What do we know about the state of Coastal Western Painted Turtle populations in our region? How can we fill any data gaps that exist? This presentation will discuss NALT’s WPT conservation project, which includes the WPT Ambassador program, in the context of past conservation work. This project emphasizes the role of community members in stewardship actions, and the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships with our partners the BC Ministry of Water Land Resource Stewardship (WaLRS), the City of Nanaimo and Nature Trust.
Linda Brooymans is the Stewardship Manager for Nanaimo & Area Land Trust. Her role in the organization centers around locally-based stewardship projects and outreach. Linda strives to engage the community in projects as much as possible, as part of the broader goal of building a culture of stewardship. Besides the WPT project, NALT also runs a Pollinator Paradise Project, a Bat Conservation Project, Stream stewardship on Walley Creek and the Cat Stream, Lake monitoring on Diver and Long Lakes, an upcoming Vernal Pool mapping project, and a school-based water stewardship program in school districts 68 & 69.