Welcome to The Brown Property Preservation Society ...
The Brown Property comprises approximately 50
acres of Coastal Douglas Fir forest, including a significant
stand of over 300 year old trees. It has been assessed as being
of outstanding ecological significance because it is relatively
undisturbed by human activity and contains many species of endangered
and rare plants. The Society and Town successfully purchased
32 acres of the property in the Spring of 1999. At that time
an option on the property was negotiated and the society entered
its second phase of fund raising.
This property, by definition,
is not an old growth forest. It is an older forest with
some old growth Douglas Fir. The current executive relies
upon a joint sensitive-ecosystems study conducted by Environment
Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service), Habitat Conservation
Trust Fund and B.C. Environment, Land and Parks when it
describes this forest as an "older forest (older than 100
years)...rare in this region."
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The second phase concentrated on raising an additional $910,000
to purchase the remaining 15 acres. The Society and
Town of Qualicum Beach had an Option to Purchase the
remaining 15 acres for that price until July 31, 2002.
Through hard work and public support, the Society and
the Town succeeded in raising the funds.
The vision of the Society is to preserve
the Brown Property Forest, dedicated to the appreciation
of nature, accessible by boardwalk trails to minimize
disturbance of habitat, with signs to identify various
plants and their role in the ecosystem.
The Brown Property Preservation Society
was formed in May, 1996, when concerned residents of
the community of Qualicum Beach learned that a plan
was being set in motion to develop the forested (undeveloped)
area of the Brown property, privately owned. A campaign
was started to raise public awareness of the situation,
and by September, 1997, the Society had over 300 members.
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The Brown Property is of special ecological
significance because the 50 acres consist of forest that has
been relatively undisturbed by human activity. A conservation
evaluation of the property in October, 1996, by Andrew P.
Harcombe, R.P. Bio, P.Ag., B.C. Conservation Data Centre,
states that "the remaining natural part of the property
be protected for its conservation values. The two main plant
communities are ranked as red listed (endangered) and blue
listed (sensitive or vulnerable). The stream and flood plain
have high fisheries value. It is clear looking at an aerial
photo that the property will provide important green space
in an area entirely impacted by residential and golf development.
The size of the property and its having 300+ year forests
intact both contribute to its high conservation value.
The old growth forest was once common only to
the narrow strip of lowland of the east coast of Vancouver
Island between Bowser and Victoria and to the adjacent Gulf
Islands. It is now one of the most endangered ecosystems in
North America, with less than two percent remaining. The Brown
Property is an outstanding remaining example of a type of
landscape once common on the coastal plain but now severely
altered on the east coast of Vancouver Island. The property's
ecological value is enhanced because of its size. It is large
enough that much of the interior quality of the plant communities
have not been compromised by excessive light penetration or
exotic species invasion. Acquisition of the Brown Property
will provide the public with a unique opportunity to appreciate
an endangered ecosystem in an urban setting.”
Click the above image to download a pdf version of Commemorative Donor Plaque
Numerous local volunteers and businesses have
been invaluable in increasing public awareness of the Brown
Property
itself and the need to save it, and in organizing, various
fund raising activities ranging from door-to-door canvassing,
concerts, house and garden tours, jazz festival, craft fair,
construction sale and even an "Antique Roadshow"
and auctions. The project became a community issue and has
received significant positive attention in the local media
in editorials, articles and letters to the editor, as well
as exposure on provincial radio and television.
