For interviews, contact:
Tori Ball
604-685-7445 x24
tori@cpawsbc.org
BC voters prioritize nature and environment in upcoming election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2020
Traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples/Vancouver, BC — In the midst of a global health crisis and the rush of a snap election, safeguarding nature remains a high priority for British Columbians. A new online survey from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s BC Chapter (CPAWS-BC) found that 67% of British Columbians say conservation and environment issues are very important or extremely important to them as voters, and want the government to protect more of our lands and ocean.
“The message is clear – British Columbians want the province to focus on safeguarding nature, and to prioritize wildlife and habitat protection. Any party wishing to form the next government will need to have a strong, credible plan for conservation and be ready to back it up with real action,” says Bruce Passmore, Executive Director with CPAWS-BC.
Additional key findings of the survey include:
- Widespread support for increasing protection of BC’s lands and ocean: 87% think the province should commit to protecting 25% of BC’s lands and ocean by 2025
- Strong demand for increasing investment in provincial parks: 86% think the province should invest more funding into BC Parks
- Healthy oceans matter: 94% say it is very important or extremely important that ocean and coastal ecosystems are healthy
- Current approach to coastal management needs a renovation: 81% think the province should create a new plan and law for BC’s coast
“British Columbians recognize the urgent need to find solutions to climate change and to stem biodiversity loss. The question now isn’t whether or not we need to take action, it’s what will the next government actually do to drive conservation forward in BC,” says Passmore.
CPAWS-BC is calling on all parties to prioritize wildlife conservation and habitat protection, commit to fixing our neglected provincial parks, and work on building a cohesive plan for a healthy coast. All of this work must be undertaken with a clear and meaningful commitment to reconciliation, working with original and ongoing stewards of BC’s lands and waters.
“The voters of BC are demanding real action to protect the lands, waters and wildlife that we all depend on. BC has a reputation for being bold, and we hope to see politicians stepping up to the plate with bold commitments during the election period and beyond,” says Passmore.
This survey was conducted online between October 3 and 8. Responses were collected from 1041 British Columbians, with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of plus or minus (±) 3%.
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For interviews, contact:
Tori Ball
604-685-7445 x24
tori@cpawsbc.org
Last Updated: October 2020
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CPAWS applauds federal government’s commitment to nature conservation as part of Canada’s recovery
September 23, 2020, OTTAWA, Ontario – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) welcomes the federal government’s commitment in today’s Speech from the Throne to protect nature as part of Canada’s recovery from COVID-19.
Protecting and restoring nature includes working towards the federal government’s commitments to protecting 25% of Canada’s land and ocean by 2025 and 30% by 2030 and implementing nature-based climate solutions. Bold action is urgently needed to tackle the interrelated biodiversity loss and climate change crises, and today’s commitments are an important step forward.
Biodiversity loss and climate change dominate the World Economic Forum’s top five risks to the global economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic and, by extension, the resulting economic crisis, are a direct outcome of our unsustainable relationship with the natural world.
With today’s acknowledgement of the importance of nature, CPAWS is encouraged that the necessary investment to curb biodiversity loss and make Canada more resilient to climate change will be included in recovery plans. Nature conservation, including protected areas, nature-based climate solutions, and natural infrastructure, offer job opportunities for people across the country and have the potential to support highly-impacted, remote, and vulnerable sectors.
CPAWS highlights the importance of implementing these conservation and climate commitments in ways that advance reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Federal investment in Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship programs such as Indigenous Guardians will be key to our collective success in conserving nature in Canada.
With our 13 community-based offices from Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador, and a national office located in Ottawa, CPAWS is looking forward to continuing to work with governments at all levels, Indigenous groups, and other partners, to deliver on these significant commitments to land and ocean protection, nature-based climate solutions, and natural infrastructure in ways that effectively conserve biodiversity and help tackle climate change.
Quotes:
“We are pleased to see the federal government’s continued commitment to using nature-based solutions to fight climate change by protecting a quarter of Canada’s ocean in five years,” said Ross Jameson, Ocean Conservation Manager at CPAWS British Columbia (CPAWS-BC). “Protected areas will conserve biodiversity, advance reconciliation, and create healthy coastal communities.”
