Ecologically sensitive lands on Denman Island are being further protected with the establishment of a new park and two new protected areas, said Environment Minister Terry Lake.

At 552 hectares, Denman Island Park is slightly larger than Stanley Park and is being established as the result of a private land acquisition and Crown land transfers. The park, found within the relatively rare Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone, is home to a number of species at risk, including the Taylor's Checkerspot butterfly.

Denman Island Protected Area ensures 92 hectares of land will be maintained and preserved for natural, cultural and recreational values. The establishment of Boyle Point Protected Area ensures the appropriate use of 9.3 hectares of land adjacent to Boyle Point Park.

Fifty-two hectares of land has been added to Boyle Point Park, increasing the overall size of the park to 188 hectares. The park now includes forests that contain some of Denman Island's oldest and largest Douglas-fir, hemlock and western redcedar trees.

Lands for the new park and protected areas were acquired by the Ministry of Environment in 2010 through a public-private partnership involving land donations, Crown land transfers, the transfer of local development rights and carbon sequestration.

Quotes:

Terry Lake, Minister of Environment -

"Denman Island is home to one of Canada's most unique ecosystems, with its warm, sunny, dry summers and mild, wet winters. When combined with the two other land-based provincial parks and other local conservation lands, 25 per cent of Denman Island is now protected."

Don McRae, Comox Valley MLA -

"I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in protecting these ecologically sensitive properties. The Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone is one of the rarest zones in British Columbia and has a high conservation value. Families will be able to experience this unique ecosystem for years to come."

Quick Facts:

• British Columbia has one of the largest parks and protected areas systems in North America.

• There are 1,028 provincial parks, recreation areas, conservancies, ecological reserves and protected areas covering more than 13.7 million hectares or approximately 14 per cent of the provincial land base.

• British Columbia has the highest percentage of its land base dedicated to protected areas of all provincial Canadian jurisdictions and the third largest protected areas system in North America.

Learn More:

For more information about B.C.'s provincial parks, please visit: www.bcparks.ca

Media Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834