News

July 11 2024

Newest Marine Protected Area announced — four times the size of Vancouver Island off the coast of BC!

Newest Marine Protected Area announced — four times the size of Vancouver Island off the coast of BC!

July 11, 2024

Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – The newest Marine Protected Area (MPA), Tang.ɢ̱wan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is (ThT), was announced by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, the Council of the Haida Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, Quatsino First Nation and the Government of Canada. Located 150 km west of Vancouver Island, this protected area will safeguard rare seamounts and hydrothermal vents — ecological hotspots that are home to an array of wildlife, including species found nowhere else in the world.

“This MPA will safeguard rare deep-sea ecosystems that are home to species that get their energy not from the sun, like most life on Earth, but from chemicals released underwater vents. We all can now be proud to say that this incredible and important area is permanently protected,” says Carlo Acuña, Senior Conservation Campaigner for the Ocean Program at the Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC). “This would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of the First Nations, who have deep connections to this incredible deep-sea place.

Tang.ɢ̱wan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is MPA will be collaboratively managed by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, the Council of the Haida Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, Quatsino First Nation and Canada. It will protect over 130,000 km2 of the ocean, an area 4 times larger than Vancouver Island, in Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Habitats and species found at the bottom of the ocean are slow-growing and sensitive, and they are under threat from industrial activities. The establishment of a marine protected area by Canada’s Ocean Act means that deep-sea mining and the use of bottom-trawl gear will be restricted. Mineral exploration and exploitation activities would destroy the seamounts and the life around them. And bottom trawling, which uses heavily weighted nets that are dragged on the seafloor to indiscriminately capture any and all sea life, including rare and protected species and habitats, and those we have much to still discover and learn about.

“While these protections are good, we are still concerned about vertical zoning that allows fishing in biodiverse waters up to 100 m deep above two large seamounts. When ocean currents meet a seamount, they mix nutrients from the seafloor with sunlit shallower water. This fuels plankton growth which attracts a diverse array of wildlife to feed there. We hope the management plans will address this issue and ensure protection standards are in place,” added Acuña.

Protecting this area has been growing in momentum since 2003 when five hydrothermal vent fields became the site of Canada’s first marine protected area, the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA. In 2017, much of what is now part of the MPA was designated as a fisheries closure, banning bottom contact fishing such as bottom trawling. In October 2022, a portion of the MPA that is inside Haida territory was declared a heritage site by the Council of the Haida Nation House of Assembly.

The seamounts in Tang.ɢ̱wan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is MPA are ancient underwater volcanoes, towering 3000 m above the seafloor, taller than Whistler Mountain. They serve as spawning sites for many species like skates, crabs, and octopuses. Marine mammals such as whales and dolphins and large predators such as sharks rely on them to feed and rest during migrations. The hydrothermal vents are like deep sea geysers or hot springs releasing superheated and mineral-enriched water. Unique wildlife here has adapted to obtain energy from chemicals released from the vents instead of the sun.

“There is so much to learn about the plants and animals that live around the towering underwater mountains and along hydrothermal vents with temperatures over 350 degrees Celsius. And now with long-term protection established, we can continue to learn about them while knowing they are protected,“ said Acuña.

– 30 –

For interviews contact:
Max Winkelman
Communications Manager
max@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 x3

Resources:

Government of Canada and coastal First Nations announce largest marine protected area in Canada

Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. June 26, 2024.

Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area Regulations: SOR/2024-122. Canada Gazette. June 10, 2024.

Government of Canada and coastal First Nations announce progress to protect a large ecologically unique ocean area off the Pacific West Coast. Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Council of the Haida Nation, Pacheedaht First Nations, Quatsino First Nation, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Feb 07. 2023. News release.

Video: Underwater volcano still active and covered in a million giant skate eggs. Cherisse Du Preez -DFO (YouTube).

Learn more about the deep-sea oasis that is the Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is Marine Protected Ares.

Learn more about MPAs.

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Organizing for Change Report 27 June 2024 - charts1-1

July 2 2024

Support for nature conservation is unwavering across British Columbians, survey finds

Max Winkelman News

Support for nature conservation is unwavering across British Columbians, survey finds

July 2, 2024

Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – British Columbians are sending an overwhelming message of support for nature conservation and environmental protections ahead of the upcoming 2024 BC election, according to a new survey. Among BC residents, 85% support the goal of protecting 30% of lands by 2030, with protecting species at risk, intact watersheds and wildlife corridors topping the charts.