“This renewed commitment from the federal government is critical in advancing conservation initiatives in BC, in places like Kaska ancestral territory in the northern interior,” says Jessie Corey, Terrestrial Conservation Manager at CPAWS British Columbia (CPAWS-BC). ”BC has the opportunity to lead the rest of the country in meeting its biodiversity conservation targets, and we’re hopeful to see increased collaboration between governments in the coming years to follow through on these commitments.”
“While the link between healthy nature, human health, economic health, and climate stability was recognized before the pandemic, COVID-19 has created the space to consider these important links and to re-think our future,” said Sandra Schwartz, CPAWS National Executive Director. “Governments, including the European Union and New Zealand, are choosing to invest in rebuilding societies and economies that are more healthy, equitable, and green as they plan and implement recovery strategies for COVID-19 – and we are optimistic Canada is on the path to do the same.”
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For more information, please contact:
Skye Vallance
Communications and Development Coordinator
skye@cpawsbc.org| 604-685-7445 x 22
Background
- According to the World Economic Forum, half of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is moderately or highly dependent on nature and the services it provides, and the global food-, land-, and ocean-use system provides up to 40% of the world’s jobs. As a nation that relies on its rich natural resources, protecting nature and the multitude of services it provides is critical to Canada’s economic recovery.
- Many studies done across Canada have found that natural assets, if maintained, already have tremendous value, which will increase as the climate changes. As an example, urban forests in Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax are valued at billions of dollars for ecosystem services such as control of stormwater runoff, air quality regulation, and carbon sequestration.
- Protecting and restoring forest, grassland, and wetland (including eelgrass, saltmarsh, and riparian areas) to reduce and store greenhouse gas emissions would help to address the climate and biodiversity crises, create jobs, and expand a green economy in Canada. The same is true for using natural infrastructure solutions to increase our resilience to climate change.
- The World Economic Forum estimates that transitioning industry to a more nature-positive model could result in up to $10 trillion USD in annual business value and could create 395 million jobs by 2030.
- Terrestrial parks and associated visitor spending support 64,000 jobs, generate a return of 6:1 in GDP, and return 44% of government investment back in taxes. Canada’s parks and protected areas are becoming increasingly important for domestic tourism as COVID-19 restricts international travel.
- Effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a key component of a strong Blue Economy. Recent studies show that protecting 30% of our ocean in effective and well-managed MPAs can restore ocean health and produce an economic return on investments of 10:1.
- Read our Economic Investment in Nature backgrounder
About CPAWS
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is Canada’s only nationwide charity dedicated solely to the protection of our public land, ocean, and freshwater, and ensuring our parks and protected areas are managed to protect nature. Since 1963, CPAWS has played a leading role in protecting over half a million square kilometres. Our vision is to protect at least half of Canada’s public land and water in a framework of reconciliation – for the benefit of wildlife and people.
The CPAWS British Columbia chapter (CPAWS-BC) works to protect wilderness in every corner of BC and deep into the ocean. We have been defending BC since 1978, and are dedicated to keeping BC’s natural environment thriving forever. Nature is BC’s best hope.
www.cpawsbc.org
For interview please contact:
Skye Vallance
Communications and Development Coordinator
skye@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 ext. 22
BC’s parks get a boost to support economic recovery
Economic recovery package announced Sept. 17 includes support for BC Parks trails, campgrounds and facility upgrades
Sept. 17, 2020
Unceded Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC), is welcoming the new injection of money for BC’s provincial parks. Today, the Premier announced a $5 million increase to BC’s provincial parks as part of a $1.5 billion investment to help build BC back better.
“BC Parks are the backbone of outdoor recreation in the province, which has seen a spike in interest over the past few years. This five million dollar bump for BC Parks will go a long way to improve trails, campgrounds and backcountry infrastructure,” said Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner for CPAWS-BC. “Funding for parks has far-reaching benefits for nature and wildlife that are in crisis globally, as well as providing opportunities to relax and adventure close to home.”
Data shows that park usage has been steadily rising throughout the spring and summer of 2020. This is on top of annual increases in visitation to BC Parks, which has risen from 21 million in 2014/15 to over 26 million in 2018/19. A recent survey conducted by CPAWS-BC found that 89% of respondents were more or as likely to travel to provincial parks in the next 12 months, compared to last year.
