Standard 12: Land Stewardship
The land trust has a program of responsible stewardship for the land it holds other than through a conservation agreement for conservation purposes.
Background
Many land trusts hold land other than through conservation agreement for a variety of conservation purposes, and must take care of these properties. Failure to manage and monitor the property could lead to loss of or damage to the property’s conservation values, injury to visitors, or even loss of the property itself. A land trust that does not care for its holdings will lose credibility. A land trust should also make contingency provisions for its land in the event it can no longer fulfill its stewardship obligations.
Relevant Law
- Canada Revenue Agency policy interpretation of Income Tax Act, SC 1985, c. I; see
- Income Tax Act, SC 1985, c. I, s. 149.1 (6.3);
see also Canada Revenue Agency policy interpretations at
- Expropriation Act, RSBC 1996, c. 125.
- Expropriation Act, SC 1996, c. E-21.
- Taxation (Rural Area) Act, RSBC 1996, c. 447.
- School Act, RSBC 1996, c. 412.
- Police Act, RSBC 1996, c. 367.
- Property Transfer Tax Act, RSBC 1996, c. 378.
- Social Service Tax Act, RSBC 1996, c. 431.
PRACTICE
C. Land Management
The land trust inventories the natural and cultural features of each property prior to developing a management plan that identifies its conservation goals for the property and how it plans to achieve them. Permitted activities are compatible with the conservation goals, stewardship principles and public benefit mission of the organization. Permitted activities occur only when the activity poses no significant threat to the important conservation values and reduces threats or restores ecological processes.
Background
Land trusts may engage in resource management activities on lands they hold, including forest management, farming and ranching, and other activities. This practice clarifies that land management activities should follow some form of management plan. Management activities should conform to the organization’s mission and stewardship principles. Management plans should state the conservation goals for the property and clearly state the uses and activities that are allowed on the property. They should also state what management prescriptions are required to either maintain or enhance the values for which the property is being protected. Management activities should advance learning and demonstration or restore degraded habitat, not impair important conservation values on the site.
Assessment Questions
CLTA Assessment Questions
- Does the land trust have a written management plan for each property that identifies its goals and how it plans to achieve them?
Resources: Example Policies & Template Documents
Other Resources
- Wildlife Friendly Fences MFWP 2008
- Waterways Health SS
- Reflections in Restoration Intro Letter
- Shoreline Structures SS
- Ecological Restoration Polster SS07
- Access Near Aquatic Areas SS
- NCC Baikie Island Management Plan
- Grasslands Stewardship Guide SS
- Agriculture Watershed Stewardship SS
- Garry Oak Invasive Species Removal
- Building the Case for Conservation Kirkby SS02
- NCC Stewardship Manual 2ndEdition
- LBW Shoreline Stewardship for Local Gov
- Preserving Biodiversity Franklin
- Smart Growth on ALR Issues
- Riparian Areas Grazing Management
- Forrex Restoration Paper
- Monitoring Management Resources
