Task-force report is released with recommendations for rule changes

Species at risk are not being adequately protected in B.C. and major management changes are needed, says a task force appointed by the provincial government.

The 10-member task force's report on protecting the more than 1,900 species at risk in B.C. was released Monday by Environment Minister Terry Lake and government is asking for public input before changing rules.

"The issues around species at risk are critically important and also highly complex and that's why the province is inviting public comments and closely reviewing the recommendations to help determine future steps," Lake said.

The task force is recommending an ecosystembased approach instead of the current focus on saving individual species.

The single-species approach does not deal with the unique conditions in B.C., which has the greatest biodiversity of any province and an "extremely large" number of species at risk, says the report.

"This approach is leading us down a path of increasing complexity, overlapping initiatives and unsupportable costs, even as the numbers of at-risk species continue to grow," it says.

The 16 recommendations include more consistent funding and wider involvement in decisionmaking from the public, First Nations and industry.

However, the recommendation to refine existing legislation, rules and regulations instead of introducing a stand-alone endangered species law is bringing heavy criticism from environmental groups.

B.C and Alberta are the only provinces without stand-alone legislation.

"We were pleased to see the Task Force recognizes endangered species in B.C. are in deep trouble, but we are disappointed that, instead of calling for a law, they recommend tinkering with B.C.'s antiquated patchwork of existing regulations," said Gwen Barlee, Wilderness Committee policy director.

Mining and hunting interests were represented on the panel, meaning the final document is a political compromise rather than recommendations that are simply in the best interests of species at risk, Barlee said.

Barlee wants British Columbians to contact their MLAs as well as submit comments to the government through the Environment Ministry website.

George Heyman, Sierra Club B.C. executive director, said the recommendations are good, but, without a stand-alone law, will not help endangered wildlife.

"If B.C.'s government uses this report to distract from and delay longneeded legislation, it will be a damaging result," he said.

Task force chairman Bruce Fraser said the recommendations build on initiatives already underway and "will help to address the continuing pressures of development and climate change."

Species at risk in B.C. include grizzly bears, spotted owls, Vancouver Island marmots and resident killer whales.

To read the full report go to http: //www.env.gov.bc.ca/ sartaskforce/

Photo: BC's endangered Spotted Owl