That same study found that 94% of respondents agree or strongly agree that local businesses near BC’s provincial parks benefit from park visitors. “Our research demonstrates that BC Parks provide economic benefits to communities through visitor spending, in addition to providing jobs in conservation and tourism,” said Ball.
“This injection of extra resources will help the provincial park system to adapt to the continued rise in visitors, and mounting environmental challenges,” continued Ball. “Continued increases to the BC Parks budget are integral to a well managed, resilient parks system. Proper funding will ensure that these areas can support people and wildlife, and adequately protect and prepare for the years to come.”
CPAWS-BC is also encouraged to see funding and resources for watershed restoration to support wildlife recovery and jobs for communities hardest hit by the pandemic.
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For interview please contact:
Skye Vallance
Communications and Development Coordinator
skye@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 ext. 22
Key facts:
✔ A boost for BC Parks: $5-million to maintain and expand trails, campgrounds and other necessary park infrastructure.
✔ Money for restoration: Nearly $50-million will fund wetland conservation and species conservation, employing 1,000 people, focused on those hit hardest by the pandemic.
✔ Cleaning our coast: Nearly $15-million towards the removal of marine debris and derelict vessels.
✔ Conservation jobs for youth: The $1.8 million Youth Employment program is creating 25 new youth park positions and 18 positions in the conservation officer service.
For interviews, please contact:
Tori Ball
Terrestrial Campaigner
tori@cpawsbc.org
(604) 685-7445 x24
Staycations and local spending: Survey finds parks provide local getaway opportunities amidst pandemic lockdowns
For Immediate Release
September 15 2020
Traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples/Vancouver, BC — A new online survey from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – BC Chapter (CPAWS-BC) highlights the benefits of provincial parks to BC’s economy, with 79% of respondents agreeing that tourism to parks can help the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People are visiting parks more than they ever have and are spending money in local communities when they visit. This is helping keep jobs in small businesses that have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic and underscores the importance of BC’s parks in rebuilding our economy,” says Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner with CPAWS-BC.
Key findings of CPAWS-BC’s new survey include:
- Parks are an essential part of BC’s recovery: 79% agreed that tourism to BC’s provincial parks plays an important role in BC’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Parks are providing getaways close to home: 70% of respondents said they were likely to only travel within BC in the next 12 months
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- 89% of people said they were more or as likely to travel to provincial parks in the next 12 months, compared to last year.
- Tourism to parks benefits local communities: 94% of respondents agree or strongly agree that local businesses near BC’s provincial parks benefit from park visitors
- Local businesses cash in: The majority of visitors to BC Parks spend money on accommodations, restaurants, and other local businesses.
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- 80% of people said they spent more than $50 in or around a provincial park on a recent trip
- 53% of people said they spent more than $100 in or around a provincial park on a recent trip
This summer was one of the busiest on record for BC Parks, with Google mobility data reporting between 150 – 200% increases in visits to parks across the province throughout spring and summer 2020. Looking ahead, the majority of British Columbians expect to travel to parks just as much or more than they already do. This is raising concerns about whether or not parks will be ready to support more visitors when they’re already struggling and well over capacity.
“We’re already experiencing the consequences of an overburdened park system, with overcrowded trails and campsites being the new norm. This is really frustrating for people trying to follow provincial health orders by spending more time outside and close to home, who are unable to get a day use pass or camping reservation for their family,” says Ball.
CPAWS-BC is advocating for an increase in operational funding for BC Parks, to support British Columbians through the public health crisis and to help build back a better and more resilient provincial economy.
“The public health benefits of parks are widely recognized at this point, and the economic returns from investing in these places are well within reach. Parks need to be part of the solution, and now is the time for the province to cash in on these benefits by reinvesting in parks,” says Ball.
This survey was conducted online between September 3 and 8. Responses were collected from 979 British Columbians, with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of plus or minus (±) 3%.
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For interviews, contact:
Tori Ball
Terrestrial Campaigner
tori@cpawsbc.org
(604) 685-7445 x24
For interview, please contact:
Ross Jameson, Ocean Conservation Manager
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-British Columbia
778-953-2372
ross@cpawsbc.org
Oceans Wise report recommends implementation of full protection for all of Howe Sound’s glass sponge reefs
September 1, 2020
Unceded Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC — A new report from Ocean Wise has updated the health status of Howe Sound for 2020. While there is cautious optimism with some health ratings improving, the Ocean Wise report still has many labelled as critical or cautious, including glass sponge reefs which “remain vulnerable to mechanical damage and climate change.” The report recommends implementing full protection of glass sponge reefs throughout all of Howe Sound.
