BC Marine Trails has two guiding principles to lead the Caring for our Trails program:
The environment: "We value the ecologically diverse environment of coastal British Columbia and efforts to protect it."
And stewardship: "We value responsible stewardship practices that benefit the ecologically diverse environment of the British Columbia coast."
Together those are reflected in the stewardship programs BCMT is creating to care for our coast and our marine trail sites. Key programs are outlined in the tabs above, and include:
Site Maintenance: Site Condition Reporting is one way you can help keep BCMT aware of issues that require addressing on the sites we look after and maintain. You can find the Site Condition Reporting link on our Reporting page.
Major cleanups: Invasive species clearing and West Coast debris removal are annual projects we host or collaborate on. We are clearing Gerald Island of invasive ivy to protect the natural ecology. We work with other organizations like Rugged Coast to remove debris from the wildest and most remote areas of our BC coast.
Our Environmental Care Program - We are setting a new standard for environmental care through our Marine Code of Conduct to guide users with sustainable recreation behaviours.
Lead by example (GCSC-How to register a cleanup). Pack a bag and a pair of gloves for collecting debris each time you paddle.
You can also participate in our 50 50 Draw, Speaker Series (May 22 Coast Salish cooking - see events), and Trailblazer program (for BCMT leaders; coming May 1).
Click a tab above to read more.
World Oceans Week
WOW! From June 1 to June 8 we are encouraging people to participate in World Oceans Week. Essentially, you log into the Great Shoreline Shoreline Cleanup website and either join or lead a cleanup. We have been populating their shoreline with some launch sites on the east coast of Vancouver Island which you can easily select to lead or possibly join.
Lead by example (GCSC-How to register a cleanup). Pack a bag and a pair of gloves for collecting debris each time you paddle.
Site Maintenance
BC Marine Trails is working in colloration with paddling clubs to keep our sites clean and safe.
Shown here is the BC Marine Trails working with the Comox Valley Paddlers at one of the five recreation sites in the Discovery Islands. The first trip involved both Styrofoam/debris removal and assessment of danger trees. This assessment also included examining the trees for important wildlife.
BCMT is increasingly engaging with clubs to help with the work requirements involved in maintaining the array of marine trail sites. Other partnerships include Sea Kayak Alliance of BC for sites in Howe Sound and the Cowichan paddling club for Musgrave Point on Salt Spring Island.
Also, every year BCMT arranges volunteer work parties to tackle a section of coastline for plastics cleanups. This has included work in partnership with other groups such as Rugged Coast Research Group at the Yellow Bluff Bay area of Nootka Sound. Volunteers are always welcome to assist us with these cleanups, invasive species removal and some maintenance trips. Check out our volunteer opportunities.
Major Cleanups
The BCMT has made a cause of removing invasive species on one provincial park, Gerald Island, to remove English Ivy. This will help protect the Coastal Wood Fern, a blue-listed species, and other plant species. The English Ivy introduced by a pioneer family occupies the southwest end of Gerald Island. We have conducted removal of the ivy for three years.
We are slowly building up partnerships with this particular effort and hope through discussions and engagement with First Nations, as well as with a biologist to establish best practices.
Environmental Program
The BCMT developed a comprehensive Environmental Care Program in early 2020 and will be implementing it in the coming years. It contains various facets, including:
The Marine Code of Conduct: In 2019 and 2020 a marine Code of Conduct was developed by John Kimantas and a team of BC Marine Trails volunteers. Hundreds of hours of staff and volunteer hours helped bring this important piece of work forward. The Code is being peer reviewed and will undergo a further revision before its final release.
Public Education: BC Marine Trails will be developing a comprehensive public outreach strategy to educate on the Marine Code of Conduct, species of concern to BCMT (those impacted by paddling and recreational use) and other aspects of the overall Environmental Care Program.
The overall goal is sustainable recreation practices, so if you follow the Code of Conduct and pay attention to the species of concern, your impact will be minimal and ensure the locations you visit becasue they are beautiful stay that way.
Help us!
How can you help? There are many ways you can support BCMT's vision. Here are just a few:
Lead by example (GCSC-How to register a cleanup). Pack a bag and a pair of gloves for collecting debris each time you paddle.
Your efforts to show how you are caring for our coasts make it possible for us to continue adding public-accessible camping, picnic, and launch sites to our BCMT map.
BCMT-WOW (World Oceans Week) Challenge 
BC Marine Trails is working in colloration with paddling clubs to keep our sites clean and safe.
The BCMT has made a cause of removing invasive species on one provincial park, 
The BCMT developed a comprehensive Environmental Care Program in early 2020 and will be implementing it in the coming years. It contains various facets, including:
