Supporting biodiversity in life—and death
Above the Burgoyne Valley, overlooking Night Owl Farm on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, is the Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery. The cemetery and the family-run farm are owned by Gavin Johnston and Cathy Valentine, 2 people who have dedicated much of their lives to appreciating, respecting, and giving back to nature.
“Gavin is a biologist, and he’s always looking for ways to increase biodiversity, ensuring there’s lots of wildlife here,” said Cathy Valentine, Cemetery Manager. “He has a special way of seeing the land and all the potential that it has.”
The farmland in the valley (70 acres) is protected by the British Columbia Agricultural Land Reserve and the heavily forested area that goes up the hill at the back of the property (14 acres) has rural zoning. Eager to find a way to protect the rural zone from development, Cathy and Gavin began researching their options.
Grave sites with natural stone markers, nestled in the forest, at Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery.
Then, one sunny summer day, Gavin and Cathy were chatting with some friends on their land and Gavin mentioned that he’d love to eventually be buried there. Cathy wasn’t so sure you could decide to be buried just anywhere, so she started digging deeper. In the subsequent days, she found out that in fact, rural zoned land can be used for cemeteries on Salt Spring Island.
This conversation ended up becoming the beginning of Cathy and Gavin’s next adventure. Step by step, and about a year and a half later, with lots of research about green burial under their belts, the Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery was born.
Unlike typical cemeteries across Canada, with manicured, mowed lawns, decorative flowers and very little wildlife, the Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery sits within a stand of large fir and maple trees, surrounded by life. Burial plots, tucked in among the trees, are marked with natural stone markers, and there are plenty of peaceful spots to remember loved ones and a rustic gathering place for celebrations of life. By using caskets and burial shrouds made from natural materials, avoiding the use of chemical embalming, and allowing gravesites to re-wild with native plants, green burial is the most ecologically friendly end-of-life options.
From the beginning of this venture, Cathy and Gavin have balanced environmental, social, and economic considerations. Sustainable development and biodiversity conservation come together in harmony at the Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery, and that’s exactly how it contributes to Canada’s conservation targets.
This year, the cemetery has been recognized as an Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure (OECM)—the first of its kind in Canada. By protecting the land from development and managing it in ways that conserve biodiversity, Gavin and Cathy are contributing to Canada’s goal of conserving 30% of lands and waters in Canada by 2030.
“Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery is an excellent example of how Canadians and private landowners from all walks of life can help advance biodiversity conservation—and in this case—in their own backyard,” said Olaf Jensen, Director of Protected Areas with Environment and Climate Change Canada. “While operating the natural cemetery and providing people with natural end-of-life options, Cathy and Gavin are managing their land in ways that help them earn a living, while also encouraging biodiversity to thrive.”
OECMs can take many shapes and forms, and they are improving biodiversity conservation in Canada. Every day, Canadians can make decisions that support biodiversity conservation, whether it’s planting a pollinator garden in their yard or neighbourhood or prioritizing eco-friendly options in end-of-life planning. It’s been said before, ‘in this very important work, every effort counts!’ and private landowners like Cathy and Gavin are making a difference.
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