“It is clear that people want to take care of the places where they live to support healthy ecosystems that will deliver more sustainable and secure futures for their families and neighbours,” says Tori Ball, Land and Freshwater Program Conservation Director with CPAWS-BC. “We know that protected areas are critical to halt the biodiversity crisis and help us adapt to a rapidly changing climate.”

Key findings
The vast majority support more protected areas on land and in the ocean.
- 85% support the Government of BC’s commitment to protecting 30% of the province’s land and water by 2030.
- 82% express support for creating Marine Protected Areas.
British Columbians feel it is important to see species at risk protected.
- 88% feel it is important to expand protected areas where there is a high number of species at risk of extinction;
- 86% think it is important to expand protection across both areas of natural beauty and intact watersheds and landscapes;
- 84% feel it is important to expand protection in areas that allow wildlife to connect between different habitats.
A large majority of British Columbians believe some areas should be off-limits to mining and support permission requirements for mineral claims.
- More than 7 in 10, respectively, support restricting mining in municipal drinking water sources, salmon rivers, parks and wildlife habitat areas;
- 8 in 10 British Columbians agree that permission from landowners, municipalities and First Nations is needed for mining exploration.

Following recent expansions to the protected areas network, protected areas cover 15.8% of the land base in BC. BC will still need to nearly double current land protection to meet its 2030 target of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030, a critical target for halting biodiversity loss.

The survey also found that at least eight out of ten, respectively, were concerned about declining biodiversity, pollution and overfishing on BC coasts.

“The results of this survey reaffirm that British Columbians want to see bold commitments and action to protect lands, waters and wildlife as we head towards a fall election. These results lay out a path for us to move forward together and ensure we have areas safeguarded for important ecological, recreational and cultural values that thriving communities depend on,” added Ball.

Leger was commissioned to conduct this online survey of 1,001 British Columbians,
aged 19 and older between May 30 and June 10, 2024. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results were weighted by age, gender, and region to ensure a representative sample of BC residents.

– 30 –

For interviews contact:
Max Winkelman
Communications Manager
max@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 x3

Other findings:

Seven in ten (71%) BC residents support the creation of more Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in BC.
Conservation and wildlife experts are seen as providing the most important perspective on land use planning (86%), followed by local community/residents and landowners. First Nations perspectives have the second-highest level of “very important” support, behind conservation and wildlife experts.

What people are saying:

“Across BC’s lands and ocean, we have unique and globally significant ecosystems and British Columbians want to defend them against the multiple threats that risk their survival. Protected areas are the holistic tool BCers support and want to use to achieve this goal, not only for themselves but also for their kids and grandkids.”
– Kate MacMillan, Ocean Program Conservation Director with CPAWS-BC

“We need to do more to protect and conserve British Columbia’s fish, wildlife and habitat, and there’s strong support to make sure some areas are off-limits to mining. The province is committed to changing its free-entry staking regime from the 1850s and there’s overwhelming support that permission be required before mineral claims are granted (right now, it’s not).”
– Nikki Skuce, Director of Northern Confluence Initiative

“Respondents valued conservation and local input highly while industry was near the bottom of the list, coming only ahead of visitors and tourists. We’d love to see this reflected with land use planning being less industry focused and more emphasis on conservation and local perspectives.”
– Tori Ball, Land and Freshwater Program Conservation Director with CPAWS-BC

Organizing for Change Report 27 June 2024 - charts1

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June 14 2024

Largest BC Parks expansion in over a decade will protect habitat for Southern Mountain Caribou

Max Winkelman News biodiversity, canadian parks and wilderness society, cpaws, cpaws-bc, ipca, tori ball

2024 Caribou Agreement Announcement - PR Header v2

Largest BC Parks expansion in over a decade will protect habitat for Southern Mountain Caribou

Klinse-za/Twin Sisters Park expansion adds over 170,000 hectares, a welcomed step for caribou and collaborative conservation

June 14, 2024

Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – A significant park expansion added in critical Peace Region caribou habitat is welcomed by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia. The 170,000 hectare Klinse-za Park expansion will result in the largest provincial park established in B.C. in a decade.

The expansion of the Klinse-za/Twin Sisters Provincial Park is for about five times the Park’s current size, and over twice the size of Manning Park. The expansion stems from a 2020 Partnership Agreement between the federal and provincial governments and West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations which established conservation commitments for endangered Southern Mountain Caribou.

