The Nexwlélex̱wm / Bowen Island
Biodiversity Plan
Where life is thriving,
what matters most
The Nexwlélex̱wm / Bowen Island Biodiversity Plan looks across Bowen’s full 6,350 hectares. It describes biodiversity and shows where native species of plants, animals and fungi are concentrated. It identifies the ecological pressures they face and where protection and informed planning can make a meaningful difference.
The plan was developed over eighteen months by Simon Fraser University researchers Dr. Wendy Palen, Dr. Tom Sisk and Jay Matsushiba, as part of the Caring for Nature initiative with the Bowen Island Conservancy. It brings together scientific analysis and community knowledge. It is intended for practical use by residents, landholders, the Conservancy, Bowen Island Municipality and others whose choices affect the land and waters of Bowen Island.
What the plan reveals
Biodiversity hotspots are not always protected
Many of the island’s habitats with the highest biodiversity are on private land. The maps help identify places where landholder stewardship, conservation partnerships and thoughtful public decisions may be especially important.
Freshwater is the backbone of biodiversity
The interconnected system of groundwater, streams, wetlands, lakes, ponds and the forests around them supports all island life. These systems are sensitive to changes in drainage, drought, land clearing and development throughout island watersheds.
Intact does not mean untouched
A landscape can look green and continuous while still carrying the effects of past logging, roads, invasive species or altered water movement. The Plan focuses on ecological condition and function.
Parks alone can’t carry the whole task
Protected places are essential, but much of Bowen’s valuable ecological features lie between them on private land. What happens on private land, along roads and waterways, and within settled areas affects ecological corridors where animals, seeds and spores move, strengthening resilience across the island.
Earlier planning leaves more choices open
When ecological information is incorporated into planning before a project or public decision is made, it is easier to avoid sensitive areas, protect natural water infrastructure and keep important ecological systems functioning.
What the plan is and what it isn't
The Plan is an evidence-based guide to identifying ecological values, pressures and possible solutions, offering a shared base of information for making informed choices. It does not create new regulations, replace site-specific study or ask people to choose between the needs of nature and the Bowen Island community.
Ways to Use the Plan
• Residents can learn what important natural features are near where they live and follow practical stewardship ideas in the Care section.
• Landholders can understand and accommodate the larger ecological patterns around them as they plan changes to the land where they live.
• The Conservancy can use the findings to guide protection, stewardship and further study on the lands it protects.
• Municipal and Islands Trust planners can incorporate relevant ecological information into planning and decision-making while options are still open.
How the plan was developed
The Nex̱wlélex̱wm/Bowen Island Biodiversity Plan grew out of a multi-year collaboration between Simon Fraser University researchers Dr. Wendy Palen, Dr. Tom Sisk, Jay Matsushiba and the Bowen Island Conservancy through the Caring for Nature initiative.
Over 18 months, the work combined detailed scientific analysis with meaningful community input. From the start, our goal was to create something useful and trustworthy: a plan grounded in evidence, informed by local knowledge, and able to grow as new information emerges.
Read & explore
Acknowledgements
We gratefully received financial support from the Sitka Foundation and the National Science and Engineering Research Council. We are thankful for the substantial contributions made by the Bowen Island Conservancy’s Caring For Nature team, including B. Turner, J. Matheson, W. Husby, J. Dowler, S.E. Fast, A. Whitehead, J. Gedye, S. Johnson, E. Wachtman, P. Hay, E. Olsen, B. Brokenshire, P. Matthews, L. Gilday, and M. Toom, as well as by the photographers, public participants in our technical workshop and community meetings. We acknowledge the valuable technical and scientific support provided by V. Kwok, K. Rolfe, M. Persram, M. Tylo (SFU Research Team), D. Martin, C. Skuce (Bowen Island Municipality), and W. Shulba (Islands Trust).