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Vancouver, BC – June 8, 2016 – On this World Oceans Day, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is pleased to announce the launch of its Sea of Glass website, the latest component in a campaign to protect BC’s ancient and unique glass sponge reefs.

“We have been working for over 15 years to get the glass sponge reefs protected,” says Sabine Jessen, CPAWS’ National Oceans Director. “We think that these important, rare and fragile ecosystems deserve to be fully protected from all harmful activities, and designated as Marine Protected Areas.”

The visually engaging website has been developed to promote widespread public awareness of these rare and amazing treasures, and encourage people to take action to protect them.  “The new website is an important tool to educate Canadians about why these reefs are so important and so worth protecting” says Alexandra Barron, CPAWS-BC’s Ocean Conservation Manager.

Prior to being discovered in 1987 by Canadian scientists during seafloor mapping, glass sponge reefs were thought to have gone extinct some 40 million years ago. The silica skeletons of the sponges are extremely fragile and vulnerable to damage from fishing gear. Scientists estimate that 50% of the reefs were destroyed by harmful bottom fishing methods before the reefs were discovered. Today, they cover a combined area of about 1,000 km2, and provide essential habitat for a number of deep-sea species, and serve as a nursery for many commercially important species including rockfish, prawns and crabs.

Last June, the previous government released the draft regulations for the proposed Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound glass sponge reef MPA for public comment. The draft regulations allow for harmful fishing activities, anchoring and cable laying to continue around the reefs. In addition to accidental damage, bottom fishing gear, anchors and cables can kick up sediment plumes which can choke the sponges and stop them from feeding, leading to starvation. “Allowing these activities to continue poses an unacceptable risk to the reefs,” says Jessen, “if we want a healthy fishing industry then we need to take precautionary measures to fully protect important ecosystems like the reefs.”

“The Hecate Strait reefs are not the only ones in need of protection,” Jessen is quick to add, “We need to also protect the 12-kilometre long reef that was recently discovered in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, as well as the other reefs in Howe Sound.”

The Hecate Strait MPA will make an important contribution to the government’s commitment to protect 5% of our oceans by 2017, and 10% by 2020. “We do need more marine protected areas and we need them quickly,” says Jessen, “but we also need to make sure that they are strong MPAs, that provide real and meaningful protection for important ocean ecosystems and species.”

Visit www.glassspongereefs.com

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Vancouver – In the first joint conservation assessment of progress on marine protected areas (MPAs) in North America, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the Marine Conservation Institute (MCI) finds Canada and the USA have a long way to go to collectively and individually reach international and national targets to protect at least 10% of the continental ocean estate.

“Despite the known effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) in protecting ocean ecosystems in the long term, and our international commitment to protect at least 10% of our ocean estate by 2020, North America has collectively protected only 1% of ocean, and only .04% is in fully protected areas,” says Sabine Jessen, CPAWS’ National Ocean Program Director.

“In BC, only one of our marine protected areas, the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA, is considered fully implemented, and it is so small that it covers less than 0.01% of Canada’s Pacific Ocean estate,” says Alexandra Barron, Ocean Conservation Manager at CPAWS-BC. “Bowie Seamount MPA and Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area have been designated, but neither has a final management plan so we consider them to be partially implemented,” adds Barron.

There are an additional four proposed new MPAs in BC: the Hecate Strait Glass Sponge Reef MPA, Race Rocks MPA, Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area and the Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area. “These sites are really important in helping the government meet their commitment of protecting 5% of our ocean by 2017, but we are concerned that in some cases the government is proposing to allow harmful activities to continue within the MPA,” says Barron.

To prepare the assessment, CPAWS and MCI reviewed publicly available data provided by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the USA on existing MPAs. Each site was evaluated against international criteria, including a legal designation, permanence, the presence of an administrative structure, and the existence of a management plan. Sites that met all four criteria were considered “implemented”, while any sites lacking an administrative structure or management plan were considered only “partially implemented” and were excluded from analysis.