“Protecting the habitat and foods that caribou depend on is key to long-term both caribou and community health, this park expansion is much awaited and welcomed for this iconic species,” says Tori Ball, Conservation Director – Lands & Freshwater Program at CPAWS-BC. “West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations are leaders in caribou conservation efforts and the formal protection of this important caribou habitat is a testament to their perseverance and leadership to secure a future for these important species.”

The area is home to the central group of Southern Mountain Caribou, consisting of five remaining herds. Recovery efforts, led by the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations, have seen the Klinse-za herd rebound from just 16 animals in 2013 to over 100.

Caribou are in trouble, with many herds in BC at risk of disappearing due to an onslaught of resource development. Securing long-term protection of their habitat is key to their survival. Protecting caribou habitat will also benefit other wildlife species, and help ensure healthy ecosystems for all residents of BC.

Caribou require large intact and connected areas to thrive and function as an indicator species, letting us know the health of the forests and ecosystems they inhabit. Protecting caribou habitat in turn benefits many other species as well as the ecosystems that we all depend on.

“This park expansion will have positive impacts for the health of the surrounding ecosystems and iconic caribou herds. Working towards the global goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 needs to benefit and include everybody, and it is important that we protect another over 14% of BC by moving forward together,” added Ball.

Media Contact:
Max Winkelman
Communications Manager
max@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 x3

Background info
- Southern Mountain Caribou are divided into 3 population groups:
  - Northern with 9 herds – BC blue list, imperiled-special concern
  - Central with 5 herds – BC red list, imperiled-critically imperiled
  - Southern with 18 herds – BC red list, critically imperiled
- The central group are the caribou in the Klinse-za park region though the northern edge of the protected area is the border to the northern group of Southern Mountain Caribou
- Woodland caribou are old-growth dependant and the main threats to their survival are from direct and indirect habitat loss and disturbance
- West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations initiated a maternity penning project as part of their caribou conservation efforts as an urgent action to stop the rapid decline of the Klinse-Za herd.
- The Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement for the Conservation of the Central Group of the Southern Mountain Caribou is an agreement between West Moberly First Nations, Saulteau First Nations, the government of Canada, and the government of BC. The agreement was signed in February 2020 and includes commitments for land protection in northeast BC and an Indigenous guardians program

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June 6 2024

New Interim Order fails to plug hole that dumps 32 billion litres of waste into B.C. ocean

Max Winkelman News canadian parks and wilderness society, conservation, cpaws, cpaws-bc, marine protected area

New Interim Order fails to plug hole that dumps 32 billions litres of waste into B.C. ocean

June 6, 2024

Unceded Coast Salish Territories (VANCOUVER, BC) – As coastal B.C. ecosystems and local communities brace for the annual cruise ship season, the Canadian Transport Ministry just released an “Interim Order” on cruise ship pollution that continues to permit the dumping of 32 billion litres of waste into the waters off the BC coast.

The holes in the interim measures were pointed out in a report released by Stand.earth and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia last month to guide the Transport Ministry towards protecting coastal waters and communities. It still stands.

“What is it going to take for the Transport Ministry to get serious about defending the coasts from pollution? This lazy cut-and-paste of last year’s Interim Order still permits 32 billion litres of sewage, and ships’ waste to be dumped annually – the equivalent of half the world flushing a toilet into the coastal waters off B.C.” said Anna Barford, shipping campaigner with Stand.earth. “The Transport Ministry had an opportunity to remedy this by extending the application of cruise ship discharge regulations to the entirety of Canada’s jurisdiction in the territorial sea, prohibiting the use of scrubbers under Canada’s jurisdiction, and putting into place regular, independent third-party monitoring while cruise ships are underway to ensure discharge requirements are met. They have ignored our recommendations to the detriment of marine life and coastal ecosystems and communities.”

Scrubbers are devices on ships to treat exhaust gasses. They take sulphur from fuel and dump it into the sea in the form of wastewater, essentially turning air pollution into water pollution. Greywater is wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers and appliances, like dishwashers and laundry machines. It is a significant source of microplastics.

“The Great Bear Sea is home to many threatened and vulnerable species as well as species that have great cultural and food importance. The dumping of this much wastewater is a massive threat to the animals and plants that live there, such as orcas and humpback whales, and also to the local communities that depend on a healthy and abundant ocean,” says Kate MacMillan, conservation director for the ocean program at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia Chapter.

Transport Canada’s original Interim Order from June 9, 2023 allowed vessels to continue to discharge sewage, greywater and scrubber wastewater along the B.C. coast and inlets. The entire Great Bear Sea, including the proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network, is not protected from the dumping of this scrubber wastewater. Transport Canada changed nothing this year.

