Implementing the Preserve and Protect Mandate
Islands Trust works to preserve and protect the Islands Trust Area in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, First Nations, other persons, organizations, and the government of British Columbia.
The annual Islands Trust budget provides the resources needed to carry out this mandate through land use planning, region-wide programs, and land protection.
The Islands Trust Council supports the preserve and protect mandate through region-wide programs, including public education sessions, stewardship education resources, updating of the Islands Trust Policy Statement, advocacy related to decisions and initiatives that affect the islands, ecosystem mapping, grant programs, and developing of agreements and hosting of meetings to promote cooperation with other governments, including Indigenous Governing Bodies.
Land use planning contributes to preserving and protecting the environment, cultural heritage, and communities through the maintenance of 20 unique official community plans, hosting community information meetings to help islanders understand land use planning, rezoning, and application processing. Islands Trust also develops and delivers longer-term land-use planning projects to support strategic goals.
The Islands Trust Conservancy is governed by a board made up of provincial appointees and Islands Trust trustees. Its mission is to protect special places in the Islands Trust Area by encouraging and assisting voluntary conservation initiatives. To date, 1,385+ hectares of land across 115 conservation properties have been protected, including 81 conservation covenants and 34 nature reserves.
The Approved 2026/27 Budget
Islands Trust Council approved the Islands Trust 2026/27 budget ($11.8 million) at its March 2026 quarterly meeting. This budget assumes that Islands Trust will maintain existing service levels, and undertake select projects. View a breakdown of the budget numbers.
Budget Highlights
Highlights of the approved 2026/27 budget:
- Total planned spending $11.8M, with $11M directed to operations, $588,484 directed to special projects, and $208,700 directed to capital purchases
- An 8.1% increase to the existing local trust area tax base plus an additional 0.8% tax revenue expected from new construction and development in local trust areas
- A 13.5% increase to the Bowen Island Municipal tax levy base, plus an additional 1.4% expected from new construction and development in the municipality
- A 5.1% ($571,929) increase in total planned spending for operations, projects, and capital purchases
- Approved external grants fund 4% ($285,358) of the overall budget
- $198,100 in application fee revenue
- $193,000 in investment income
- $477,400 in planned transfers from Island Trust surplus and reserve funds
The 2026/27 budget supports Islands Trust work on various projects and programs, including:
- Indigenous Relations Action Plan
- Policy Statement Amendment Project
- Freshwater Sustainability Strategy Review
- Islands Trust Council Policy Review
- Denman Island Local Trust Area Housing Review – Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review
- Gabriola Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review
- Gambier Island Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Amendments Implementation
- Hornby Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review
- Lasqueti Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan Review
- North Pender Housing Access and Affordability Project
- Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review
- Islands Trust Conservancy 2028-2032 Plan Development
- Protected Areas Management Software Project
- Accessibility Plan Development
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