Environmental Conservation
First Nations are leading conservation and research initiatives in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii to protect and sustain the ecological integrity of the region.
The Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii regions of British Columbia encompass the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest remaining in the world. First Nations have sustainably managed the abundant resources and ecosystems of this unique region for thousands of years.
Today, First Nations continue to lead conservation efforts in the region by combining traditional stewardship practices with modern science and regional monitoring that protects and restores ecological integrity across the coast. First Nation initiatives are resulting in robust research, habitat protection and restoration, and monitoring of key species and resources. These programs help to protect First Nations’ values and traditions, ensuring that resources and natural surroundings are sustained for future generations.
Environmental Conservation Outcomes
First Nations are working collaboratively with each other and the Province of British Columbia to develop management plans for designated protected areas.
Developing Management Plans
First Nations have published 26 protected area management plans through investments with Coast Funds. These plans prescribe how important ecological areas, cultural features, and traditional harvesting sites will be conserved for future generations.
Community Well-Being Impact
First Nations are engaging with British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment (BC Parks) on a government-to-government basis to develop management plans that affirm the significance of protected areas and provide guidelines for preserving important ecological and cultural values.
These plans outline cultural features, archeological sites, harvesting sites, and ecologically sensitive areas, ensuring that they can be protected and maintained for current and future generations. By establishing management plans, First Nations and the provincial government have guidelines to regulate activities that can occur within protected areas.
We completed five drafts of conservancy management plans for areas of environmental and cultural importance to the Gitga’at people.
— Chris Picard, Science Director, Gitga'at First Nation
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National Geographic Features Kitasoo/Xai’Xais Nation and Spirit Bear Lodge
Estimated Reading time
2 Mins
In 1999 Kitasoo/Xai’xais launched Spirit Bear Lodge from a little red-roofed float house anchored at Klemtu’s docks. Today a luxurious new lodge accommodates visitors from around the world, most of whom come to tour the nearby islands in hope of spotting and photographing bears.
Raising Up The Next Generation Of Great Bear Rainforest Stewards
Estimated Reading time
2 Mins
An excellent new feature in Nature Conservancy Magazine explores how the Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards program of the Kitasoo/Xai’xais Nation not only brings life-changing experiences to young people but also represents a strategic investment in conservation.
State of the Gitga’at Ocean Report
Estimated Reading time
2 Mins
The State of the Gitga’at Ocean Report aims to present Gitga’at members, leaders and research partners with the outcomes of key monitoring activities that have been occurring in the territory in recent years.
First Nations are proactively managing protected areas in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii to preserve and enhance the ecological integrity of the region.
Managing Protected Areas
First Nations conducted conservation and stewardship work in 132 protected areas in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii through investments with Coast Funds.
Community Well-Being Impact
There were 195 separate conservancies, parks, and protected areas established within the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii as of December 31, 2021. These areas include important animal habitats, sensitive ecosystems, and First Nations’ cultural and heritage sites.
First Nations are taking an active role in protection of these areas through land- and marine-based stewardship, research and restoration initiatives, preparing protected area management plans, and regional monitoring activities. Managing protected areas reinforces First Nations’ connection to their territory and helps to sustain cultural features and resources for the future.
We completed conservancy work including bivalve and crab assessments and research on potential harvest and oil spill impacts so we can protect important areas.
— Kyle Clifton, Environmental Assessment Officer, Gitga’at First Nation
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Coastal Stewardship Network: Collaborative Monitoring and Protection of First Nations’ Lands and Waters
The Coastal Stewardship Network is supporting its member First Nations as they’ve established sophisticated monitoring programs and their analyses informing vital environmental and resource management decisions.
Gitga’at Guardians: Using Science to Safeguard their Territory
The Gitga’at Nation is protecting ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural assets in their territory through monitoring and research.
First Nations are protecting their territories through regional monitoring programs that patrol, survey, and collect valuable data from land and ocean environments with funding support from Coast Funds.
Guardian Watchmen Programs
First Nations operate 18 unique regional monitoring and Guardian Watchmen programs, covering an average area of 7.0 million hectares annually.
Keepers of the Coast is a documentary film by the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance that takes a close look at how the Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Heiltsuk, Nuxalk, and Wuikinuxv Nations are stewarding their marine territories.
