HAT’s Land Protection Program
HAT strives to work with a variety of partners in the community, including Indigenous Nations, Municipal and Regional Governments, and other NGOs to protect and conserve land with high ecological value and that is in alignment with HAT's organizational mission and strategic plan. HAT protects natural landscapes through the acquisition of covenants and fee-simple land title. Both of these approaches result in natural areas that are legally and permanently protected. HAT can also help individuals take steps to protect the plants and animals on their property.
Ways to Protect Land With HAT
The quick expansion of city spaces and the expensive cost of property has led to an increase in development on the West Coast. If you tend to the habitat on your property with care and the idea of it being destroyed can be upsetting — we are here to help you protect your property.
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Conservation Covenants
Conservation covenants are permanent agreements that get registered against a land title. The agreement is between the landowner and a conservation agency (like HAT).
This option might be right for you if you are looking to protect all or a portion of your property that will stay regardless of sale or other transfer of land.
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Land Acquisitions
HAT sometimes purchases land, helps partners purchase land, or receives donations of land for permanent conservation purposes. This is a means of acquiring the title to a property in order to manage and steward it as a natural space, in perpetuity.
You can donate land to HAT ( or another partner) under the federal Ecological Gifts Program which offers increased tax benefits to the donor.
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Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are an emerging form of land protection that honours and prioritizes Indigenous sovereignty and stewardship within these protected landscapes. They take many different forms and are led and governed by Indigenous nations and communities.
This form of land protection is one of the ways in which land conservation and reconciliation can be pursued hand in hand.
Not sure what option is right for you? Want to learn more about what it means to protect land in our region? Please contact us and we will be more than happy to help answer all of your questions
HAT’s Featured Success Stories
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Oak Haven Park
Created in 1997, Oak Haven Park protects a forested hilltop area of 10.2 ha (25.2 acres) with high conservation values. This area encompasses Garry Oak meadows and mossy rock outcrops, which are part of a larger natural ecosystem associated with SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet/Creek and the Gowlland Range).
Home to over 90 native plant species including blacktail deer, black bear, cougar, raccoons and other small mammals as well as a diversity of birds, bats and rodents, this park is an important habitat corridor for wildlife in the region.
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Havenwood Park
Havenwood Park is a 16.5-hectare (40 acre) parcel of land located amid an established single family residential area in the south of Colwood. The property was acquired by the province in the 1970’s for a housing land bank.
Home to three creeks and a mosaic of wetlands spaces and rocky outcrop meadows it is an incredible source of natural beauty at any time of the year.
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Matson Conservation Area
Protected in 2004 through an innovative partnership of land developers, dedicated local residents and grass-roots conservation organizations, Matson Conservation Area constitutes an exemplary model of successful community-based conservation in an urban setting.
A hidden gem on Victori’s inner harbour, in spring the meadows and rocky outcrops of the Matson Conservation Area are a blaze of colour as camas, seablush, and other native wildflowers bloom.
Mary Hill Indigenous Protected Area
A website dedicated to information about the proposed Mary Hill IPA in Sc’ianew traditional territory in the region of Metchosin, British Columbia.