By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) has been recognized for its conservation leadership, the first in BC and only one of six land trusts in Canada to be awarded a Conservation Excellence Certification by the national Centre for Land Conservation (CLC).
This recognition was announced today (Mar. 20) by the CLC, with SILT joining one land trust in New Brunswick and four in Ontario to be certified.
“This certification represents a watershed moment for land conservation in Canada,” said Lara Ellis, Executive Director of the Centre for Land Conservation. “These six organizations have demonstrated exceptional commitment to conservation excellence.
“Their certification signals to donors, partners, and communities that they operate at the highest levels of professional practice and conservation impact.”
Commenting on the recognition, Judie Steeves, President of the Southern Interior Land Trust said: “For our small volunteer land trust, achieving this certificate demonstrates that excellence in conservation isn’t about size – it’s about commitment to best practices and measurable results.
“This recognition will help us build stronger partnerships and secure more habitat for wildlife,” she added.
SILT was formed in 1988 to purchase land for wildlife in the southern interior of BC. Today, it owns a diverse portfolio of properties with significant natural features, from Ginty’s Pond in Cawston to Edward’s Pond in Grand Forks.
Most recently, it acquired 35 hectares of grassland hillside with Bourguiba Spring located on it, east of Osoyoos in 2022, with the help of a diverse group of individuals and grants.
“Protected natural areas are essential to the quality of life of Canadians, providing wildlife habitat and places for recreation, connecting people with nature in their communities, conserving vital biodiversity, and serving as natural carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change impacts,” SILT said.
The conservation group also referenced recent opinion polling that shows accreditation programs like the Conservation Excellence Certification “strongly influence” donor confidence, with 90 per cent of Canadian donors reporting increased confidence in third-party certified organizations.
The Conservation Excellence Certification Program, supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), philanthropic foundations, and individual donors, promotes conservation excellence through third-party evaluation of conservation impact, governance, and organizational sustainability against nationally-adopted standards and practices.
Certified organizations are authorized to use the Conservation Excellence Certification Trustmark and will be listed in a public registry on the CLC website. Additional land trusts are currently undergoing assessment, with the program aiming to enrol up to 40 land trusts across Canada by March 2026.
