Nature Trust of British Columbia is a 3-star charity. It has an above-average results reporting grade of B+ and it is not financially transparent. The charity has 4 years and 10 months of program costs covered by its current reserves. The charity's overhead costs are within Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending. 

Established in 1971, Nature Trust of British Columbia (Nature Trust) is the oldest and largest provincial land conservation charity in BC. It acquires ecologically significant land through purchases, donations, covenants, and leases. The charity then maintains or restores the acquired land to protect the natural diversity of wildlife and plants and their critical habitats. Nature Trust is a non-advocacy group that seeks a balance between sustaining the environment and sustaining the economy. Since 1971, Nature Trust has acquired more than 500 properties composing over 180,000 acres of vulnerable habitats. 

Nature Trust reports that British Columbia is the most biologically diverse province in Canada. It estimates there are more than 50,000 species in the province and some of the world’s largest populations of species are found in BC. Yet, 43% of BC species are on watch lists because of low or dwindling populations. Although only 6% of BC land is privately owned, there is a higher concentration of at-risk species in low elevation areas where most private land is located. Of the 3,808 native species in BC for which conservation status has been assessed, 233 species (6%) are of global conservation concern and 1,640 species (43%) are of provincial conservation concern. The charity recognizes biodiversity is not only important for a functional environment, but the economy relies on biodiversity as well since it provides renewable economic resources and ecosystem services. 

Nature Trust of British Columbia’s 2023 annual report was not available at the time of this update. Ci used the charity’s most recent 2022 annual report.  

According to its F2022 annual report, Nature Trust secured $18.6m on acquiring new conservation lands in BC. This includes donated land and $5.2m that Nature Trust purchased. In F2022, the charity acquired ten new properties which all provide a habitat for species at risk. The charity purchased 479 acres in MapleCross Grassland and 162 acres in Columbia Lake North Wetlands. It also received a donated property: 29 hectares of riparian forest to be added to its Englishman River – Kw’a’luxw conservation complex.

In F2022, Nature Trust spent $3.4m on land management. Nature Trust works in partnership with other conservation organizations and various levels of government to conserve functioning ecosystems and ecological processes. In F2022, Nature Trust partnered with the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC (BOCS) to release four young owls on Nature Trust Conservation Areas. Each summer, Nature Trust hires students and youths to join its Conservation Youth Crews. The crews are based on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan, and the Kootenays, and are supervised by regional Conservation Land Managers. In F2022, the Okanagan Conservation Field Crew maintained five owl burrows within the Nature Trust White Lake Basin Biodiversity Ranch.

Ci used Nature Trust of British Columbia's F2023 audited financial statements.

Nature Trust of British Columbia had donations of $9.2m in F2023. It also received net $1.7m from business activities. 

The charity received $5.5m in government funding representing 36% of total revenues.

Nature Trust of British Columbia does not separate administrative costs and fundraising costs. In F2023 total overhead spending was 15%, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Nature Trust of British Columbia has $58.4m in reserve funds. These reserve funds are the charity’s cash and investments. In these reserve funds, $22.1m are endowed by donors. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity has four years and ten months of annual program costs covered by its current reserves.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Nature Trust of British Columbia for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on August 9, 2024, by Lily Ferguson.