British Columbia is home to some of the most diverse and intact ecosystems on Earth, and there is a growing urgency to protect them.
The story below, originally published by the University of British Columbia, highlights the leadership of BC Parks Foundation’s Board Chair, Ross Beaty, and Trisha Beaty, and the growing movement to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife that define life in BC. The BC Conservation Fund shows what’s possible when science, community leadership, and philanthropy come together in service of conservation, for now and for generations to come.
For UBC alumni Ross and Trisha Beaty, places like Pacific Spirit Park, Stanley Park and Cypress Provincial Park are not just wonderful places that millions of people enjoy—they are sanctuaries for the web of life that humans and other species need to survive and prosper.
But across British Columbia, wild places—and the wildlife they support—are under increasing pressure. Development, global warming and pollution are unravelling natural places and systems that have sustained people and livelihoods for millennia.
That urgency has shaped a clear path forward: preserve ecological integrity, biodiversity, and BC’s outdoor culture and economy through more conservation areas that are better connected and managed.
“BC has more biodiversity than anywhere else in North America, but it also has the most species at risk,” says Ross. “Fortunately, we still have some large intact natural areas, but they are all facing pressure. We have to act now, together. Everyone is needed and has a role to play.”
The same challenge is playing out globally. Less than 23% of the world’s land is still classifiable as wilderness—a number 10% lower than the previous decade. Monitored wildlife populations have had an average decline of 69% since 1970. And a recent planetary health report shows that seven out of nine planetary health boundaries have been breached.
That’s why over 190 countries have committed to protecting 30% of the earth’s surface by 2030. Known as 30×30, this commitment—which has support from federal, provincial and First Nations governments in BC—is one of the most ambitious conservation efforts of our time.
As Chair of the BC Parks Foundation, Ross plays a central role in advancing conservation through the BC Conservation Fund, a long-term funding source created to help communities, First Nations and partners work together to protect BC’s most biodiverse and threatened places. Supported by donor contributions and a matching investment from the province, the Conservation Fund is designed to safeguard clean water, healthy soils, wildlife habitat and the priority biodiverse areas that shape BC’s identity, culture and life.
Beaty believes that working together across sectors and communities, supported by science and education, is essential.
This belief in community engagement, science and shared responsibility has guided Ross and Trisha’s philanthropy from the start. Their family’s Sitka Foundation supports more than 70 organizations around the world working on conservation, with a primary focus in BC.
These same beliefs have also guided UBC, who are playing an important role in supporting 30×30 through research, innovation and community partnerships that strengthen conservation efforts across BC. Several UBC-led or UBC-partnered initiatives have received support from the BC Conservation Fund, advancing data-driven conservation, Indigenous leadership and species recovery.
At UBC’s Botanical Garden, the Action for Adaptation Biodiversity Atlas for southwest BC identifies priority areas for protection, offering a powerful planning tool rooted in ecological science linked to policy options. Meanwhile, the Biodiversity Research Centre and the emerging Data4Nature cluster have launched the BC Biodiversity Network to develop data and web tools to support how biodiversity information is collected, interpreted and shared—bridging the gap between knowledge and action. In the Sauder School of Business, the Ch’nook Indigenous Stewardship Project Management Program helps build First Nations capacity to carry out large conservation projects.
These efforts are part of a broader ecosystem of conservation leadership at UBC. At the Beaty Biodiversity Centre—expanded in 2025 thanks to significant donor support—researchers continue to document species, uncover ecological trends and train the next generation of biodiversity scientists.
For the Beaty family, supporting biodiversity is both urgent and hopeful. Their philanthropy reflects a deep belief that British Columbians have a rare window of opportunity to protect irreplaceable ecosystems that have a global impact—and the skills, will and identity to make it happen.
“Just like the people who had the wisdom and foresight to create Pacific Spirit, Stanley, Cypress and all of the other wonderful parks we all enjoy today, we have a chance now to secure a healthier planet for generations to come,” Ross says. “But the window is small. Now is the time to act.”
When asked what people can do, Beaty says, “It’s simple. Contribute whatever you can to the BC Conservation Fund and the work happening across UBC. We are all in this canoe together, and every paddle matters, no matter the size, shape or colour. What makes all the difference is when people paddle together.”
Protecting BC’s beauty takes all of us.
Through the BC Conservation Fund, communities, First Nations, researchers, and conservation partners are working together to safeguard the most biodiverse and threatened places in the province, supported by donor contributions and a matching investment from the Province of BC.
If this story resonated with you, consider supporting the BC Conservation Fund. Every contribution helps protect the lands and waters that keep BC beautiful and ensures that future generations inherit a province rich in life, connection, and possibility.
