The South Cowichan Stewardship Project is a two-year environmental program designed to conserve and protect ecologically sensitive areas along critical streams and rivers in the south Cowichan Valley.  Privately owned lands bordering these streams will be the primary focus of the project.

The aim of the project is to assist individual landowners in identifying critical habitat along streams and rivers within their properties and increase their appreciation of the need for environmental protection and conservation. As responsibility for protecting critical habitat falls largely to the landowner, site specific management plans will be developed for interested landholders, providing advice and recommendations as to how to maximise their protection efforts.

The landholders and other members of the public will be encouraged to form community groups and participate in workshops focussing on stream stewardship. These larger community activities will be used to plan and organise environmental protection activities that are beyond the ability of the individual landowners. Where possible, Stewardship Agreements and Conservation Covenants will be entered into with individual landholders to recognise and facilitate their long-term commitment to environmental protection and conservation.