My Highlights and Reflections from IMPAC5

When I joined CPAWS-BC at the start of the new year, I knew I was getting the chance to put my passion and skills for marine research into action. Little did I know, in my first month, I’d get to attend a Congress gathering with the world’s top thought leaders and marine guardians and have the opportunity to learn, connect and share solutions for marine conservation. 

The 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) marked my first month working with CPAWS-BC and my first experience attending a Congress of this scale. While these firsts sparked excitement, they simultaneously cast shadows of doubt and nerves. It’s a feeling I know many of my peers experience too. It’s not always comfortable to enter spaces where youth and others haven’t always been invited into or included. I feared being trivial and inconvenient in rooms full of important decision-makers, leaders, and ocean champions who I look up to. I’m happy to say my experience at IMPAC5 proved those apprehensions wrong. In contrast to the pressures of formal meetings and tense negotiations, the congress space welcomed honest conversations and meaningful connections. Day by day, my anxieties lifted and, in turn, uncovered such an empowering and memorable week. 

IMPAC5 took place February 5-9, 2023, on the lands and waters of the Coast Salish Peoples in Vancouver. CPAWS-BC’s ocean conservation team joined Indigenous knowledge holders, policymakers, scientists, youth, and community leaders for a week of expert presentations, workshops, family festival activities, and critical conservation commitments. The perspectives and collective voices of the global ocean community helped shape a bright path toward advancing marine conservation both here in BC and beyond.

Here are three highlights from my time at IMPAC5:

1. Celebrating Conservation Wins!

Marine conservation work fully embodies the sentiment, “it’s a marathon not a sprint”. It can take years, sometimes decades, of planning and meaningful consultation before introducing a new marine protected area (MPA) in BC. At IMPAC5, we had the special opportunity to celebrate several exciting announcements:

• Coastal first nations endorsement of the Great Bear Sea MPA Network Action Plan
• A National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) Policy Framework
• Memorandum of understanding for the Tang.ɢwan — ḥačxwiqak — Tsig̱is MPA
• The Gwaxdlala/Nalaxdlala Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area (IPCA) – Marine Refuge
• Minimum protection standards framework for MPAs
• A pathway to protect 25% of the ocean by 2025 

These milestones signal a hopeful course toward stronger ocean protection. We’re celebrating these ‘wins’ thanks to the leadership of Indigenous Nations, collaboration between governments, and community voices like you who took action to speak up for the ocean we love and depend on. I’m encouraged by the work that’s been done and feel motivated that together we can move forward on these commitments. 

2. Reflecting on JEDI Knowledge-Sharing Sessions

Each day at IMPAC5 introduced an incredible series of keynote speakers, symposiums, poster presentations, and knowledge-sharing sessions. The presenters and panellists explored timely themes, including managing MPAs, addressing the climate crisis, and advancing the blue economy. In between jumping from session to session, I found myself especially moved by conversations of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). 

I enjoyed the “Social Equity and Marine Conservation” session with Nathan Bennett, Aulani Wilhelm, Natalie Ban, Danika Klieber, María José Barragán, Elise Huffer, and Philip Akins. The panellists shared valuable insight and guidance on how organizations can equitably pursue marine conservation. Our conversation highlighted the gaps and structural barriers to integrating equity in conservation actions while envisioning ways to spotlight the human dimensions of marine conservation.

Kate MacMillan, Ocean Conservation Manager (CPAWS-BC), joined Natalie Groulx (CPAWS), Véronique Bussière (CPAWS/SNAP-QC) and Gwen Bridge to unpack how and what it means to decolonize conservation and advocacy work within the environmental non-governmental organizations(ENGOs). This session was a meaningful opportunity to reflect as an organization and exchange perspectives with other ENGOs around the world.

3. IMPAC5 Ocean Fest: Clay Herring Workshop with Clare Wilkening 

While sessions were happening inside, IMPAC5 Ocean Fest also turned up across Downtown Vancouver. CPAWS-BC hosted a series of events, including a Speaker Series, an interactive Festival Tent, and a photo contest. Our final Ocean Fest event was a ceramic clay herring workshop at the Massy Art Gallery led by local ceramic artist, Clare Wilkening.

This workshop was a welcomed break from the buzzing conference, and a perfect excuse to get my hands dirty. Artists, scientists, families, and community members filled the space. A calming and grounding energy filled the room. Together, we spent the afternoon molding clay herring—each uniquely beautiful— and sharing chatting about artistic practices, community, and conservation. There are deep connections between art and conservation. Bridging these parallels can be a powerful tool to convey important messages of biodiversity loss, evoke feelings of empathy towards nature, and catalyze action for conservation issues. 

The clay creations from this workshop will find a home in Clare’s upcoming art installation that celebrates the importance of herring. 

Coming out of IMPAC5, I feel heartened and encouraged by our new and renewed commitments to implementing stronger protection standards for MPAs. I’m hopeful that by working together with Indigenous leadership and supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts, Canada can protect 30% of the ocean by 2023 and more. Everyone has a voice of belonging in shaping the future. And while it’s important to diversify the voices in the room, the voices outside count too. I’m excited to dive deeper into my staff role and build a global network of ocean protection.

