bc

ID: illustrated poster reads Finding Balance on the Coast in bold white letters

May 30 2023

Finding balance on the coast: Healthy ocean through Marine Spatial Planning

cpawsadmin #worldoceanday, bc, marine science, marine spatial planning, ocean, ocean week

The BC coast is a busy seaway, fishing ground, and ecological treasure. How do marine planners account for overlapping user demands and conflicting activities on the coast? Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a collaborative process used for ocean protection. MSP helps inform holistic plans for the coast that balance environmental, economic, social and cultural values.

This Ocean Week 2023, learn about how marine spatial planning is helping protect the coast in Canada. Join us on Monday June 5 at 12PM (PDT) for a webinar all about MSP and how this can advance marine conservation in BC!

Hear from Marine Use Planner, Shauna Johnson (W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council) about their work exploring the ways MSP supports community stewardship on the South Coast of BC.

TICKETS HERE

Tickets are free but limited. We invite attendees to make a donation of $10, or whatever amount feels right to you, to support ocean conservation in BC. Visit cpawsbc.org/donate

SPEAKERS

Shauna Johnson (she/her) is a Marine Use Planner with W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. She is Coast Salish from the Tsawout First Nation on her mother’s side and Tsimshian from Laxkwala’ams on her father’s side. Shauna holds a Master of Science degree in Indigenous Community Planning (ICP) and has specialized expertise in providing planning support for Indigenous communities to revitalize and promote Indigenous community planning research, methods and practices grounded firmly within Indigenous Laws, legal traditions and ways of Knowing and being.

W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s mandate is to promote respect for W̱SÁNEĆ culture, traditional practices, language, and the interests of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations. They are working to establish a community-based Marine and Land Use Plan for the W̱SÁNEC territory, which will help guide future decision-making for the marine environment and the W̱SÁNEĆ way of life.

Join CPAWS-BC webinar hosts Debra Sinarta (she/her), Marine Research Coordinator and Jacob Chlla (he/him) – GIS Analyst.

Questions? Reach out to: info@cpawsbc.org

Joel Lutz, Sunbathing in afternoon sun, Bowron, 2004

January 18 2023

Blueberry River First Nations and BC Reach Historic Land Stewardship Agreement

cpawsadmin News 30x30, bc, blueberry first nation, cpaws, eby, indigenous led conservation, ipca

Blueberry River First Nations and BC Reach Historic Land Stewardship Agreement

CPAWS-BC celebrates steps towards facilitating Indigenous land stewardship and increasing land protection in BC.

18 January 2022Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories / Vancouver, BC— The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) celebrates a new partnership approach between Blueberry River First Nations and British Columbia to uphold Treaty 8 rights and protect lands and waters within Suunéch’ii Kéch’iige, “The Place Where Happiness Dwells”. The Blueberry River First Nations Implementation Agreement is an important step toward facilitating Indigenous land stewardship, recognizing Indigenous rights, and increasing land and biodiversity protection in BC.

Northeastern British Columbia has been significantly impacted by development activities such as oil and natural gas extraction and forestry. This agreement will help prevent and reverse biodiversity loss through improved land use planning and restoration.

“Lands managed by Indigenous Peoples are known to have the highest levels of biodiversity. We’re excited about an increase in protected areas in BC, especially with Indigenous stewardship at the forefront,” says Meaghen McCord, Executive Director with CPAWS-BC.

This agreement is a response to the BC Supreme Court (Yahey) decision made on June 29, 2021, which stated the Province is required to protect the constitutional rights of Blueberry River First Nations and better manage the cumulative effects of industrial development on Blueberry River First Nations Treaty rights.

Collaborative land use planning detailed in this agreement identifies new areas for protection from logging, implements restrictions on oil and natural gas development in Blueberry Rivers’ Claim Area, and details an ambitious timeline for implementation. New land protections that value ecosystem health over natural resource extraction will advance BC’s commitment to protecting 30 percent of lands by 2030. The increase in protected areas and an ecosystem-based management approach will help safeguard biodiversity and species at risk.

