Protecting BC’s At-Risk Species

British Columbia sells itself to the world as “the best place on earth.” Unfortunately, it's one of the last places on earth without an endangered species law. 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 an endangered species law.

 To protect our incredible wealth of diversity, the BC government needs to enact a strong, stand-alone endangered species and ecosystems law. BC's current policy regime for species at risk is not working. It’s time to make a change.

Protecting BC's Flathead River Valley

The Flathead River Valley, tucked into BC’s southeast corner, hosts the highest density and greatest diversity of carnivores in North America, including at-risk species such as grizzlies, lynx and wolverines. The Flathead River is one of North America’s last wild rivers and has some of the purest water in the world; yet BC’s Outdoor Recreation Council named it the province’s Most Endangered River in 2009 because of a proposed coal strip mine and other potential energy and mining development in the valley. BC must protect this critical wildlife area by agreeing to make the lower one-third of the Flathead River Valley a National Park and establishing a Wildlife Management Area in the rest of the valley and adjoining habitat.

World-leading Land Use Planning: the Atlin-Taku

If B.C. is the best place on Earth, the Atlin-Taku region is a big – big – part of the reason. Stretching over 30,000 square kilometres, the Atlin-Taku covers an area nearly the size of Vancouver Island. This northwest B.C. landscape remains virtually pristine, with few roads intruding on its high alpine landscapes, wild rivers, boreal wilderness and temperate rainforests. This is a world with countless creatures great and small, including grizzly and black bears, caribou, wolves, moose, mountain sheep, mountain goats – even seals in the mouth of the Taku River. The Taku watershed is northern B.C. and southeast Alaska’s most significant salmon habitat, supporting all five Pacific salmon species and the commercial and recreational fishing industries that depend on them. It has thrived for millenia under First Nations management. And it is the focus of one of B.C.'s last land use planning processes, a chance to see a functioning ecosystem protected in a way that specifically addresses the potential for change in the face of climate change. Right now, take action to ensure this jewel remains a refuge for biodiversity in the face of a changing climate.

Enhancing the Carbon Tax

B.C. demonstrated significant leadership in 2008 with the introduction of North America’s most ambitious carbon tax. The carbon tax is expected to help the province reduce greenhouse gas pollution by sending a clear and increasing signal that investments and choices that are good for the planet will also be good for the pocketbook.

There are two clear opportunities to improve the carbon tax’s effectiveness and fairness in the 2010 budget:

1. Broaden the coverage so that it is applied equally to as many sources of global warming pollution as possible.
2. Continue to increase protection for low-income families so that they are not adversely affected by the carbon tax as it increases over time.

Energy Retrofits: Ramping Up!

To meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, fight global warming and capture the incredible opportunity to build BC’s green economy, BC must greatly upgrade the energy efficiency of its homes and buildings. This can be accomplished by implementing utility-based revolving loans, enhancing government efficiency programs, improving regulations and by applying government “green infrastructure” incentives to building efficiency. Acting on these opportunities would support government’s commitment to “create new jobs as a global leader in clean energy and energy conservation [and] in green building technologies.” [Throne Speech, 25 August 2009]

Protecting Nature in Light of Climate Change

BC is already facing the realities of climate change in our lands and waters in the form of the devastating mountain pine beetle, the increasing number, size, and intensity of wildfires, as well as reduced salmon populations. Logging and other industrial development can further reduce the resilience of natural ecosystems to climate change.

Intact, functional, natural ecosystems are more resilient to climate change. They store megatonnes of living carbon, much of which is released into the atmosphere when forests are logged. New and strengthened laws will be required to give species, their habitats and ultimately ourselves the best chances of survival. To start with, we need to work together to design a new legal and policy framework that sets the stage for a science-based, legally designated, and interconnected climate conservation network in BC to give our diverse and abundant landscapes a fighting chance in the face of climate change.