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Preserving the Natural Beauty of
Mayne Island

Formation

Purposes

Join

Stewardship Agreement

Events of Interest

Mayne Island Plants - Good and Bad

Formation: Mayne Island Conservancy Society (MICS) was founded as the Friends of Mt. Parke (FOMP) in August of 2003. The catalyst for this new conservancy organization was the threat of large-scale commercial logging taking place on the sensitive 52-acre summit ridge of Mount Parke, the highest point on Mayne Island.

Mount Parke's ridge-top - a showpiece of Gulf Island bio-diversity - is partially protected by the Mount Parke Regional Park, a 40-hectare parcel of land that was established in 1994 by Capital Regional District (CRD) Parks.

Mount Parke Regional Park is dominated by mature Arbutus and second-growth Douglas fir and is home to a complex eco-system of flora and fauna. This special place is a favorite destination for island residents and visitors who seek to connect with nature.

F.O.M.P.'s initial goal was to ensure that the summit ridge, encompassing both the regional park and the upland portion of Glen Echo, would remain part of one intact and contiguous eco-system.

Purposes: MICS is more than a one-issue organization. MICS exists to:

  • Facilitate, in perpetuity, the preservation of Mount Parke eco-systems;
  • Facilitate, in perpetuity, the preservation of other Mayne Island eco-systems;
  • Promote awareness and understanding of natural and cultural values of environmentally sensitive areas of Mayne Island;
  • Support and assist community efforts and form partnerships with other agencies and individuals for the purposes of negotiating covenants, fundraising, and land acquisition; and
  • Do everything incidental and necessary to promote and attain the foregoing purposes.

Ongoing Concerns: MICS is concerned about current and future development that is inconsistent with preserving the natural and cultural values and environmentally sensitive areas of Mayne Island. Specific areas of concern include:

  • Commercial and recreational development in eco-sensitive areas;
  • High-density residential development;
  • Overuse of the island's finite supply of fresh water; and
  • Unregulated, environmentally destructive logging.

People who visit and live on Mayne Island know that it is a very special place. MICS will continue to develop best stewardship practices in collaboration with private landowners and other conservation groups associated with Mayne Island. The Society's vision is to ensure that the island's fragile eco-systems will be enhanced and its natural beauty will be protected for future generations.

Opportunities to Get Involved: MICS is seeking interested parties to support the society's purposes by:

  • Becoming a member of MICS ($5 annual fee).
  • Offering expertise to MICS in the areas of: land conservancy, eco-friendly commercial and residential development, water stewardship education, land acquisition, and fundraising.
  • Bringing environmentally sensitive issues on the island to the organization's attention.
  • Making contributions of resources such as money and time to MICS

Want to Join MICS

You can mail it to:
Mayne Island Conservancy Society,
Box 31, Mayne Island, B.C.
V0N2J0

You can drop it off at Sussex Realty, Mayne Mall during opening hours.
Address your envelope to: Mayne Island Conservancy Society.

Download Form in word format

Download Form in pdf format

 

Toast to the first Stewardship Agreement

Stewardship agreements indicate that the landowners are honouring conservancy guidelines concerning living "green". Anyone with any property can sign this voluntary form, have a conservancy member walk through and help sort out what is on their land, and whether there is historic or ecological value that hasn't been charted, and generally help share in maintaining the Mayne Island Conservancy Society values as stated in the constitution.

Download the Mayne Island Conservancy Stewardship Pledge.

Tina and Malcolm toasting the first Stewardship Pledge

 


Events of interest

Sunday, April 13, 2008, 7:30 pm, Ag Hall

Wings of Change: charting coastal bird trends.

Pete Davidson of Bird Studies Canada will talk about the important role citizen science plays in our understanding of bird population trends and related conservation issues with specific reference to the Coastal Waterbird Survey and Beached Bird Survey. You can join Pete in the field on Sunday or Monday. Call 539-5619 for details.

Saturday, April 19, 2008, 9 am, Fire Hall

Earth Day.

Community broom bash beginning with the burning of the ‘Broom Man’ and ending with refreshments with a lot of broom cutting in between.

Saturday May 10, 2008

Birdathon.

Support Michael Dunn and the Mayne Island Conservancy by sponsoring Michael in the annual Bird Studies Canada Birdathon. Sign up with Michael at the Mall or call him at 539-5745.

Saturday, May 17, 1 pm, Ag Hall grounds

3rd Annual May Day Celebration.

The festivities will begin with Morris Dancing and singing, followed by the May Pole procession to Miners Bay Park, the crowning of the May Queen, the erection of the May Pole, dancing, games and refreshments. Walk the labyrinth, enjoy the sun (we hope), buy raffle tickets and win a prize for the best May Day costume.

Saturday May 24, 12:30 pm, Ag Hall

Eel Grass Mapping Workshop.

Get involved with this project. Leanna Boyer of SeaChange Society will give an introductory talk followed by hands-on experience at Miners Bay during low tide. More mapping will take place on future dates. To learn more watch for Leanna’s article in the May MayneLiner.

Sunday June 8, 2008

Oceans Day.

Watch for details in the May MayneLiner and on this website’s Events Page.

 

For more information about the Mayne Island Conservancy or to obtain an informational brochure, contact:

Helen O'Brian, Board President

Phone:  (250) 539-5619

Download Mt. Parke Regional Park brochure

Photos courtesy of Brian Haller and Byron Dyck

 
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