Long thought extinct, glass sponge reefs mainly grow off BC’s coast. Not only do these reefs provide important habitat for ocean life such as prawns and rockfish, they also filter ocean water, provide fertilizer for plankton, and store carbon.
Glass sponge reefs are particularly vulnerable to shattering from bottom contact fishing such as prawn traps as they are composed of the same material that makes glass. A DFO survey, in cooperation with the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, not only discovered a dead reef near Ellesmere Creek at the north end of Howe Sound, but found historical damage from fishing activities in all of the surveyed reefs.
Climate change poses an urgent and even larger problem. A study cited by the Ocean Wise report included observation of glass sponge reef mortalities associated with the El Niño climate events of 2009/2010 and 2015/2016. Additionally, a study from UBC found that warming ocean temperatures and acidification drastically reduce the skeletal strength and filter-feeding capacity of glass sponges.
In March 2019, DFO announced the closure of the nine documented glass sponge reef complexes to bottom-contact fishing. A DFO report published earlier this year confirmed five more living glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound. However, these reefs are still open to bottom-contact fishing such as prawn trapping. Even if reefs are damaged, there are no threats of fines or legal recourse for the harmful activity.
Glass sponges are under siege from multiple threats. Without the chance to grow and expand, glass sponges will lock away less carbon, exacerbating the effects of climate change. “By removing the threat of bottom-contact fishing, glass sponges will be better able to adapt to a changing ocean,” says Ross Jameson, Ocean Conservation Manager for Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society British Columbia Chapter. We need the immediate designation of fishing closures for all of Howe Sound’s glass sponge reefs to protect these rare creatures for generations.
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For interview, please contact:
Ross Jameson, Ocean Conservation Manager
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-British Columbia
778-953-2372
ross@cpawsbc.org
Resources
Miller A, Chapman J, Dearden A, Ross P (Editor). 2020. Ocean Watch Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound Edition 2020. Ocean Wise Research Institute, Ocean Wise Conservation Association, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. 388 pp. ISBN: 978-1-7772408-2-0 available online at:https://ocean.org/wp-content/uploads/OceanWatch-HoweSoundReport2020-online.pdf
For interview please contact:
Tori Ball
Tori@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 ext. 24
BC Budget Committee Recommends Increased Funding for BC Parks, Conservation Groups Applaud
CPAWS-BC recommends that the BC Parks budget be increased by $60 million, and that parks and protected areas be used as a key driving force for economic growth and recovery during and post-pandemic.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2020
Traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples/Vancouver, BC — The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC), is celebrating the BC Budget Committee’s recommendation report which advocates for an increase to the BC Parks budget.
Last Friday, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the Budget Committee, released their Report on the Budget 2021 Consultation. The Committee recommends to:
Increase operational funding for BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC to support staffing, monitoring and enforcement, maintenance, land management planning, oversight of public health and safety, and recreational infrastructure and services, including promoting and supporting volunteer efforts.
“We are thrilled to see this recommendation from the bi-partisan Budget Committee which recognizes the deep need for system-wide upgrades to BC’s beloved but beleaguered parks,” says Tori Ball, CPAWS-BC Terrestrial Campaigner. “Decades worth of underfunding is catching up with our parks, and the cracks in the system are showing.”
The BC Parks budget remained stagnant for decades while the system grew in size and demand of outdoor experiences soared. Compared to the 1980’s, the BC Parks budget and staffing levels have suffered a 90 percent decrease. The agency’s budget saw a modest increase after the BC Parks Future Strategy was released in 2016 yet fell again in the recent 2020 budget.
“The BC government has added $8.1 million this year as part of their efforts to address increased use during the pandemic, but this cannot cover the years of neglected infrastructure, unmonitored illegal activities and overflowing parking lots that have plagued the system for over a decade,” explained Ball. “Parks and protected areas are seeing a record number of visitors this year, and this is only from domestic tourism. We need to fix these problems before international tourism returns and we have to shut areas down because we didn’t prepare for the additional pressure.”
