10/30/2026
Two local powerhouses, protecting our watersheds for us and future generations!
Protecting our forests and watersheds is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of Vancouver Island.
I appreciated re-connecting with my friend, Meaghan Cursons, Executive Director of the Cumberland Forest Society, to catch up on the remarkable progress they've made protecting more than 1,000 acres of land on eastern Vancouver Island and their plans for the future.
The Society is now moving beyond land acquisition to focus on long-term stewardship, including exploring collaboration with K'ómoks First Nation and local government to develop shared approaches to managing and protecting these lands.
Meaghan talked about the need for reliable, long-term funding to protect community watersheds, restore forests damaged by decades of industrial logging and ensure these ecosystems can recover for future generations. Needless to say, I couldn’t agree more.
The previous BC NDP government committed $30 million annually to its Watershed Security Fund. I hope the new BC Conservative government will honour and build on that commitment. It’s also past time for the federal government to step up with matching investments. Healthy watersheds are essential to our drinking water, salmon populations, biodiversity and resilience to climate change.
The Society is also working to acquire another 100 hectares of land, building on its impressive conservation achievements. Previous federal support, including $455,000 through Environment and Climate Change Canada, has helped advance regional conservation efforts, but much more needs to be done.
Thanks to Meaghan and everyone involved with the Cumberland Forest Society for their dedication to protecting these irreplaceable lands. I'll continue pushing for the federal investments and partnerships that are needed to protect our forests and watersheds for generations to come.