“If we are going to protect the incredible variety of ecosystems in our ocean, and the diverse marine species that call them home, we need to do more. The ocean provides irreplaceable ecosystem services that have an estimated worth of $24 trillion dollars globally. Protecting the future of the ocean protects our future too,” says Dr. Lance Morgan, President, Marine Conservation Institute.

The Report outlines the need for urgent action, including recommendations to designate all currently proposed sites and partially implemented MPAs, implement strict interim protection measures, establish strategic MPA network planning, and secure full, permanent protection for at least 30% of each ecoregion, among other things.

“We have the opportunity to do the right thing, but we need sufficient and consistent funding for MPA establishment, stronger MPA legislation to help overcome jurisdictional complications, and multi-nation collaboration to create transboundary MPAs,” adds Jessen.

Other report highlights:
• According to our analysis, only 0.88% of the North American continental ocean estate is currently in “implemented” MPAs and only 0.04% is fully protected. Analysis of ecoregion coverage shows that of 23 continental North American marine ecoregions, 18 are safeguarded within any marine protected areas. Of these, only nine have more than one percent of the area protected.

• Canada is furthest behind in protecting its ocean estate with only 0.11% protected. Of this 0.03% is in the Arctic, 0.00% in the Pacific and 0.08% in the Atlantic. 14 proposed MPAs, if completed, would contribute another 2-3% to Canada’s MPA targets. Partially implemented MPAs could add an additional 0.78% to Canada’s total, but only if they had management plans and legislated regulation of marine activities like fishing. Just 0.02% is in strict no-take reserves, the rest is still open to commercial fishing, shipping, and industrial activities.

• Mexico has 43 MPAs covering a total of 50,873 km², protecting only 1.62% of its ocean territory. Out of this this total, 0.66 % is located in the Pacific Ocean, 0.46% in the Gulf of California, 0.33% in the Gulf of Mexico, and 0.17% in the Caribbean Sea. Out of Mexico´s 43 MPAs, 34 have been implemented and 9 are considered to be partially implemented. Partially implemented MPAs would add only an additional 0.08% coverage. There are currently five proposed MPAs under consideration that, if completed, would contribute another 19.8% to Mexico´s marine conservation efforts.

• The USA has protected only 1.29% of its continental, ocean estate (excluding Hawai’i and Pacific Island territories). Of this 0.00% is in the Arctic, 0.72% in the Pacific and 0.57% in the Atlantic/Gulf. A rigorous, quantitative account of fully protected areas in the waters of coastal states indicates the best-protected ones (excluding Hawai’i) are California, Oregon, and Florida. The majority of states still lack fully protected areas in their coastal waters. Only 0.03% of the total USA continental coverage is in fully protected areas; the rest is still open to commercial fishing, extraction, and industrial activities.

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View full report

Vancouver – The B.C. Ministry of Environment recently released a report confirming strong support for additional protection in the South Okanagan-Similkameen, including the creation of a new national park reserve. The report summarizes 3,460 responses to a proposal for new protected areas in the region, circulated between August and October 2015. The South Okanagan – Similkameen National Park Network (SOSNPN) gathered over 500 of these responses, including at local events such as Oliver’s Festival of the Grape.

“This overwhelmingly positive response echoes what local polling has consistently shown – that people see great value in having a national park in this area,” said Doreen Olson, Coordinator of the SOSNPN.  “We are impressed with the number of local people and organizations that took the time to register their comments and support, and we are looking forward to the next steps in the process.”

The report indicates that landscape connectivity and species-at-risk were identified as key values that need additional protection, and that the majority of submissions support the inclusion of what the Province is referring to as “Area 2” within a national park reserve, instead of a provincial Conservancy as was proposed. In addition to its ecological importance, this area is of great cultural and spiritual importance to local First Nations, including Mount Kobau (Txasquin).