The CPAWS-BC’s ocean team will continue doing what we do best. We’re focusing on the best ways to support Indigenous partners as they chart a new path forward for land and water conservation on their territories. We’ll keep bringing our extensive expertise in science communication, map-making and GIS analysis, and community engagement to local areas where big conservation gains are possible. With your continued support, we’ll amplify the stories and voices of people protecting nature in every corner of the province and all along the coastline. 

We can’t do this without you. It’s more important than ever that your voice for nature is included in decision-makers’ vision for the future. With your support, we’ll work to ensure these commitments for ocean conservation are fulfilled.

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2023 BC Budget: What’s in it for nature?

The 2023 BC Budget was released on Tuesday, February 28. In the weeks leading up to the budget announcement, BCer’s sent messages to BC leaders urging them to increase funding for nature protection. While nature didn’t see the big boost we all hoped for, CPAWS-BC welcomes the positive moves for BC’s parks and the coast. 

The budget sets out a vision for collaborative stewardship of lands, waters and marine ecosystems. We’re excited to see the budget build on BC’s recent policy commitments and IMPAC5 announcements to prioritize ecosystem health, protect 30% of lands by 2030 and advance Indigenous-led conservation.

Want to know how the new budget will invest in lands, waters and ocean conservation action in BC?

Here are our top 10 nature notes in the BC Budget:

1) More funding for parks and recreation: $101 million will be provided to BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails over three years for capital and operating expenses. This means your favourite parks, trails and campsites will get the funding support they need to protect nature and be more accessible.

2) Co-developing an Indigenous Guardians training program: As part of a $480M three-year skills training plan, funding will be provided to support new Guardian training programs. This will be co-developed with Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Guardians are the “eyes and ears on the ground” in traditional territories, honouring their stewardship responsibilities and strengthening the protection of land and waters across BC.

3) A commitment to implement the Together for Wildlife Strategy: This strategy aims to advance wildlife and habitat stewardship across BC in partnership with Indigenous Nations. BC has a wealth of biodiversity and this plan recognizes the need for a collaborative, adaptive approach to managing wildlife and habitat.

4) Additional regional Forest Landscape Planning tables: $21 million will be provided over three years to establish eight more regional Forest Landscape Planning tables to expand on the existing four. Forest Landscape Planning tables will be led by the province in partnership with Indigenous Nations to engage stakeholders and local community members. This builds on a suite of recently announced changes to shift forest management in BC to better prioritize ecosystem health, community resiliency and Indigenous values.

5) Jumpstarting a Watershed Security Fund: $100 million will go towards improving watershed security in BC by implementing a Watershed Security Fund. Watershed security is vital for strong communities and ecological health. Clean water is a growing concern within communities on the frontlines of climate change and extreme weather events. Healthy watersheds support climate resilience, reconciliation, local economies and all walks of life. 

6) Further investment in land-use planning: BC’s land-use planning budget received a slight boost to advance the modernizing of land-use planning and policy, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. Additional resources will be necessary to reach the commitments to protect 30% of lands by 2030 and paradigm-shifting approaches to land and resource management are reaffirmed in the budget. 

7) More funding for First Nations agreements:  Nearly $75 million dedicated to supporting reconciliation initiatives with First Nations including the development of clean energy and natural resources, land purchases and emergency management. This investment bolsters efforts to support Indigenous management of their Traditional Territories and is key to the province’s commitment to protecting 30% of lands by 2030.

8) Additional financial investment in water, fisheries, and coastal policy and planning: The province has allocated $10,355,000 for water, fisheries, and coastal policy and planning, which is a slight increase from the 2022/2023 budget of $7,917,000. The exact distribution of this funding to the different programs is unknown, but CPAWS-BC supports an increase in financial investment towards marine conservation, planning, and stewardship in partnership with Indigenous Nations. The following initiatives are included in this boost: 

9) Coastal Marine Strategy: The first BC Coastal Marine Strategy will be a cohesive plan co-developed with Indigenous Nations to ensure the health of marine ecosystems and coastal communities. The conservation outcomes of the Coastal Marine Strategy will reflect efforts to strengthen other provincial natural resource management strategies, such as the Watershed Security Strategy and Wild Salmon Strategy. 

“We’re happy with the progress to co-develop the Coastal Marine Strategy, and the announcement today signals that the province remains committed to continuing this important work, ” said Kate MacMillan, Ocean Conservation Manager with CPAWS-BC. “We hope that once the strategy is completed, there will be a continued investment to ensure its delivery. We need to care for marine waters, to support thriving, healthy marine ecosystems and coastal communities for future generations.”

Read CPAWS-BC’s Press Release

10) Marine Plan Partnership and the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network: BC and coastal First Nations are leading the Marine Plan Partnership and the implementation of Canada’s first Marine Protected Area Network in the Great Bear Sea. As of February 6, 2023, the implementation of the new MPA Network is within sight. Permanent protections here on the North and Central coasts will benefit marine life and communities now, and forever  

Is the 2023 BC Budget everything we hoped for? Not quite, but it sets the stage for a vision we can build on. 

It will take all of us together, to secure meaningful protections for nature on the path to 30×30. Thanks for adding your voice to the movement. 

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Take Action! Add your comments to the BC Coastal Marine Strategy questionnaire before April 14, 2023. Your feedback is important and will help shape a healthy coast for future generations.