“Additionally, this interim order seems to contradict Canada’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Protection Standard which looks to prohibit ocean dumping in MPAs. With an MPA Network being planned for the Great Bear Sea, the future health and resilience is being put at risk,” says MacMillan.

The report that Stand.earth and CPAWS-BC released last month found that approximately 35% of the proposed MPA Network is open to the discharge of untreated sewage and greywater through unregulated “toilet bowls”. Additionally, specific geographic exemptions potentially permit the discharge of sewage and greywater along the entirety of the Great Bear Sea’s complex coastlines.

The report made multiple recommendations such as legally requiring cruise ships to have holding tanks that are of adequate size and eliminating the exemption that permits cruise ships to discharge in areas where the shores are narrower than six nautical miles wide.

“The Transport Ministry has so far ignored us about this. They have even ignored reporters about this. They cannot, however, ignore the local communities demanding cleaner waters, or the science which is clear about the impacts of cruise ship dumping on the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales”

Link to the report.
Link to the report release.

Contact:
Kate MacMillan,
Conservation Director, Ocean Program
CPAWS-BC
604-685-7445 x 6
kate@cpawsbc.org

Anna Barford
Canada Shipping Campaigner
Stand.earth.
+1 604-757-7029
anna@stand.earth

May 14 2024

REPORT: 32 billion litres of waste dumped in BC coastal waters per year

Max Winkelman News conservation, cpaws, cpaws-bc, marine protected area

REPORT: 32 billion litres of waste dumped in BC coastal waters per year

May 14, 2024

Unceded Coast Salish Territories (VANCOUVER, BC) – As coastal B.C. ecosystems and local communities brace for the annual cruise ship season, holes in the Canadian Transport Ministry’s “Interim Order” on cruise ship pollution permit the dumping of 32 billion litres of waste into B.C.’s Coastal waters, according to a report by Stand.earth and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – BC Chapter (CPAWS-BC).

“Currently the holes in Transport Canada’s Interim Order permit 32 billion litres of sewage, ships’ waste to be dumped annually – the equivalent of half the world flushing a toilet into B.C.’s coastal waters” said Anna Barford, shipping campaigner with Stand.earth. “The Transport Ministry has an opportunity to remedy this in June, however, by extending the application of cruise ship discharge regulations to the entirety of Canada’s territorial sea, prohibiting the use of scrubbers in Canada’s territorial waters, and putting into place regular, independent third-party monitoring while cruise ships are underway to ensure discharge requirements are met.”

Scrubbers are devices on ships to treat exhaust gasses. They take sulphur from fuel and dump it into the sea in the form of sludge, essentially turning air pollution into water pollution. Greywater is wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers and appliances, like dishwashers and laundry machines. It is a significant source of microplastics.

“The Great Bear Sea is home to many threatened and vulnerable species. The dumping of this much wastewater is a massive threat to the animals and plants that live there, such as orcas and humpback whales, as well as for the local communities that depend on the ocean,” says Kate MacMillan, conservation director for the ocean program at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia Chapter.

Transport Canada issued an Interim order on June 9, 2023 which allow vessels to continue to discharge sewage, greywater and scrubber wastewater along the B.C. coast and inlets, while the entire Great Bear Sea, including the proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network, is not protected from the dumping of scrubber wastewater.

Approximately 35% of the proposed MPA Network is open to the discharge of untreated sewage and greywater through unregulated “toilet bowls,” according to the report. Additionally, specific geographic exemptions potentially permit the discharge of sewage and greywater along the entirety of the Great Bear Sea’s complex coastlines.

The report makes multiple recommendations such as legally requiring cruise ships to have holding tanks that are of adequate size and eliminating the exemption that permits cruise ships to discharge in areas where the shores are narrower than six nautical miles wide.

“Canada has a responsibility and moral obligation to prioritize protecting its coastal biodiversity, respect the rights of coastal First Nations, and to conserve the bounty and beauty of Canadian coasts for future generations,” concluded Barford.

Link to the report.

Contact:
Anna Barford
Canada Shipping Campaigner
Stand.earth.
+1 604-757-7029
anna@stand.earth

Kate MacMillan,
Conservation Director, Ocean Program
CPAWS-BC
604-685-7445 x 6
kate@cpawsbc.org

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Visit the STAND.earth petition to tell the Minister of Transport to stop ocean dumping and get serious about protecting our oceans.