The agreement includes new funding to restore a more intact and diverse forest with native plants. Indigenous knowledge and western science will be brought together in wildlife monitoring and management, with a focus on moose and caribou population recovery. Restoration to heal the land, and co-management of wildlife will ensure healthy ecosystems for future generations.

“Indigenous Peoples have stewarded rich and healthy landscapes since time immemorial. We hope this new partnership approach in land use planning will help fast track a pathway for creating new, and recognizing already declared, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in BC.” says Meaghen McCord, Executive Director.

This agreement is great news for the modernization of land-use planning and shared decision-making in BC that recognizes Indigenous rights and responsibilities and considers cumulative effects. We congratulate Blueberry River First Nations and the Province on this important agreement.

-30-

For interviews, contact:

Rippon Madtha, Communications Manager, CPAWS BC
rippon@cpaws.org | (604) 685-7445 x23

Resources:

“Province, Blueberry River First Nations reach agreement“ Government of British Columbia, 18 Jan. 2023. Press release. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023WLRS0004-000043

Where Happiness Dwells – Blueberry River First Nations

About CPAWS-BC:

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

Photo by Joel Lutz

December 8 2022

CPAWS-BC celebrates a commitment to protecting 30% by 2030 and advancing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in BC

cpawsadmin News 30x30, bc, cpaws, cullen, ipca

CPAWS-BC celebrates a commitment to protecting 30% by 2030 and advancing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in BC

CPAWS-BC applauds provincial direction to protect 30% of land by 2030

December 8, 2022, traditional unceded Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, British Columbia — The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) is celebrating the Government of BC’s move to take major action on conservation by protecting 30% of lands by 2030 and advancing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). This crucial direction was set through the mandate letter from the Premier to the new Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Nathan Cullen, and makes BC the second province in Canada to make this commitment.

“With this direction, BC is investing in our future, and protecting the natural world that provides our food, clean water, clean air and stable climate,” says Tori Ball, Terrestrial Conservation Manager with CPAWS-BC. “Protected areas help to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, while contributing to diversified local economies and advancing BC’s reconciliation goals. This is extremely good news for all British Columbians.”

“We are very happy to see the Government of BC remains committed to protecting our coastal marine ecosystems in this mandate too,” says Kate MacMillan, Ocean Conservation Manager for CPAWS-BC. “This is good for marine life and also safeguards the livelihoods of those living there. A healthy ocean is good for nature, and for BC’s economy.”

Existing protected area proposals and IPCA declarations add up to nearly 100,000 square kilometres, covering two and a half times the landmass of Vancouver Island.

“BC is the most biologically diverse province in Canada,” says Ball. “The new mandate letter shows support for work that is already underway to halt and reverse biodiversity loss here in BC . Protecting 30% by 2030, supporting IPCAs, developing a biodiversity law as a key recommendation from the Old Growth Strategic Review – this is all good news for our land, waters and wildlife.”

Indigenous Nations in the province are already leading the way through conservation visions, declarations and stewardship initiatives in their traditional territories. Ball says she is hopeful the mandate letter will specifically lead to increased action on Indigenous-led conservation proposals such as the Kaska Dena’s Dene K’éh Kusān and the Lower Similkameen’s sməlqmíx Protected Areas.

Research shows that biodiversity thrives on Indigenous-managed lands and waters, and these are just two of the incredible proposals that would safeguard intact watersheds and create refuges for wildlife like caribou and many other species” she says. “Their work allows threatened species to make a comeback, bolsters Indigenous rights to land and culture, and helps the province adapt to a rapidly changing climate, so it must be supported.”

The announcement comes during the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Montreal, and where Ball and MacMillan are attending on behalf of CPAWS-BC alongside Indigenous partners to encourage Canada and the international community to land an ambitious new global deal to save nature, and urge them to support Indigenous Peoples’ land and ocean protection efforts.

-30-

For interviews, contact:

Tori Ball, Territorial Conservation Manager, CPAWS BC
tori@cpaws.org | (604) 685-7445 x24

Kate MacMillan, Ocean Conservation Manager, CPAWS BC
kate@cpaws.org| ( 604) 685-7445 x 26

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 kilometers. 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.

www.cpawsbc.org

Kaska lands and waters. Photo by Adam Combs.