Guiding Principles

Every action and project undertaken by SF is governed by a set of principles that ensure us that we are following our high-level overarching goal.  This goal is to create and implement high level management plans that will return and maintain wildlife populations at the carrying capacities of their habitats while balancing social, environmental and economic values.  The following are our guiding principles:

1. No personal opinions or judgements shall direct our actions
2. All management directions constructed in the Evergreen Stewardship Plans are made based on legitimate data from one or more of the following sources:
   1. Published policies from government, industry and other groups
   2. Scientific research
   3. Traditional Knowledge from wildlife practitioners
   4. Direction from past LRMPs
3. We hold groups accountable to their own published policies that have been incorporated into the Evergreen Stewardship Plans
4. All decisions promote a balance between social, economic and environmental values
5. All on-the-ground, implementation work is directed and reinforced by the Evergreen Stewardship Plans

Chilcotin Ark area as a working conservation land base.

Mission Statement

The Stewardship Foundation operates on three levels:

1. High level  – Collection, coordination and assembling of all relevant data/research/knowledge, such as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, in one place and then dissemination of it out for ‘on the ground’ action
2. Mid level – Stewardship plans for regions and sub-regions
   1. These are evolving plans that are updated as our understanding and knowledge improves, new issues arise, and advances are made
   2. The direction within each plan reflects the balance joint ecological, economic and social values
   3. All those involved in resource use/management have the opportunity to contribute invaluable information regarding their tenures or areas of use
3. Low level on the ground – Implementing research projects and using the results of the research to determine and implement action required to achieve our goal

We are taking a leadership role to tie together all 3 levels of stewardship to benefit wildlife and their habitat. Our efforts are organized in a way that connects research to high level planning to engage ‘on the ground’ activity.

Part 1

The Stewardship Foundation believes that wilderness and wildlife conservation is both our responsibility and our privilege. The stewardship efforts are based on the North American wildlife model and guided by the following principles and beliefs :

• That scientific findings should inform laws and policies in order to promote the long-term viability and optimal health of wildlife populations.
• That society has the shared responsibility of purposefully and proactively managing wildlife populations in a way that recognizes the interdependence of humans, wildlife, and the habitats we live in.
• That the weight of this responsibility reaches beyond national borders and supersedes the interests of commercial marketplaces and privileged groups.

Part 2

Rural British Columbia is a unique wilderness unlike any other. It’s a place where wildlife thrives and hearts awaken. The raw power of these treasured landscapes brings us closer to our own true nature. Each snow-capped mountain and ancient forest has forged our identity as conservationists and citizens of the global community.

The rich wilderness that we enjoy today was not an inevitable outcome. Instead, rural British Columbia is a vision that has been realized through committed action on a broad scale. The dedication of people who live on the land and depend on it for their livelihood has secured a balanced, thriving wilderness that continues to captivate and inspire.  Destination BC promotes this number one asset to the world and summarise it through its video The “Wild within”.

Part 3

Many times, it’s the quiet heroes who make the biggest impact. Without asking and often without thanks, unknown heroes of conservation have cultivated and safeguarded British Columbia’s wild places and natural resources. Through their daily decisions and interaction with the environment, local citizens and businesses have become the caretakers of nature. From wilderness tourism and forestry companies to guide outfitters and fishing lodges, day in and day out these companies are doing the work that conservation requires. They maintain habitats and monitor the impact of land management decisions. They advocate for thoughtful, balanced stewardship of the land because they see the real-life impact of policies that many only experience as words on a page. The Stewardship Foundation recognizes the invaluable service these grassroots conservationists provide and strives to support their ongoing efforts.

Vision Statement

Our goal is to promote natural resource use today in a way that maintains and improves the health of the fish and wildlife habitat for future generations. We do this through advocating for natural resource use that increases wildlife populations to the carrying capacities of their fully developed habitats in a way that keeps the balance between ecological, economical and social values.