BC is home to a vast and wondrous array of creatures: at least 3600 of them. We have more biodiversity than any other Canadian province or territory, whether it's birds, mammals, fishes or insects. Some species, like the Vancouver Island marmot, are found only in B.C. A Special Place.

Spotted Owl, Jared Hobbs

At least 1,600 BC species are endangered. They include the chocolate-eyed spotted owl, the mountain caribou featured on our Canadian quarter and the marbled murrelet, a rare seabird that nests high in old-growth trees. BC has more endangered species than anywhere else in Canada. Yet we are one of only two provinces that have virtually no legal protection for species at risk. A scant five percent of BC’s endangered species are protected legally. Their habitats are threatened by urban sprawl, deforestation, unbridled development, exotic species introduction and pollution. Threats to Our Endangered Species.

Marbled Murrelet

Along with other conservation groups, we formed the Species At Risk Working Group in 2005 to advocate for better legal protection for BC’s endangered species. Sierra Club BC and other groups recently celebrated a major milestone after a successful three-year campaign to protect endangered mountain caribou habitat. BC’s other 1,599 endangered species deserve long-lasting protection as well. Campaigns Overview. 

Sierra Club BC is lobbying the BC government to follow Ontario’s recent example and pass stand-alone legislation that will protect endangered species and their habitat. The current mishmash of BC regulations and laws affecting endangered species mean that most of our imperilled flora and fauna fall through the cracks. Four provinces and territories have full endangered species legislation already. Three more have some degree of legislation. An additional three have stated that species-at-risk legislation will be developed. BC, along with Alberta, is at the back of the pack. This is particularly significant when you consider that BC has the largest number of species at risk in all of Canada. Solutions That Work.

British Columbians care about nature and wildlife. Please download our Sierra Club Endangered Species Toolkit, with a foreword by Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, and find out what you can do.