Kootenay Forest Lands
The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Kootenay Forest Lands project permanently protects 112,591-acres
Over 112,000 acres outside of Fernie, British Columbia, totalling around 32% of the valley’s private land, is now protected in perpetuity. This large-scale fee acquisition project completed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada British Columbia contains nearly 37,066 acres of core habitat and over 16,308 acres of high-value linkage habitat for grizzly bears, elk, and mule deer.
This acquisition transforms decades of piecemeal conservation into a cohesive system, connecting directly to existing stewardship areas such as the Elk Valley Heritage Conservation Area and Alberta’s 196,889-acre Castle Wildland Provincial Park. Together, these lands form a transboundary block capable of sustaining wide-ranging wildlife and ecological processes and maintaining connectivity in a landscape otherwise pressured by development, forestry, and industrial activity.
Beyond grizzly bears, the diverse habitats of the Kootenay Forest Lands—from forests and wetlands to rare high-elevation grasslands—support key elk and mule deer migrations and a broad range of other species, including bighorn sheep, bull trout, American badger, and whitebark pine. These ecosystems also hold significant climate resilience value.
Importantly, the project is advancing in collaboration with the Ktunaxa Nation. Engagement is in its early stages but actively progressing with the leadership of all Ktunaxa Nations and the Ktunaxa Nation Council providing a signed letter of intent to engage with NCC BC on identifying each Nation’s respective interests, goals and outcomes for these lands.
Keep It Connected was able to contribute to the Kootenay Forest Lands project, which closed in December 2025. The project demonstrated extraordinary partnership between the land trust, the Ktunaxa First Nations, the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, Elk Valley Resources, and other public and private partners.
Under NCC’s care, the Kootenay Forest Lands will transition from industrial-scale forestry to conservation-focused management. Thoughtful, collaborative stewardship of the Kootenay Forest Lands is essential for habitat restoration, climate mitigation, and safe access. NCC continues to raise funds for both short- and long-term stewardship of the project’s 112,591 acres, with a goal of $12 million CAD. You can learn more about how to support these efforts here.
“The success of the Kootenay Forest Lands project is the result of vision and collaboration among government, First Nations, industry and community partners. NCC is grateful for the financial support of the Heart of the Rockies Initiatives in conserving this rich and connected landscape.” – Richard Klafki, Director, Canadian Rockies Program