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April 25 2024

CPAWS-BC supports park plan that advances reconciliation and visitor experience

Max Winkelman News bc parks, conservation, cpaws-bc, tori ball

CPAWS-BC supports park plan that advances reconciliation and visitor experience

April 25, 2024

Today, BC Parks, Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua announced a partnership to balance access to the Pipi7íyekw / Joffre Lakes Park for visitors and First Nations this summer. This agreement will support visitor experience, healthy ecosystems and preserve the cultural connections of Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua to this spiritual place.

“We know that supporting First Nations cultures is critical to maintaining and rebuilding ecological integrity. We are excited to see this agreement centre reconciliation and the values of Lil’wat Nation and N’Quatqua, aa well as outline a positive visitor management strategy to support people and the area’s ecosystems,” says Tori Ball, Conservation Director – Land and Fresh Water, Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society, British Columbia.

The agreement announced today comes after years of work by the province, Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua, to improve visitor management in the region, which has seen a surge in outdoor recreation demand and visitor numbers. The abrupt closure of the area last fall resulted in public confusion and tensions for park visitors.

“We are happy to see this proactive planning between BC Parks, Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua for Pipi7íyekw that supports First Nation connections to land and cultural practices and clear public communication to support appropriate public access to the area,” Ball continued. “This collaborative planning and decision-making is critical to reconciliation and the future of conservation and protected areas management.”

The joint park operational plan for 2024 includes three Pipi7íyekw Reconnection Celebration time periods:

April 30 to May 15, to support Indigenous-led cultural celebrations, including Stl’atl’imx Days – a celebration of the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe on May 10, 1911.
June 14 to 23, to support summer solstice and Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations.
September 3 to October 6, to support Indigenous fall harvesting practices and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

These closures will enable Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua to reconnect with the land and carry out traditional, sustenance, cultural and spiritual practices. In addition to the multi-day closures, there will be a limit on the number of daily visitors through the free day-use pass system to support public safety and the natural values of the park.

Overcrowding can negatively affect both the local ecosystem and visitor experience, for example, through people going off-trail. Managing the daily visits is an important tool to support the area’s plants and wildlife, as well as visitor safety.

“Healthy and thriving ecosystems are critical to a healthy future for all. Respectful relationships and sustainable outdoor recreation is important for building up a culture of nature enthusiasts who continue to enjoy and care for nature for generations to come,” says Ball.

– 30 –

Media Contact:
Max Winkelman
Communications Manager
max@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 x3

More details:

500 free day-use passes, as well as camping opportunities at 26 tent pads will be available each day Pipi7íyekw / Joffre Lakes Park is open for recreational use.
- The free day-use passes will be available for reservation starting at 7:00 am, two days before a planned visit, and are available online at https://reserve.bcparks.ca/dayuse/.
- Camping can be booked up to four months in advance of arrival at https://camping.bcparks.ca/.
Link to the BC Government press release
Link to Joffre Lakes Park overview page

March 20 2024

Strong Interim Measures are Necessary to Freeze the Footprint

Max Winkelman News

Strong Interim Measures are Necessary to Freeze the Footprint

Dear Premier David Eby, Minister Osborne and Minister Cullen,

Our 18 organizations, coalitions and networks want to thank you and extend our support for the recent actions taken by the Government of British Columbia to implement interim measures halting mineral claim registrations and mining activities within the territories of the Gitxaała and Ehattesaht First Nations. These measures represent a crucial step towards meaningful reconciliation, where communities have a secure future with healthy forests and wildlife, clean water and thriving livelihoods.

The Gitxaała and Ehattesaht Nations were forced to spend years of time, money and energy in litigation against the British Columbia government to push back against ongoing development and dense mining claims over the heart of their homelands. This is emblematic of the systemic challenges Indigenous communities continue to confront.

Despite prevailing in court, Gitxaała and Ehattesaht were not granted any tangible relief on the ground. Perhaps the most egregious example of this was the registration of thirty mining claims in or on the edge of Ehattesaht territory since the launch of the court case to fight this exact practice. The interim measures now in place provide a measure of justice by addressing the immediate harm inflicted upon their territories through negotiation rather than further costly, time-consuming litigation, and could light the way for future processes that align with our commitments to UNDRIP.

