Valens’ Brook Nature Reserve is held by Islands Trust Conservancy (ITC).

Denman Conservancy Association assists ITC with the ongoing management of the property, and may hold a covenant on the land at some point in the future.

The Reserve was created in two stages. In 2012, Dr. Kal Holsti and Marilyn Wan made the generous donation of the northern portion of this land to the Islands Trust Conservancy, creating the new Valens Brook Nature Reserve. Then, in 2019, thanks to the generosity of ecologists Luise Hermanutz and David Innes, the Valens Brook Nature Reserve on Denman Island was expanded by nearly three hectares (six acres). The addition added protection to Valens Brook – a salmon-bearing creek that runs through a maturing forest and a lush sword fern gully into Baynes Sound, on the southwest side of Denman Island.

“Protecting our property was part of a bigger vision started by Kal Holsti and Jenny Balke,” said Luise Hermanutz. “As ecologists and scientists, we recognize the importance of Valens Brook in protecting the watershed, salmon, and the Coastal Douglas-fir region. Denman Islanders are conservation minded, so we hope the entire Valens Brook will someday be protected.”

Holsti and Wan hoped their original donation would be the first of many along Valens Brook where numerous private properties border the stream and are critical to salmon protection. Hermanutz and Innes hope, in turn, that their recent donation will inspire more to do the same.

The Valens Brook Nature Reserve was protected using Section 99 of BC’s Land Title Act which allows landowners to donate a portion of their land while retaining the remainder for their own use through a simplified subdivision process. Both lands were also donated through Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program.

The management plan for Valens’ Brook Nature Reserve can be viewed here.