The Parks Bank of British Columbia

Expanding and enhancing park lands and infrastructure 

BC’s parks are more than just beautiful places that we enjoy, that drive our economy, and that are at the core of who we are as British Columbians. They also provide essential life support functions for us and other species.

Because of increasing pressures like climate change and park visitation, it is more important than ever to add new parkland, fund restoration, and create corridors between parks so animals can survive in case of things like fire, disease, or habitat loss. 

The Parks Bank of British Columbia serves as a way to fund the enhancement of BC’s parks, beyond government responsibilities. The fund will support organizations building and maintaining facilities like huts, trails, bridges, docks, and toilets. It will also support the Foundation in facilitating the purchase or receipt of lands that we can transfer into a protected status with the support of land trusts and other organizations.

 

Results so far

  • 800 hectares of land was protected in Princess Louisa Inlet in 2019.  It is one of the first crowdfunded parks in the world. 
  • A new park was created on Cowichan Lake in 2019.
  • New facilities were created in Gwillim, Drumbeg and Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Parks.
  • In 2020, we protected another 260 hectares of land in Princess Louisa Inlet, including the iconic One Eye Mountain.
  • We successfully helped raise funds for the  Mt. Erskine Trail connector in 2020.
  • We also protected West Ballenas Island in 2020. It is one of the most biodiverse spots in the Salish Sea with rare and endangered species.
  • A new 3,500-hectare conservancy was created in 2021 to protect the environment and wildlife within Tahltan territory, in an area of northwestern B.C. historically known as the Ice Mountain Lands, adjacent to Mount Edziza Provincial Park.

 

American Donor?

See below for more information on current projects.