Skip to content

Saturnina Island Nature Reserve Management Plan Questionnaire

SINR Questionnaire Open until September 29, 2023

Islands Trust Conservancy acknowledges and respects that Saturnina Island is within the treaty and territorial lands and waters of the Cowichan Tribes, Lyackson First Nation, Snuneymuxw First Nation, Spune’luxutth’ (Penelakut) Tribe, Stz'uminus (Chemainus) First Nation, Ts'uubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan) First Nation, and Xeláltxw (Halalt) First Nation, and is nestled in the Salish Sea, the homeland of the Coast Salish Peoples.

Saturnina Island Nature Reserve is part of the Flat Top Island group, a 4-hectare nature reserve located approximately 800m east of Gabriola Island. The protected area was acquired by the BC Parks Foundation in July 2021 and, at their request in September 2021, Islands Trust Conservancy took on the responsibility of property management through a lease agreement. Take a tour on our interactive map to see the protected area location: https://arcg.is/1Lm9uK

Saturnina Island Nature Reserve encompasses all of Saturnina Island and its two associated islets. Above the highwater mark is mature Douglas-fir – arbutus (CDFmm/02) forest. This ecological community is at-risk and Red-listed in BC, occurring as small patches within a restricted range and heavily impacted by past and present land use and development pressure. The shoreline includes mud flats, sandy beaches, and rocky shores and eelgrass beds are in the subtidal zone.

The Islands Trust Conservancy’s primary goal is to protect and nurture the sensitive ecosystems and natural values on this land. The information and actions required to achieve this goal and guide the management of the property are set out in a management plan that is updated every 10 years. We welcome community input and ask you to share your thoughts on the protection and long-term management of Saturnina Island Nature Reserve.
1.Are you a resident of...?(Required.)
2.Have you ever visited the land that is now Saturnina Island Nature Reserve? If so, how often?
3.If you have visited Saturnina Island Nature Reserve before, what did you do there?
4.Please list any wildlife and unique plant species you have seen in or near Saturnina Island Nature Reserve:
5.What do you believe to be the most important values of nature reserves? (choose three)
6.What activities do you believe are incompatible with the protection of natural features and ecosystems, and should not be allowed within Saturnina Island Nature Reserve?
7.What do you feel could be the greatest threat to the health of this nature reserve and its ecosystems, and should be the highest management priority for the Islands Trust Conservancy?
8.Please provide any other relevant information that will help us make the best management decisions for Saturnina Island Nature Reserve.
9.There has been no history of permitted public use of the property and there are no designated trails. However, people have used it as a place to kayak and boat to and camp. Do you have any thoughts on public access?
10.Please share with us any history you know about this property or any knowledge you have about unique cultural or other special features on the property.
11.If you would like to receive periodic updates from the Islands Trust Conservancy on this and other conservation projects on the islands, please provide your name and email address and you will be added to our e-news:
Current Progress,
0 of 11 answered