CPAWS-BC recommends that the BC Parks budget be increased by $60 million, and that parks and protected areas be used as a key driving force for economic growth and recovery during and post-pandemic.
“We are hopeful that BC Parks will see a $60 million increase in the 2021 BC Budget,” continued Ball. “Outdoor experiences have been critical to the health and wellbeing of people throughout the pandemic, and support economic recovery for communities across the province. This will continue to ring true as people prepare for further lockdowns and distancing measures as part of the second wave of the pandemic this fall.”
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For interview please contact:
Tori Ball
Tori@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 ext. 24
Download Media Release PDF
Resources:
Report on the Budget 2021 Consultation, Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
For interviews, contact:
Bruce Passmore, Executive Director
bruce@cpawsbc.org
(604) 685-7445 x23
Conservation groups welcome federal assessment process for Castle coal mine
For Immediate Release
August 21, 2020
Unceded Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC — This week, Canada’s Federal Environment Minister announced that Teck Resources’ proposed Castle coal mine will undergo a federal environmental assessment. This assessment is a necessary step to ensure the safety of local wildlife, communities and downstream watersheds, including in the USA.
“The Castle coal mine’s potential negative impacts on important grizzly bear and other wildlife populations are particularly concerning,” said Bruce Passmore, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia. “This is an important connectivity zone between BC, Alberta and the US. We applaud the federal government for making the correct decision and ordering an environmental assessment.”
Teck Resources coal mines have been under fire for high levels of heavy metals, in particular selenium, being released into waterways in the Elk Valley. Earlier this year, the US Environmental Protection Agency demanded that the BC government hand over selenium data and explain why the company has been allowed to exceed guidelines for toxic heavy metals. Multiple Indigenous nations in Canada and the USA have also expressed concern.
“Given the complexity of values and the history of pollution in the area, combined with the fact that BC still doesn’t have its own endangered species legislation, it’s critical that this project is looked at carefully,” said Passmore. “A federal assessment will consider the mine’s effects on Indigenous rights, local communities, and threatened species like westslope cutthroat trout and white sturgeon.”
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For interviews, contact:
Bruce Passmore, Executive Director
bruce@cpawsbc.org
(604) 685-7445 x23
Download Media Release PDF
Background information:
Minister’s response: The Castle Project
The Castle Project analysis report from the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry
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For interviews, contact:
Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, BC Chapter
tori@cpawsbc.org
(604) 685-7445 x24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2020
Traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples/Vancouver, BC — The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) is applauding a new initiative to hire young people into conservation jobs in BC. These new jobs, announced today by Environment Minister George Heyman, will help to safeguard nature across the province.
“We’re happy to see more conservation jobs being created for young people at a time when our park system needs more support,” says Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner with CPAWS-BC.
“In the short term, these new jobs will help manage the impacts of increasing visitation on the outdoor places we love so much, by addressing long standing capacity issues within BC Parks,” she adds.
BC’s provincial parks were forced to shut down this spring due to concerns with understaffing and overcrowding, following a recent budget cut to operations earlier this year. Decades of underfunding to BC Parks has created a concerning shortage of staff as well as a significant backlog of maintenance issues and major delays in management planning for parks.
“These new temporary positions will help provide much-needed capacity to support overworked park rangers, which will better safeguard nature and improve people’s experiences in the outdoors,” says Ball.
“We hope to see continued investment in nature-based jobs and a commitment to a longer-term capacity increase for BC Parks, as part of the overall strategy to recover the province’s economy,” she adds.
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For interviews, contact:
Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, BC Chapter
tori@cpawsbc.org
(604) 685-7445 x24
Resources
BC Government Media Release: Program offers young people work experience with BC Parks, COS (August 5, 2020)
About CPAWS-BC:
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia Chapter (CPAWS-BC) protects wilderness in every corner of BC and deep into the ocean. CPAWS-BC supports the creation of large, well-managed, connected protected areas where native plants and animals thrive, now and forever; and where people and communities can live off the land and ocean without impacting the ability of future generations to do the same.
In the past 50+ years, CPAWS has played a lead role in protecting over half a million square kilometres – an area bigger than New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador put together.
