Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program (WiTS)Organization Mandate
The goal of WiTS is to create, coordinate, and assist a network of community stewards committed to conserving wildlife tree habitats through volunteer monitoring, landowner agreements, and community education in Southern British Columbia.
Communities on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan are losing important wildlife tree habitat to development (subdivisions and commercial ventures), agricultural clearing, and logging. As communities become more heavily populated and urbanized, wildlife habitat is increasingly shrinking.
To retain the available wildlife tree habitat, it is necessary for communities to become aware and educated on the importance of this habitat. In order to accomplish this goal, WiTS is working with communities including landowners, NGO?s, and local/regional government with support from federal and provincial government representatives.
Locations
The southeast coast of Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Victoria and the Gulf Islands from Quadra Island to Saturna Island; the Lower Mainland; and expansion to the Okanagan is planned Current Activities and Projects
1) WiTS is working with local governments concerning wildlife trees and community planning. Through the Local Government Act, local governments can write legislation to protect buffer areas around wildlife trees. WiTS is offering to share data on known wildlife nest trees and currently shares data with the following local governments: District of Campbell River; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona; Regional District of Nanaimo; City of Nanaimo; Cowichan Valley Regional District; Islands Trust; District of Saanich; District of Central Saanich; District of North Saanich; and working towards datasharing agreements with the District of North Cowichan; District of Metchosin and Town of Ladysmith.
2) WiTS is educating landowners and communities on the stewardship and value of wildlife trees.
3) WiTS is identifying, mapping, and ground-truthing wildlife nest trees through our base of more than 200 monitors and registered professional biologist.
4) WiTS is reporting threats to nest trees through more than 200 monitors in the field.
5) WiTS is partnering with other conservation and stewardship groups to expand the program.
6) WiTS is a multi-agency program with representatives from Canadian Wildlife Service, Ministry of Environment, BC Hydro and the Federation of BC Naturalists.
Completed Activities and Projects
Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program is ongoing.
Fundraising Initiatives
Fundraising for program operational funds. Partners
WiTS is a multi-agency program with representatives from Canadian Wildlife Service, Ministry of Environment, BC Hydro and the Federation of BC Naturalists.
Publications
What's Up Newsletter Volunteers Required
Interest in monitoring wildlife trees i.e. eagle nest trees
Interest in coordinating volunteers
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1720 Nairne Rd
Nanaimo, BC V9X 1M5 Phone: 250-722-3443
Email: kerter@shaw.ca
Main Contact
Kerri-Lynne Wilson
Program Coordinator
Phone: 250-722-3443
Email: kerter@shaw.ca
Secondary Contact
Ron Speller
FBCN representative to the WiTS Pro
Phone: 250-752-4845
Email: beron@shaw.ca
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