It is urgent to depart from centuries-old colonial practices that delay and deny recognition of Indigenous rights, such as the free entry mining claim system. Affirming UNDRIP demands more than mere lip service; it requires concrete actions to halt ongoing injustices and collaboratively build equitable decision-making systems for the future. The current system also puts sustainable revenue sources and local communities at risk by allowing activities incompatible with local uses, such as drilling 100 metres away from an eco-resort and in the middle of recreation and guiding tenures. By utilizing existing tools to halt harm on the ground, we can work towards long-term solutions and demonstrate our commitment to meaningful reconciliation, community health, and a healthy future for all.

It is essential to recognize that implementing these interim measures does not herald catastrophe or turn the world upside down. Instead, it signifies a necessary departure from practices rooted in the 1850s gold rush era, which informed the crafting of our current and wildly outdated Mineral Tenure Act. With a court mandate to change the free entry system, we applaud the government for advancing engagement on Mineral Tenure Act reform, leading ultimately to its repeal and replacement.

The mining sector cannot achieve ESG standards without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. In addition, the only way that the BC and Federal governments will be able to advance their reconciliation, conservation and critical minerals goals is by freezing the industrial footprint and putting a pause on ongoing ecological harm while proper negotiation and engagement takes place for land-use changes and planning.

This use of “solution space” was crucial in reaching consensus in the Land Resource Management Planning (“LRMP”) processes in the Great Bear Rainforest in the early 2000s. By suspending any potential industrial activity in ecologically important areas under specific consideration for conservation, the collaborative LRMP tables were able to complete their work without the threat of imminent loss, as First Nations communities were working on their own land use visions. This approach enables thoughtful, respectful processes to do their important work, from land use planning to transformational policy reforms.

We applaud the Government of British Columbia for its willingness to take meaningful action in support of Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and reconciliation. Using clear measures on the landbase to put a pause for proper engagement and negotiation is the best path to certainty and security for all. As advocates for justice and sustainability, we stand ready to support further efforts to build a future where all communities can thrive in harmony with the land.

Sincerely,

Jamie Kneen, BC Mining Law Reform Network

Tori Ball, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia

Mitch Friedman, Conservation Northwest

Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation

Sarah Korpan, Ecojustice

Christianne Wilhelmson, Georgia Strait Alliance

Nikki Skuce, Northern Confluence Initiative

Lisa Matthaus, Organizing for Change

Leslie Anne St Amour, RAVEN

Shelley Luce, Sierra Club BC

Shannon McPhail, Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

Adrienne Berchtold, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust

Liz McDowell, Stand.earth

Aaron Hill, Watershed Watch Salmon Society

Jeneen Sutherland, Wilderness Tourism Association

Robyn Duncan, Wildsight

Nicole Olivier, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Terry Bodman, Fraser Valley Salmon Society

21.GSAlogo-cmyk-stacked-square-transparent

January 29 2024

Active cutblocks the size of 68 Stanley parks in areas BC considers ‘protected’

cpawsadmin News

Active cutblocks the size of 68 Stanley parks in areas BC considers ‘protected’

Less than one third of Old Growth Management Areas in BC is actually old growth

January 29, 2024

Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – A new report from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) finds that areas the BC government counts as ‘protected’ and uses to conserve biodiverse old growth forests do not meet conservation standards and contain little old growth.

Key Findings:

Less than one third (29 per cent) of legal Old Growth Management Areas (OGMAs) are composed of old forests (by area).
The majority (58 per cent) of legal OGMAs are young forest (by area).
Active forestry cutblocks also overlap 27,300 hectares of legal OGMAs in the province, an area 68 times larger than Stanley Park.
Furthermore, when broken down into individual OGMAs, 37 per cent of the approximately 22,000 legal OGMAS in BC do not contain any old trees.

“We’ve known for a while that OGMAs are poorly protected but these results were just shocking and show how far off conservation standards these protections are,” says Meg Bjordal, author of the report and the conservation research and policy coordinator at CPAWS-BC.

The report also looked at examples of OGMAs in the Campbell River Resource District to see what was happening on a smaller scale, and found frequent boundary changes to permit logging, and fragmented areas that cannot foster biodiversity.

“Looking at these OGMA examples, between the data, satellite views and on-the-ground pictures, this is a black mark on BC’s progress to protect endangered ecosystems. It is devastating that we’re still destroying old growth forests.”

