Hope for BC's Endangered Species
Photo: Steve Garvie
June 2010
British Columbia sells itself to the world as “the best place on earth.” Unfortunately, it's one of the last places on earth without a law to protect endangered species.
Despite having some of the richest wildlife in North America, and more endangered species than any other province or territory, British Columbia is one of only two provinces in Canada without endangered species legislation.
A private member's bill now offers some hope. Introduced into the Legislature on May 31, 2010 by NDP MLA Rob Fleming, the Bill incorporates much-needed legal tools to ensure that BC's threatened wildlife - like grizzly bears and orcas - are finally protected.
Fleming's proposed Species at Risk Act includes provisions on scientific assessment, legal listing, protection of species' habitat, and the development of recovery strategies to determine what actions are needed for a species' survival and recovery. It also encourages voluntary stewardship activities.
On June 10, 2010, the B.C. government announced the ten members of its Species At Risk Task Force, which they committed to in the last Throne Speech. The Task Force will report to cabinet by the end of the year.
Sierra Club BC and other conservation groups are pleased that the Campbell government has finally struck the Task Force, but we are still concerned its terms of reference will pit a healthy environment against short-term economic interests.
"The (Task Force's) terms of reference make it sound as if the environment and economy are at odds," said Susan Howatt, campaigns director for Sierra Club BC. "We need a long-term strategy to recognize that our eco-systems are the economic driver of this province."
Read the Times Colonist article.
Sierra Club BC has also been focusing on engaging municipal governments on the issue. We are asking mayors and councils to endorse the need for a strong law to protect species and ecosystems based on ten key conservation principles.
"I have been focusing on engaging municipal governments and getting mayors to sign on," says Sierra Club BC's campaigns director Susan Howatt. "So far 13 municipalities are supporting us, including Victoria, Whistler and Burnaby. We hope more will follow suit soon."
Thirteen municipalities have passed a resolution endorsing the Act: Victoria, Burnaby, Whistler, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, Saanich, North Saanich, Hudson’s Hope, Fernie, Osoyoos, Coldstream, Mission and Penticton.
Read the story in Maple Ridge News.
"We really need to be looking at habitat and how we maintain healthy marshlands and ecosystems," said Howatt. "In a time of rapid climate disruption, habitats are under incredible pressure, more than ever before."
