The clock is ticking on this old coastal forest—a “biodiversity powerhouse“—on the shores of Lake Errock.
Luckily, The Nature Trust of British Columbia is taking action. With the public’s help, the land conservation charity hopes to raise $515,900 by March 31 to protect over 36 acres (almost 15 hectares) of Lake Errock’s ecologically significant land (near Harrison Mills) before it is sold or developed.
“Lake Errock is a biodiversity powerhouse located in B.C.’s Lower Mainland,” says Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of the Nature Trust of BC. “Saving its forests and carbon-absorbing wetlands will build resiliency in the lower Fraser River watershed—less than an hour drive from Metro Vancouver and its population of more than three million. At-risk and endangered species like the great blue heron, the Western painted turtle and the barn swallow depend on this ecologically significant land for their survival but its timber values and proximity to Vancouver makes this critical habitat vulnerable to harvesting and development. We’re counting on support from across the Lower Mainland to help us buy and protect old coastal forest along Lake Errock, forever. We must take action now.”
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Lake Errock is located within the traditional territory of the Sq’éwlets First Nation. As with all old forests, the area has incalculable cultural significance.
The forest boasts centuries-old Douglas fir, western hemlock and western red cedar, among many other species. It is a place that tells stories in the rush of wind through the dense canopy—a place that has harbored life for millennia.
Temperate coastal forest ecosystems are vanishing in the Lower Mainland (and globally), making every acre saved a victory for nature. Here amid the tangled undergrowth and deep shade, endangered species can thrive. The critically endangered northern spotted owl depends on these ancient trees; the northern red-legged frog seeks refuge in hidden pools; and the Western painted turtle basks in rare pockets of intact wetland. Protecting this landscape means securing a future for everything that calls it home.
Left unguarded, this property could fall to logging or development, erasing habitat that can’t ever be replaced. But with protection, it will stand as a sanctuary where the rhythm of the wild continues and future generations can walk in awe, knowing that this gem of Canada’s natural heritage endures.
Donate here to help the Nature Trust of BC raise $515,900 to protect old coastal forest along Lake Errock now and for future generations. Find out more about the Nature Trust’s current conservation projects here.
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