We’ve all chosen to call Bowen Island home. For many, a key reason is the rich natural world that surrounds us, with all the gifts that offers. But the island’s Nature faces challenges: climate change, invasive species, habitat loss through development. As a community, how do we address these issues? Will we be bystanders to the unfolding story? Or Nature’s guardians and voice?

This is where the Caring for Nature: The Nex̱wlélex̱wm/Bowen Biodiversity Conservation Initiative sees opportunity. Spearheaded by the Bowen Island Conservancy, this initiative is a long-term commitment to biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is a measure of Nature’s health and resilience.

Our initiative is unique - it intends to combine the local knowledge and passion of Bowen Islanders with scientific assessment to identify key conservation risks, opportunities and solutions that can enable residents, community organizations, businesses, developers, and the municipality to make better decisions that prioritize our natural heritage.

This fall and winter, the initiative will host an open house and workshops where you can share your insights, learn about our scientific findings, and impact conservation ideas that can shape the future of Bowen Island. Hope to see you there!

Will Husby’s Bio

Will Husby likes to describe himself as a “recovering entomologist” (insect scientist).

After a brief ten-year career as a research biologist, he moved on to a career as a science educator with Alberta Parks and Edmonton’s John Jansen Nature Centre. This work evolved into his starting a science communication consulting company working on education projects and exhibits for national and provincial parks, museums, and nature centres across Canada.

Will uses his nature photography in many of his projects.

He has lived on Bowen Island for over 30 years. Most of the photos you will see in his presentation were taken on Bowen Island.