The report recommends three key changes:

Amend OGMA guidelines to effectively protect old growth. OGMAs must be predominantly old forest, and represent large, unfragmented areas without clearcuts or roads. Boundary changes for resource extraction must not be permitted.
Conduct a provincial review of OGMAs: assess OGMA management and immediately rectify where targets for retention of old forests are not being met. Identify sites that offer large, unfragmented, old growth forests to meet the retention targets and achieve biodiversity protection with OGMAs.
Upgrade laws and regulations to ensure protection from boundary changes and industrial activity, such as logging and road building, to prevent further fragmentation of OGMAs. Put in place proper monitoring to track changes and incursions.

“B.C. recently reaffirmed their commitment to protecting 30 per cent of the province’s lands and waters in the widely celebrated Trilateral Framework Agreement for Nature Conservation. To reach this target, the province must either take significant steps to meet protection standards for ‘other conserved areas’ or completely exclude OGMAs from B.C. and Canada’s tally of protected areas,” says CPAWS-BC Executive Director Meaghen McCord.

-30-

For interviews, contact:
Max Winkelman,
Communications Manager
max@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 x22

Background:

According to BC government accounting, 19.6 per cent of BC lands are currently protected. This total comprises 15.5 per cent in protected areas, including Provincial Parks, Conservancies and Ecological Reserves; and the remaining 4.1 per cent in Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs), 37 per cent of which are OGMAs.

This report used open source data from the BC Data Catalogue and the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database. Old forest was classified by age and biogeoclimatic subzones as per similar methods that the Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel used.

READ THE REPORT

TAKE ACTION

We need BC to take action to protect at risk old growth and to make sure Old Growth Management Areas are actually fostering biodiversity, protecting old growth, and meeting conservation standards.

Email your MLA and tell them you want to see areas they claim as protected, actually protected!

SEND AN EMAIL

December 5 2023

$60M for Great Bear Sea conservation shows ongoing collaboration

Max Winkelman News conservation, cpaws, cpaws-bc, marine protected area

$60M investment for Indigenous-led stewardship and sustainable development across the Great Bear Sea

New funding announced today by BC government adds to the funding announced last December

– December 5, 2023

Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – Today’s announcement of $60 million from the Province of BC to support Indigenous-led initiatives along the Great Bear Sea is celebrated by the Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society British Columbia.

“This announcement shows the provincial government’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous-led stewardship and sustainable development of the coast,” says Executive Director Meaghen McCord. “This adds to the other recent investments BC has made, and we are encouraged by BC’s ongoing efforts to support First Nation leadership across the province, on land and coast.”

The contribution from the BC government will be added to the previously announced Project Funding for Permanence (PFP) for the Great Bear Sea Initiative along with three other Indigenous-led initiatives announced almost exactly a year ago in Montreal.

The funding will support ongoing work, including the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network– a process started over a decade ago between Indigenous Nations, BC, and Canada. Collaborative and well-managed marine conservation efforts in this region can lead to benefits, including improving the health of the coast, protecting culturally important sites, protecting the future of fisheries and food security, and more.

The announcement comes on the heels of recent polling that shows there is strong support for marine protected areas in the Great Bear Sea. Seventy-nine percent of British Columbians support the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas that will protect 30 percent of the waters of BC’s Northern Shelf Bioregion (Great Bear Sea), while only nine percent were opposed, according to Mario Canseco.

“We know that a Marine Protected Area Network is what is needed to protect these sensitive and threatened marine areas, which First Nations in the area have been calling for for over a decade,” says Ocean Conservation Manager Kate MacMillan. “This funding will help the implementation of the Marine Protected Area Network Action Plan that was endorsed in February. This funding will help marine life and entire ecosystems to recover, rebound, and adapt, and it will also benefit local communities with dependable food and support local economies, now and for our children and grandchildren.

The funding will also support the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP), Guardian programs, and sustainable economic development to support new businesses, permanent jobs, and more across the region.

For more information or to request interviews, please contact:

Nanwakolas Council, Caitlin Thompson: caitlinthompson@nanwakolas.com, (250) 305 8756;
Coastal First Nations, Bessie Brown: bbrown@coastalfirstnations.ca, (604) 722-3331;
Coast Funds, Stephanie Butler: stephanie@coastfunds.ca, (604) 715 1926

Want to learn more?

1) CFN, Nanwakolas Council and Coast Funds welcome BC investment in the Great Bear Sea

2) B.C. supports collaborative marine conservation, economic development on North Coast

3) Federal government commits to developing conservation finance model for Great Bear Sea

4) Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network

Learn more about the Great Bear Sea at www.greatbearsea.org

Send a thank you!

Whenever conservation initiatives are announced, it’s important to let leaders know that Indigenous-led stewardship and sustainable development is important to you. Please help us in thanking Premier David Eby and Minister Nathan Cullen for this investment!

