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360 Hectares Protected: A Win for Nature
28 Feb
Summary
- A 360-hectare parcel of wetlands known as Hamilton Marsh will become a park.
- The acquisition was finalized with a total cost of $28 million.
- This marks the third attempt in two decades to secure the protected lands.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has successfully secured the necessary funding to acquire the Hamilton Marsh, a 360-hectare ecological treasure. This significant conservation milestone, achieved through a conditional agreement struck in September 2025, will see the marsh become the RDN's 13th public park. The final purchase price for the land, located north of Nanaimo, B.C., was $28 million after a recent price reduction. This successful acquisition marks the third attempt in two decades to preserve these vital wetlands.
Securing the marsh required substantial political will and a collaborative funding effort. The RDN Board approved borrowing $21.2 million, bolstered by $1.25 million in external funding from the Province of B.C., the Government of Canada, The Nature Trust of B.C., and The Sitka Foundation. The Nanaimo and Area Land Trust also played a crucial role, contributing $550,000. The deal is set to close on March 31, 2026, fulfilling a long-standing priority for the region.
The Hamilton Marsh is a critical component of the French Creek watershed and boasts a rich biodiversity, including over 120 bird species. It features mature forests within B.C.'s rare Coastal Douglas-fir moist maritime subzone. This rare ecosystem offers a unique opportunity to foster old-growth forests, as the area is projected to be reclassified as such within 150 years. Preservation advocates, who have championed this cause for over 20 years, view this as an emotional and significant victory for conservation.
