Incomappleux Conservancy
Incomappleux (Photo Paul Zizka)
The Incomappleux Conservancy spans more than 58,000 hectares of BC’s rare inland temperate rainforest southeast of Revelstoke. This conservancy is part of BC’s provincial parks and protected areas, and is managed by BC Parks in collaboration with First Nations whose territory includes the Incomappleux Valley. The establishment of the conservancy required the removal of forestry tenures throughout the area. In 2022, NCC worked with the BC government, industry and First Nations to facilitate and fundraise for the conservation of the Incomappleux Valley.
Forêt pluviale tempérée ancienne, Vallée de la rivière Incomappleux, C.-B. (Photo Paul Zizka)
The Incomappleux Conservancy is home to an incredible diversity of animal and plant life, including thousand-year-old cedar and hemlock trees and more than 250 species of lichen, some of which are new to science. The region provides habitat for grizzly and black bears, as well as a variety of endangered fungal and plant species.
BC has two temperate rainforests – one on the West Coast and the other in the Interior. The inland temperate rainforest is one of the few non-coastal rainforests in the world and spans approximately 1.43 million hectares. It stretches roughly 550 kilometres along the western slopes of the Rocky and Columbia mountains.
Communities long called for the protection of the Incomappleux Valley. The establishment of the BC Parks conservancy represents the culmination of many years of collaboration by individuals and organizations across the province in championing a conservation future for the Incomappleux Valley.
In addition to the 58,654-hectare conservancy, which is approximately the size of 150 Stanley Parks, another 17,000 hectares in the southern part of the valley was protected from forestry activity through the agreement that NCC helped to facilitate.
Conservation funders
We are grateful for funding support from the Government of Canada through the Canada’s Nature Fund, the Rosenfeld Family Fund, Teck Resources, Wilburforce Foundation and Wyss Foundation, which enabled NCC to help deliver this significant conservation outcome.