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
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Celebrating YOU this Holiday Season
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We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia toward the Covenant Program.
