgements
This project was made possible through the contributions of The Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) and the BC Hydro Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP).
The Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) is a unique Partnership that supports the creation and recognition of protected and conserved areas through the acquisition of private land and private interest in land. To date, the Government of Canada has invested more than $500 million in the Program, which has been matched with more than $1 billion in contributions raised by Nature Conservancy Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the country’s land trust community leading to the protection of more than 840,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive lands.
The Nature-Based Solutions Foundation gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program for its contribution to the Kanaka Bar Private Land Conservation. www.fwcp.ca
Media contacts
Sean O’Rourke
Director of Lands and Culture
Kanaka Bar Band
[email protected]
250-613-8121
Emilie Carriere
National Conservation Director
Nature-Based Solutions Foundation
[email protected]
438-728-5695