Our Partners in Conservation

The Trust for Sustainable Forestry (TSF)
The Trust for Sustainable Forestry was founded by a group of individuals passionate about the forest and the values it bestows on us and the world in which we live. From modest beginnings on Cortes Island, British Columbia the Trust has grown from contributions and support from Universities, companies, NGOs and individuals who believe in its Vision. The Trust seeks to bring balance through the promotion of truly sustainable ecosystem based forestry in any way we can. Healthy forests do make for a healthy world.

Vision: A World in which we love the forest and act accordingly.

Mission:To inspire and enable the growth of ecosystem based forestry.

Activities:

1. To support the practice of sustainable ecosystem based forestry, on land which otherwise would be managed in a more industrial fashion, through:
   1. Supporting the acquisition of forested land suitable for ecosystem based forestry.
   2. Ownership of forestry rights on suitable forested land.
   3. The development and registration of suitable ecosystem based forestry covenants.
2. To support the education and training of persons in ecosystem based forestry practices.
3. To support research on the environmental, technical, and economic aspects of ecosystem based forestry practices.
4. To work collaboratively with covenant-holding conservation organizations to ensure that relevant eco-forestry covenants are being upheld.
5. To form partnerships and collaborate with individuals and organizations committed to ecosystem based forestry for mutual assistance, collective problem solving and dissemination of knowledge;

The Land Conservancy of BC
Commonly known as TLC, The Land Conservancy is a non-profit, charitable land trust working throughout British Columbia. TLC protects important habitat for plants, animals and natural communities as well as properties with historical, cultural, scientific, scenic or compatible recreational value. The Land Conservancy of BC (with the Cowichan Valley Regional District) is the authorized signatory to the conservation and eco-forestry covenants on the Elkington Forest lands. TLC undertakes an annual review of the activities on the land to ensure compliance with the terms and restrictions included in the covenants.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a private, non-profit organization working for the direct protection of Canada's biodiversity through the purchase, donation or placing of conservation easements on ecologically significant lands. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the owner of the largest intact, deep-soil Garry Oak meadow in Canada. Located 6km east of Duncan, the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve and the "Oak Park" home was the original homestead of the Elkington family, and the childhood home of Eric Elkington. Living Forest Communities will be assisting NCC in its Heritage Preservation program.

Ecotrust Canada
Ecotrust Canada is an enterprising nonprofit whose purpose is to build the conservation economy. Ecotrust Canada works at the intersection of conservation and community economic development promoting innovation and providing services for communities, First Nations and enterprises to green and grow their local economies. Ecotrust Canada is the organization that is authorized to provide annual confirmation of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for the eco-forestry operation at Elkington Forest. Annually, Living Forest Communities will be required to demonstrate that the forest management operations have been undertaken in compliance with the terms of the FSC certification.