“It’s uplifting to see that the public supports local First Nations in their conclusion that this area deserves the higher level of protection and funding that comes with a national park,” said Peter Wood, Director of Terrestrial Conservation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. “A third of all BC’s species-at-risk are contained in this small area, and it is one of the world’s rarest ecosystems.”

The report launch coincided with the Meadowlark Nature Festival, a local event held annually on the May long weekend, which has enjoyed huge popularity through the years and includes several tours of the area proposed for the national park.

“People love exploring the open spaces of grasslands. Ecotourism could be a huge draw for our region, but we need the resources that come with a national park, such as interpretation,” said Olson. “Many of the submissions reflected on the economic and public access benefits that a national park would be able to provide to this rare and sensitive landscape.”

The report is only the most recent of several (including Parks Canada’s Feasibility Study and the First Nations’ Feasibility Study) indicating a positive outlook for the creation of a national park, due to the significant economic and ecological benefits that would be achieved.

“This clearly opens a window for the Province to re-engage with Parks Canada and local First Nations to discuss next steps,” said Wood. “It’s at this stage that specific local benefits can be discussed, as well as how existing land uses will be accommodated. We look forward to this process moving forward.”

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For more information:
Doreen Olson, Coordinator, South Okanagan- Similkameen National Park Network: 250 497 6869, threegates@telus.net

Background information:
BC Government’s Intentions Paper and Summary of Submissions: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/planning/protected-areas-framework-s-okanagan.html
Recent poll on support for park: https://sosnationalpark.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/local-support-for-national-park-grows/
National Park Feasibility Study: http://cpawsbc.org/upload/South_Okanagan-Similkameen_National_Park_Feasibility_Study.pdf
Building a Syilx Vision for Protection (First Nations’ Feasibility Study): https://www.syilx.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Assessing-Feasibility-Syilx-Final-Report-December-18-2012-2.pdf

_{A child plays with a kite in an area of grasslands proposed for a national park reserve. Photo credit: Graham Osborne}

May 13, 2016 – VANCOUVER – On Thursday the BC Government passed legislation that changes the boundaries of Finn Creek Provincial Park to allow the proposed Kinder Morgan TransMountain oil pipeline to pass through it, despite earlier statements indicating that it does not meet their conditions for approval. The park, located on the North Thompson River, protects important spawning habitat for bull trout, Coho and Chinook salmon, and supports grizzly bear and moose populations. This is the first of four provincial parks that Kinder Morgan has requested be opened up to accommodate the pipeline.

“This pipeline project clearly threatens the values that this park was established to protect. It should never have been allowed to proceed this far, let alone be approved. Allowing industrial activity in an ecologically sensitive area like Finn Creek Park runs counter to the government’s mandate of protecting these places,” says Peter Wood, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (BC Chapter).

In January 2016, the BC Ministry of Environment made a formal submission to the National Energy Board (NEB) indicating that the pipeline proposal does not meet conditions the Province set out in 2012. The NEB has yet to make a decision on the proposal.

“Why is the BC Government proceeding as if this pipeline project is a done deal? It’s inappropriate for the province to be allocating resources to opening up our parks for a pipeline, let alone one that may never be approved,” says Wood. “This is particularly shocking given the high levels of opposition from First Nations and the general public.”

The other parks that this pipeline expansion will affect are ecologically important and protect fragile ecosystems and wildlife, and any removal of lands will put these places at unnecessary risk. Approving these requested boundary adjustments undermines the integrity of B.C.’s entire parks system, and sets a dangerous precedent for all of B.C.’s protected areas.

CPAWS and over 30 other participants withdrew from the Kinder Morgan’s NEB review in August 2015 over concerns that the process was biased in favour of approving the project. The NEB is expected to deliver its final report by May 20.
A SumofUs.org petition against allowing pipelines through parks has attracted over 160,000 signatures to date.

