The EKCP is governed by its partners. To this extent, a Steering Committee is in place to provide direction. As well, a Securement and Stewardship Team are in place in which partners can share information, expertise and create synergies of working together and minimized duplication and effort.
Steering Committee
The EKCP Steering Committee has no set meeting schedule. As communication is key in the partnership, the Steering Committee tries to meet, whether in person or via conference call, at least every three months.
Securement Team
The EKCP Securement Team is made up of the partners directly involved in private land securement. The Partners on this team are: Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Land Conservancy of B.C., The Nature Trust of B.C., Ministry of Environment, Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service and Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program - Columbia Basin. This team works together with willing landowners to assess properties for conservation value regarding acquisition and conservation covenants.
Stewardship Team
The EKCP Stewardship Team is made up of the partners interested and/or involved in private land stewardship and eager to assist the partnership and partners in engaging communities, landowners, businesses and individuals in stewardship.
The Partners on this team are: The Land Conservancy of B.C., Regional District of East Kootenay, Columbia Basin Trust, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Columbia-Kootenay Fisheries Renewal Partnership, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society, Fernie Stewardship Centre and Ministry of Forests.
The vision of the Team is to support stewardship on private land with the goal of maintaining the rich biological, economic and social heritage of the East Kootenay .
The Team was put in place to undertake and expand the EKCP's coordination role for stewardship. Ideally, two goals will be achieved:
1. Creating efficiencies and synergies of partners working together.
2. Greater engagement of private landowners in stewardship endeavors.
One of the most essential elements in stewardship is working with people. Due to the diversity of landowner philosophies, beliefs, aspirations and goals, supporting stewardship on private land will encompass an equally diverse array of strategies, tactics and approaches. The common ground regardless of the type of stewardship is communication and contact with the stewardship audience, therefore, the logical first step is to strive to interest East Kootenay landowners in considering a stewardship objective for their property. The possibility of a mutually beneficial relationship can be facilitated by communicating to the landowner the support the EKCP and partners can provide towards achieving the landowner’s stewardship vision. Meeting landowners on the ground, combined with EKCP offering a compelling case for stewardship, is an effective strategy for relationship building leading to greater stewardship.
As a result, the Stewardship Team is now working on how best to inform East Kootenay residents about the partnership and stewardship expertise that many of our partners have. The Team is also looking at how best to coordinate, track, and facilitate further land owner contact programs as partners meet and involve landowners.