Biodiversity needs a law to protect species in BC
Tell the BC government to go the distance for ecosystems
The BC NDP came to power in 2017, promising a law to protect endangered species. Under intense lobbying by logging, mining and oil and gas companies, they backed away from this commitment.
Now, it's stated its intention to prioritize ecosystems and biodiversity above resource extraction — it’s up to us to hold it to that. Anything other than a new law will continue to allow species to fall through the legal gaps toward extinction.
The province is asking for comments on the draft framework, and this is a crucial time to speak up for endangered species and make our voices heard.
We're on a roll for BIODIVERSITY
This last month, we’ve seen a flurry of environmental announcements here in B.C. At the end of October, the provincial government announced its conservation financing mechanism, a fund to help create needed protected areas to conserve old-growth forests and biodiversity.
A week later, the tripartite Nature Agreement between B.C., Canada, and First Nations followed, redirecting $1 billion towards Indigenous-led conservation.
On November 15, the B.C. government released its draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework. If done right, this policy could set the table for a new law to prioritize biodiversity and ecosystem health. This law would apply to all industry sectors. The government has said it wants biodiversity to be protected. Biodiversity includes the variety of different species of wildlife and their populations. To protect biodiversity, we must protect species, especially those at risk.
Thousands of B.C. residents, environmental groups and organizations like the Union of BC Indian Chiefs have called on the provincial government to pass such a law.
We’ve been fighting together to protect the incredible wildlife that makes B.C. so special for decades. We have a real chance now to win a law that finally protects them.
Let’s keep the pressure on!
Write into the public comment process and call for a law to protect species at risk and ecosystems that are co-developed with First Nations, with robust and immediate interim measures to protect threatened species in the meantime.
Fancy meeting you here at the end of this article! Care to hang out together for a few more sentences?
The campaign you just read about is one of about 20 we’re actively working on at any given time. And the person who wrote this article is the same campaigner who’s asking you to take action, who’s calling on our legislators to make changes and who’s in the field to bring you photos, videos and stories documenting this issue.
Did you notice how we’re a bit distinct, that we’re not afraid to call out the industries or governments that threaten what’s wild? Unlike other groups, we’re almost 100 per cent* “people powered.” Individuals like you who care give what they can, when they can. No corporate or government funding restricts our strategies, our actions or our voice. That’s how we stay a lean, nimble and unequivocally relentless voice for wilderness, wildlife and the climate. That’s why we’d love it if you’d consider joining us by making a monthly donation to the Wilderness Committee today.
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER
We’ve already established you like to read to the end, so here’s the fine print. It’s 96 per cent of our funding which comes from individuals like you and me. About four per cent of our total funding comes from a few grants from foundations. Every gift — no matter the size — has an impact and powers our work for nature.