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Resources:
B.C. responds to NEB hearing order for Kinder Morgan project
Finn Creek Provincial Park Website
Bill 25 
Backgrounder on the Parks Act and Boundary Adjustments
SumofUs.org Petition 

Photo:
Petition against allowing pipelines through parks being delivered to the BC Government in May 2014

Vancouver — CPAWS-BC welcomes a new Bill tabled yesterday in the B.C. legislature which will add more than 11,700 hectares of lands and ocean to the province’s protected areas system, including a new Class A park in the northern interior and a rare glass sponge reef near Vancouver. There is much to be celebrated in this proposal, however concerns remain over the ongoing funding crisis for BC Parks and the need for the federal government to add protection measures for the globally unique glass sponge reefs.

The bulk of the lands to be added are in the proposed Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Wudujut Park, located near Prince George, which will protect globally unique inland temperate rainforest, one of B.C.’s least protected ecosystems.

“BC’s rarest and most vulnerable ecosystem types are under-represented in our protected area system, so we’re glad to see that the Province is taking this into account. We hope to see protection expand to other ancient forests around the province,” said Peter Wood, CPAWS-BC’s Director of Terrestrial Campaigns.

The Bill also officially renames two provincial parks in the South Okanagan – formerly known as Haynes Point and Okanagan Falls– to their traditional First Nations names, sw̓iw̓s and sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ parks.

“The renaming of these parks to their traditional First Nations names represents an important first for B.C. and we hope to see more of this. The Osoyoos Indian Band and the Province are to be commended for achieving this significant milestone,” said Wood.

CPAWS-BC also welcomes the extension of Halkett Bay Marine Park to include the extremely rare glass sponge reef but is concerned that the reefs remain vulnerable to impacts from fishing and boat anchors.

“While we applaud the BC government for recognizing the significance of the glass sponge reefs, they will only be adequately protected when the federal government steps up and and closes the area to commercial and recreational fishing,” said CPAWS’ National Ocean Program Director Sabine Jessen.

No commitment to increase BC Parks funding

The annual budget for BC Parks has not changed in 15 years, despite significant additions to the parks system in that time. When factoring in inflation, the relative value of this budget has actually decreased by nearly $10M and yet new additions to the parks system are announced on a near-yearly basis.

“While we welcome the expansion of the parks system, funding for BC Parks is already at rock-bottom levels and this will strain an already meager budget. We run the risk of creating ‘paper parks’ – lines drawn on a map that are unable to assure on-the-ground protection,” adds Wood.

Vancouver, BC – CPAWS Welcomes the BC Government’s Announcement to Reengage with Parks Canada in the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve Process

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, BC Chapter (CPAWS-BC) welcomes the news that the government of British Columbia has committed to reengage with Parks Canada on the creation of a National Park Reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.

“A national park reserve will forever preserve the ecological integrity of this stunning landscape while maintaining the delicate balance upon which it relies,” said Bruce Passmore, Executive Director of CPAWS-BC. “To be successful, the process requires all levels of government to participate, including First Nations, BC, and the federal governments.”

The grasslands of the South Okanagan-Similkameen is an area of outstanding natural beauty, with habitat and species found nowhere else in Canada. 30% of Canada’s species at risk are found in the South Okanagan-Similkameen, including iconic wildlife like the American badger and burrowing owl. It is also severely threatened, with less than 10% of the historic grasslands in their natural state.

A National Park has been proposed for the region since 2002. However, the BC government pulled out of negotiations with Parks Canada in 2011. Since that time support in the region for the national park has grown with local First Nations, regional governments, conservationists and chambers of commerce coming out in favour of the proposal. In 2015 the provincial government announced a new conservation framework for the region, but did not re-open negotiations with Parks Canada around a national park.

“A National Park Reserve for the South Okanagan-Similkameen would be an amazing legacy for this region,” continued Passmore. “It would help protect Indigenous culture and land use values, promote lasting economic development, and conserve some of our nation’s most unique and stunning ecosystems. We are heartened by today’s news but know a lot more needs to be done to realize this vision.”

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For more information:
Bruce Passmore, Executive Director, CPAWS-BC
bruce@cpawsbc.org, (604) 685-7445 x 23