The Sooke Wildlands are a collection of 27.05 hectares of privately owned restoration sites located throughout the mountainous forests of Sooke. Bridging the gap between the Coastal Douglas-fir and Coastal Mountain Hemlock biogeoclimatic zones, these sites are ecologically unique and support an array of diverse habitats. Older second-growth forests dominate the steep slopes of these mountains, containing an abundance of downed logs and wildlife trees that provide critical habitat for countless birds, mammals, plants, and insects. As these forests age, their biodiversity will continue to increase as more trees decompose and provide critical wildlife resources.  

Breaks in the forested canopy give way to rocky outcrops, shallow soils, and wildflower meadows. This unique terrain creates pockets of highly sensitive micro-habitats including hummocks, hollows, and vernal pools. Some stable aquatic habitat exists on these sites as well, providing critical resources for breeding insects and amphibians.  

Within the broader Sooke District, these sites are key to habitat connectivity with surrounding parks and protected areas within the Sea-to-Sea Green Belt. Many large mammals, including bears and cougars, are reliant on this habitat connectivity for migration, breeding, and feeding. 

These selected sites are Section 219 conservation covenants held by Habitat Acquisition Trust and co-held by The Land Conservancy of BC and the Capital Regional District. This classification ensures that the land will be protected and stewarded in perpetuity, ensuring restoration benefits will be retained.