Community Well-Being Impact
For thousands of years, First Nations have been caretakers of the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, managing natural resources to ensure they were not depleted. Today, First Nations are continuing this vital role as proactive stewards of their territories through regional Guardian Watchmen programs.
Working with fisheries, forestry, and parks as technicians, guardians, and rangers, First Nations contribute to the successful implementation of land and marine use plans and other sustainable resource management initiatives. By monitoring activities for ecosystem-based management, First Nations are ensuring a vibrant future with continued access to the rich resources of the territory.
Our Guardian program has been incredible for our Nation to be able to visit remote parts of our territory and original communities that have been inaccessible for years. It also enables us to collect data to ensure the next generation are going to have the same resources we have today.
— Sherry Thomas, Band Administrator, Tlowitsis First Nation
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Wei Wai Kum Guardians: In the Steps of Our Ancestors
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Coastal Stewardship Network: Collaborative Monitoring and Protection of First Nations’ Lands and Waters
The Coastal Stewardship Network is supporting its member First Nations as they’ve established sophisticated monitoring programs and their analyses informing vital environmental and resource management decisions.
First Nations are leading research to assess and restore habitats, protecting species of special concern in a wide range of ecosystems found throughout the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.
Scientific Research and Habitat Restoration
First Nations have conducted 396 scientific research or habitat restoration initiatives, through investments with Coast Funds, on 75 different species, including whales, bears, wolverines, salmon, herring, and more.
Community Well-Being Impact
The Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii region is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world. First Nations are working to protect this resource with habitat-oriented science that examines the ecological conditions for species to be protected.
Through species enumeration, invasive species management, stream assessments, water sampling, zooplankton analysis, biotoxicity monitoring, and other ecosystem science, First Nations are ensuring the delicate and productive ecology of the region is maintained.
Bears are culturally and economically significant to the Kitasoo/Xai’xais people. Using non-invasive hair snagging, we have been studying the population dynamics and distribution of bears in our territory so that we can better understand their movement and how to protect them.
— Doug Neasloss, Chief Councillor, Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation
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First Nations work with the Province of British Columbia to assess all applications for proposed commercial activities in the region.
Regulating Commercial Activities
First Nations operate 18 referral programs that are connected with Coast Funds-supported stewardship initiatives. These referral programs assess at least 2,650 applications each year for commercial land, marine, or resource use in the region using First Nations’ land use planning, cultural, and resource data.
| Referrals Processed by First Nations directly related to Coast Funds projects | |
|---|---|
| First Nation | Conservation Office that Evaluates Referrals |
| Da’naxda’xw Awaetlala | Na̲nwak̲olas Council Society |
| Gitga’at | Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department |
| Gitxaala | Gitxaala Nation |
| Gwa’sala- |
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation |
| Haida | Haida Solutions Table, Haida Gwaii Management Council |
| Haisla | Haisla Natural Resources Department |
| Heiltsuk | Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department |
| Kitasoo/Xai’xais | Kitasoo Resource Stewardship Program |
| K’omoks | Na̲nwak̲olas Council Society |
| Kwiakah | Na̲nwak̲olas Council Society |
| Lax Kw’alaams | Lax Kw’alaams Band |
| Mamalilikulla | Na̲nwak̲olas Council Society |
| Metlakatla | Metlakatla Stewardship Society |
| Nuxalk | Nuxalk Integrated Resource Office |
| Tlowitsis | Na̲nwak̲olas Council Society |
| We Wai Kai Nation | We Wai Kai Nation |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Na̲nwak̲olas Council Society |
| Wuikinuxv | Wuikinuxv Resource Stewardship Office |
Community Well-Being Impact
First Nations referral offices take a leading role in evaluating development applications proposed within First Nations territories. Applications are submitted to First Nations by the Province of British Columbia. The First Nations’ referral offices are often comprised of a multi-disciplinary team within First Nations’ integrated stewardship departments who evaluate proposals and provide the Nations’ leadership with advice on how proposed commercial activities may affect existing the Nations’ land use planning, important cultural features, and resources. These offices enable First Nations to collaborate with the Province of British Columbia to regulate ecosystem-based management, helping to ensure that future development is aligned with the conservation goals of First Nations’ communities.
Each referral we receive is reviewed and considered for decision using the existing Ecosystem-based Management Land Use Objectives and the Heiltsuk cultural and heritage information.
— Kelly Brown, Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department, Heiltsuk First Nation
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