Send a thank you

November 3 2023

Historic BC conservation agreement offers over $1 billion and increased collaboration

Max Winkelman News

Historic BC conservation agreement offers over $1 billion and increased collaboration

Recognition of First Nations as a partner is monumental in new nature conservation agreement

November 3, 2023

Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – Today’s announcement of a historic Trilateral Framework Agreement for Nature Conservation (the Agreement) sets the stage for significant action to beat back the biodiversity crisis and advances a new model of leadership to advance conservation in BC.

The federal government will be contributing $500M, and the BC government has over $500M to reach the goal of protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030, and beyond. This includes a specific fund for old-growth forests and the opportunity for additional funds from the philanthropic community. The Agreement includes an important commitment to work together towards protecting 25 per cent by 2025, including on Indigenous protected areas.

“This is the largest investment into conservation in the history of the province, and the result of historic collaboration. BC now has all the tools needed to put these commitments into action in partnership with First Nations,” says Tori Ball, Terrestrial Conservation Manager for CPAWS-BC.

As BC works toward the goal of protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030, parallel work to support and recognize Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) must be prioritized with increased capacity, resources and coordination. CPAWS-BC is excited to see a commitment to co-develop long-term and interim measures for protecting wildife habitat and ecosystems outlined in the Agreement.

Alongside prioritizing new policy and legal pathways to support and recognize IPCAs, CPAWS-BC is also advocating for a new law that prioritizes biodiversity in all decision-making. This is a widely supported, key recommendation to protect threatened ecosystems such as ancient, old-growth forests and endangered grasslands. To ensure that this money is directed where it is needed to advance conservation, existing commitments to review and revise industry-focused resource policies and laws must be expedited to align with best practices.

“This agreement is a huge milestone and the start of major work. We know that protecting lands and waters takes time to get it right, and we need to make sure that endangered and intact landscapes are protected from immediate threats before they’re lost,” continued Ball.

BC will need to nearly double the amount of land protected to reach the goal of protecting 30 per cent. BC has 15.5 per cent of lands protected in long-term, legislated protected areas, and claims an additional 4.1 per cent in other conserved areas (OECMs). These other conserved areas do not meet the agreed-upon Canadian and international protection standards referred to in the Agreement and many can easily be moved to allow for activities harmful to biodiversity, such as logging.

“The agreement announced today provides a real dose of hope for change that can be made by empowering First Nations with additional capacity, sustainable economic growth and all governments pulling in the same direction to halt and reverse the rapid loss of biodiversity. It’s great to see BC has already launched some critical parts of this agreement such as the new $300 million fund for nature. There’s no time to lose on vital conservation initiatives,” says Ball.

– 30 –

For interviews, contact:

Max Winkelman, Communications Manager
max@cpawsbc.org, 604-685-7445 x22

Background Facts:

A Canada-BC Nature Agreement was launched in February 2021 alongside commitments to support species at risk, including the Spotted Owl.
In December 2022, BC committed to protecting 30 per cent of lands by 2030, doubling the amount of land currently protected, and developing a conservation financing mechanism to support the protection of biodiverse areas through a mandate letter to Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship.
- In February 2023, BC committed to rolling out a new conservation financing mechanism within a six-month timeframe as part of its forest policy updates. This was released on October 26, 2023 as the Conservation & Stewardship Alliance Fund.
In October 2022, CPAWS released national polling results that show the majority of Canadians support protecting much more land and sea in Canada, and that the majority consider land and ocean protection a major voting issue.

Key facts about the Framework Agreement:

The funding includes $500M from the Federal government and $563M from the Provincial government. This includes funding that has already been made public, such as the $300M Conservation and Stewardship Alliance Fund announced last week.
Canada and B.C. have committed to an Old Growth Nature Fund, with matching funding of $50M each and potential funding from third-party organizations, and work in partnership with First Nations to permanently protect and conserve 4,000 to 13,000 km2 of high-priority at-risk old growth forests.
Canada will fund new restoration activities that achieve high co-benefits for species at risk, ecosystem services, connectivity, and ecological corridors. Canada and B.C. will also consult and cooperate with First Nations on species at risk protection and recovery, including ongoing partnerships to implement existing, and future, co-developed species protection and recovery plans.
A Tripartite Nature Committee will be established with representatives from Canada, B.C., and FNLC whose roles will be to coordinate activities under the Agreement.

About CPAWS-BC:

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.