Land Protection | Conservancy Program | Fraser Valley Conservancy

The Fraser Valley Conservancy is the only land trust that is based in the Fraser Valley. Figuring out creative ways to protect habitat in our special valley home is a favourite aspect of my job.

Joanne Neilson, FVC Executive Director

The FVC secures and protects land permanently. This ensures habitat can persist for native species to survive and thrive in our valley for future generations.

There are many tools available if you are looking to protect your special property. You can make a difference to safeguard habitat and mitigate the impacts of climate change by ensuring your property is conserved in perpetuity.

Some of the more common land protection tools are outlined below. We can help you navigate these options, depending on your financial position and desired conservation goals.

Land Protection Tools

Donations of Land

Examples can include the direct transfer of land title (a fee-simple donation) or the establishment of a life estate. This may be appropriate if you would like for your land to be fully owned and managed as a natural space.

Conservation Covenants

These are permanent, legal agreements that protect all, or just a section of, a property. It is an option if you would also like to protect the natural features, but also retain ownership, live on the land, or sell your property. For more information we recommend reading the latest version of Greening Your Title.

Greening Your Title Document

Ecological Gifts Program

There can be tax benefits to you by using the above tools. The Federal Government’s Ecological Gifts Program reduces the taxable portion of the gift to zero percent of the capital gain. The FVC recommends all gifts of land are processed through this program to ensure certainty for you, the donor.

Ecololgical Gifts Program Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you buy land to protect it?

The FVC does not have the resources to purchase land. Instead, we work with donors and funders to come up with a financial plan that is achievable and ensures the property can be protected in perpetuity. We are also open to partnerships to ensure land can be protected.

How do you decide to protect a piece of land?

Committing to protecting a piece of land perpetuity is a major decision. We evaluate each parcel based on its ecological values, how connected it is to other habitat, and if it is home to species at risk. We then assess how feasible it will be to maintain and how much fundraising will be required to secure it. If everything seems feasible, we then proceed to the planning stages.

Do you take land donations from developers?

If land has been determined as an environmentally sensitive area, the municipality does not wish to incorporate it into their park system, and all levels of government have approved the process we will consider the options. We will chat with any landowner, but we will not engage prior to the approval and permitting process required by the municipal, provincial, and federal governments.

Will you help protect a parcel that is about to be cleared for development?

Generally, by the time the excavators arrive to start clearing land for a development everything has already been approved by government agencies. The best way to ensure intact habitat is conserved in areas slated for development is to participate in the planning process in your municipality. There are more options available to protect important habitat when it is identified prior to the re-zoning process.

If you are uncertain if land clearing is happening in an approved manner, contact your municipality right away.

Have More Questions about Land Protection?

Are you are interested in leaving a legacy of protected land in the Fraser Valley?

If so, reach out to our Executive Director, Joanne Neilson, who will be happy to have a conversation around which options may apply best to your situation.

Email Joanne

We are a long-standing member and active participant in the Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia. We use the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices to guide our governance and decision-making processes. We support the Federal Government's biodiversity initiative to protect 30% of Canada's land and water by 2030.

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