Designating IBAs is only the first step in ensuring long term protection of these sites. The habitat of the site must also be protected and stewardship activities may be needed in order to maintain the habitat. A number of conservation plans and stewardship activities for BC IBAs have been completed. Conservation plans can be viewed online at www.ibacanada.ca and hard copy reports and brochures can be obtained from the BC Nature office.

The following conservation plans and stewardship activities have been completed to date:

Baynes Sound, Hornby Island and Lambert Channel
IBA Conservation Planner Barry Booth worked closely with the BC Shellfish Growers Association to discuss the relationship between growers and waterbirds while writing the Conservation Plan. This dialogue led to the development of a wildlife supplement to the growers' voluntary guidelines handbook, which includes information on the birds that occur in the shellfish growers' area of operation. Since this was produced, further work has been done by the provincial government on a mandatory code of practices for shellfish growers, and a major research project on seabird – shellfish interaction was completed.

Strathcona Park, Mt Arrowsmith and other Vancouver Island Alpine Areas
In cooperation with Friends of Strathcona Park, the Strathcona Wilderness Institute, Simon Fraser University and other interested parties, the IBA program developed projects to further the protection of White-tailed Ptarmigan in the fragile alpine areas of Vancouver Island.

Osoyoos Oxbows, South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area
Riparian habitat restoration is being undertaken by the South Okanagan Conservation Partnership. A pamphlet entitled "Chats in Your Neighbourhood", designed to encourage stewardship of Yellow-breasted Chats and their habitat, was produced by the South Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Program in partnership with the BC IBA Program. BC Nature continues to work with Partners in Flight and local naturalist clubs to protect bird habitat in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.

Skookumchuk Prairie
Local expert naturalist Penny Ohanjanian worked on an IBA project to protect and educate the public about Long-billed Curlews, an attractive bird of the East Kootenay grasslands. Although much of the Curlew habitat is on Crown land, part of it is private land. Contact the IBA Coordinator for more details on Skookumchuk Prairie Curlews.

Southern Vancouver Island: Chain Islets, Seabird Island and Marine Areas
Recreational uses sometimes come in conflict with seabird use of islands. A pamphlet on Seabird Survival was produced for the Southern Vancouver Islands, highlighting responsible behaviour near seabird colonies.

Fraser Lake
The IBA program helped to develop a potential stewardship program with the newly formed Nad'leh-Bun Watershed Enhancement Society in conjunction with the preparation of a Conservation Plan for Fraser Lake. Unfortunately, this did not progress to implementation, due to lack of capacity within the small group.

Scott Islands
A Conservation Plan has been prepared for this globally important seabird colony. Visit www.ibacanada.ca to view or download a copy of the conservation plan for Scott Islands or other BC IBAs.