Several options are available for landowners who wish to ensure the long-term protection of their properties. As a landowner you may want to ensure protection of a particular feature of your land without giving up ownership. In these cases, a conservation covenant is one of the most effective land preservation tools available to landowners.
A covenant is a voluntary, legal agreement between a landowner and a conservation organization where you as the landowner promise to protect the land in specific ways. The promises the landowner makes will be attached on title to the land forever, regardless of who owns the land. In return, the conservation organization agrees to monitor the covenant and ensure that the intentions and objectives of the covenant are being maintained.
What does this mean in practice? Suppose your property contains a small marsh that provides habitat for several endangered species. A conservation covenant will give you a number of options to protect your marsh. In the simplest case, you would likely agree to forbid development in the marsh area. Covenants are very flexible documents that can contain a number of provisions from limiting subdivision and development to committing to the removal of noxious weeds. Any terms that you and the land trust agree upon can be included in the covenant.
TLC’s Kinghorn Covenant protects 63 hectares of forest and wetlands. Photo Andrew MacKinnon.
More than half of Canada’s Grizzly Bears live in B.C. Habitat protection is the key to ensuring their long term survival. Photo David Tipling.
Registering a Conservation Covenant
Several options are available for landowners who wish to ensure the long-term protection of their properties. You, as the landowner, may want to ensure protection of a particular feature of your land without giving up ownership. In these cases, a conservation covenant is one of the most effective land preservation tools available to landowners.
Learn more about the registration process including TLC’s policies and landowner application form.
Volunteer Monitoring
Monitors inspect the property and report any issues such as vandalism, unauthorized construction or natural degradation. These issues are then resolved either with the property owners or through a management plan for restoration. To join our volunteer team, email covenants@conservancy.bc.ca.
Restoration Program
TLC regularly teams up with volunteers to work together to restore and steward conservation covenants including at our conservation covenant on Ayum Creek Regional Park Reserve. For opportunities to join TLC for volunteer restoration activities, email covenants@conservancy.bc.ca to be added to our volunteer list.
Covenant Program News
Check your mailbox: The 2024 Fall LANDmark is here!
We are pleased to announce the release of the latest edition of the LANDmark newsletter, where you can stay informed about our latest conservation and restoration events. Learn about our new 2025-2029 Strategic Plan and [...]
Multiply Your Impact: Leveraging Partner and Volunteer Efforts
Walking the trail around TLC’s Second Lake property in the District of Highlands, it doesn’t take long before you come to understand why the 73 hectares (183 acres) found within the at-risk Coastal [...]
Check your mailbox: The latest edition of the LANDmark is here!
We are pleased to announce the release of the latest edition of the LANDmark newsletter, where you can stay informed about our latest conservation and restoration events. Dive into insightful updates from our dedicated staff [...]
Thank you for your support in 2023
Seasons greetings friends! The December weather may be cold and wet but thankfully that hasn’t stopped me from spending time in the garden. Dressed in my old wool cardigan and yellow raincoat, I’ve been tackling [...]
Protecting at-risk ecosystems like the CDF
I recently met with a landowner in Nanoose Bay to discuss options for protecting the forest in her backyard. As development in her neighbourhood is fragmenting local habitat, she reached out to learn how [...]
Check Your Mailbox: TLC’s Fall 2023 LANDmark Newsletter is Now Available
In the Fall 2023 edition of TLC's LANDmark newsletter you'll read about TLC's latest projects including our partnership with the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association and Islands Trust Conservancy to protect 8.77 acres of [...]
New Covenant Protects Sandy Beach Nature Reserve
Walking through the serene forest on an old trail, you suddenly burst out of the dimly lit verdant landscape into a bright ocean scene. Clambering over layers of driftwood piled up at the beach edge, [...]
Protecting Greenspace for Species Health
I’m writing to you as I prepare for the first of our two 2023 Deertrails Naturalist Program sessions. Next week I’ll be with aspiring naturalists at TLC’s 57 hectares (141 acres) of wetlands and wildlife [...]
TLC’s Spring 2023 LANDmark is here!
In the Spring 2023 edition of TLC's LANDmark newsletter you'll read about TLC's latest projects including our partnership with the District of Squamish to protect a restored riparian area, steps to implement a restoration project [...]
We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia toward the Covenant Program.
