“There Oughta Be a Law, and This Ain’t Itâ€
by Forest Ethics.org
 The provincial government's “underwhelming†response today to a groundbreaking report on the precarious state of wildlife and wilderness in BC recycles failed policies and underscores the urgent need for a species at risk law for the province, says a coalition of leading environmental organizations.
“British Columbia is in desperate need of an endangered species law to recover our species at risk, and to prevent species from becoming at risk in the first place,†said Devon Page of Ecojustice. “We need a law that compels habitat protection. Unfortunately that’s not what was announced today.â€
BC Govt's “Conservation Framework†is no substitute for species at risk legislation.
BC & Alberta are the only two provinces without an endangered species act.
July 9, 2008, Vancouver – Coming on the heels of a 300-plus page groundbreaking report by
Biodiversity BC (www.biodiversitybc.org) on the precarious state of BC
wildlife, “Taking Nature's Pulse,†the BC Government's response,
labeled the “Conservation Framework,†recycles the same patchwork of
weak and discretionary regulations that have failed to halt species
decline in the first place. BC has over 1,600 species at risk, and is
one of only two provinces without an endangered species act.
- “Our focus groups show that British Columbians are shocked
when they learn that ‘The Best Place on Earth’ doesn’t have a law that
protects its wildlife,†said Candace Batycki of ForestEthics. “The only
other Canadian province that doesn’t have an endangered species act is
Alberta.â€
- “The government’s response has been underwhelming to say
the least,†said Dr. Faisal Moola, Director of Science with the David
Suzuki Foundation. “With the fate of thousands of species hanging in
the balance, and global warming threatening to tip the scales, we were
really hoping for a law.â€
The groups are especially critical of the government's
continuing failure to adequately fund species at risk recovery efforts,
estimating that the province currently spends approximately $10 million
annually on species recovery - the equivalent cost of constructing one
kilometre of a four-lane highway.
- “While it’s helpful to have a detailed description of the
situation like the Biodiversity BC status report, without a law that
actually compels action it's a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on
the Titanic – or pointing and saying, 'Look! Iceberg!'†said Gwen
Barlee of the Wilderness Committee.
For a detailed media backgrounder: www.forestethics.org/poorprotection
For Immediate Release: July 9th, 2008
Detailed media backgrounder: www.forestethics.org/poorprotection
Contact: Dr. Faisal Moola, Director of Science, David Suzuki Foundation,
(604) 512-5788
Devon Page, Executive Director, Ecojustice,
(778) 828-5512
Gwen Barlee, Policy Director, Wilderness Committee,
(604) 202-0322
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