41_2002 — Islands Trust Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Regulation

s. 1 — Definitions

s. 1(1)

In this regulation:

s. 1(1) — Act

Act means the Islands Trust Act;

s. 1(1) — protection exemption

protection exemption means a tax exemption under Part 7.1 [Natural Area Protection Tax Exemptions] of the Act;

s. 1(1) — sensitive ecosystems inventory

sensitive ecosystems inventory means the Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory: East Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, 1993-1997, Volume 1: Methodology, Ecological Descriptions and Results, Technical Report Series No. 320, Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, British Columbia, 1998.

s. 1(2)

In addition, the definitions in section 49.1 of the Act apply to this regulation.

s. 2 — Natural area values and amenities

The following are prescribed as natural values and amenities for purposes of Part 7.1 [Natural Area Protection Tax Exemptions] of the Act:

s. 2(a)

areas that are relatively undisturbed by human activity and are good examples of one or more of the ecosystems described in the Schedule to this regulation;

s. 2(b)

areas that are relatively undisturbed by human activity and are key habitat for rare native plant species or plant communities;

s. 2(c)

areas that are critical habitat for native animal species in relation to breeding, rearing, feeding or staging;

s. 2(d)

geological features that are

s. 2(d)(i)

fossil-bearing rock formations,

s. 2(d)(ii)

sandstone with interesting erosional features,

s. 2(d)(iii)

naturally occurring waterfalls,

s. 2(d)(iv)

naturally occurring mineral springs,

s. 2(d)(v)

naturally occurring caves,

s. 2(d)(vi)

rare glacial erosion or deposition features, or

s. 2(d)(vii)

shoreline deposition features, including tombolos, spits and hooks;

s. 2(e)

historical features that are

s. 2(e)(i)

culturally modified trees, or

s. 2(e)(ii)

heritage orchards, being orchards that were planted before the end of the First World War;

s. 2(f)

social or recreational features that are

s. 2(f)(i)

walking or hiking trails that provide public access through natural areas,

s. 2(f)(ii)

outstanding viewpoints that are accessible to the public,

s. 2(f)(iii)

natural area landscapes that

s. 2(f)(iii)(A)

are distinctive, historic, or relatively undisturbed by human activity, and

s. 2(f)(iii)(B)

have a high degree of visibility from a place accessible to the public, or

s. 2(f)(iv)

land that provides public access to property that

s. 2(f)(iv)(A)

is subject to a protection exemption, or

s. 2(f)(iv)(B)

is a park or other land to which the public has access for a purpose related to the enjoyment and appreciation of ecosystems and natural areas.

s. 3 — Tax exemption formula

A protection exemption is an exemption from tax on the land that is subject to the protection covenant to the extent determined as follows:

s. 4 — Recapture amounts

s. 4(1)

The amount referred to in section 49.7 (2) (a) (i) [base recapture amount] of the Act is to be determined as follows:

s. 4(2)

The amount referred to in section 49.7 (2) (b) (i) [interest amount] of the Act is to be determined as follows:

s. 4(3)

Amounts received under section 49.7 of the Act may be distributed by the Minister of Finance to the trust council.

s. 5 — Administrative fees

Section 397 [imposition of fees and charges] of the Local Government Act applies to the trust council in relation to the administration of Part 7.1 [Natural Area Protection Tax Exemptions] of the Islands Trust Act.

Schedule

Schedule Ecosystems Coastal bluff ecosystem A coastal bluff ecosystem is an ecosystem described as such in the sensitive ecosystems inventory, subject to the following changes: (a) the Site Factors are not limited to slopes of 30% or more; (b) in the Trees & shrubs part of the Plants section, Shorepine is included. Mature-older forest ecosystem A mature-older forest ecosystem is an ecosystem described as an older forest ecosystem in the sensitive ecosystems inventory, subject to the following changes: (a) these are conifer-dominated forests with an average age of at least 80 years; (b) in the Trees & shrubs part of the Plants section, Western Hemlock is included. Riparian ecosystem A riparian ecosystem is an ecosystem described as such in the sensitive ecosystems inventory. Sparsely vegetated ecosystem A sparsely vegetated ecosystem is an ecosystem described as such in the sensitive ecosystems inventory. Terrestrial herbaceous ecosystem A terrestrial herbaceous ecosystem is an ecosystem described as such in the sensitive ecosystems inventory. Wetland ecosystem A wetland ecosystem is an ecosystem described as such in the sensitive ecosystems inventory. Woodland ecosystem A woodland ecosystem is an ecosystem described as such in the sensitive ecosystems inventory, subject to the following changes: (a) the Site Factors section is replaced with the following: Dry, open stands of woodland that can be conifer-dominated or mixed conifer and arbutus. Woodlands may include non-forested openings, often with shallow soils and bedrock outcroppings. Garry oak woodlands are commonly in areas that comprise a mosaic of rock outcrops and shallow soils. On deep soils, the woodlands may be mixed with herbaceous meadows. In the case of aspen stands, these typically occur on moist sites; (b) in the Trees & shrubs part of the Plants section, Western Hemlock is included and Douglas-fir trees may be more than occasional; (c) in the Communities part of the Plants section, Douglas-fir-Lodgepole pine-Rhacomitrium is included.