In its national Conservation Report Card, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) says B.C. has been making strides, but the province must do more to meet targets.
B.C. CPAWS Executive Director Sarah McNeil said the province has earned a ‘B’ grade on the organization’s Report Card.
The grade comes from the province committing to big conservation goals and making some notable progress.
“B.C. has taken some important first steps over the last few years, including a public commitment to protect 30 per cent of land and water by 2030, signing a tripartite agreement on nature conservation with the federal government and First Nations Leadership Council. There has been some funding that came out of that agreement,” said McNeil.
“We’ve also seen the creation of the largest provincial park in a decade with the Klin-se-za park expansion in June 2024, there was also the release of the B.C. Coastal Marine Strategy.”
A ‘B’ is far from a perfect mark, and McNeil says the province is moving slowly to meet its own commitments.
“Besides the promises and the examples I mentioned, actual on-the-ground progress has been very slow. In B.C., there is a lack of clear processes to create new protected areas,” said McNeil.
“While we wait for these processes to be established and areas to be protected, we are continuing to lose biodiversity. We are continuing to see important ecological values lost on the land and waters.”
McNeil added the glacial pace of B.C.’s conservation efforts may not be enough to preserve the namesake of this metaphor before they melt.
“I’ve been with CPAWS B.C. for eight years, and in the time I’ve been here the percentage of the province that has become protected has grown by 0.5 per cent,” said McNeil.
“If this is the rate of protection that we continue to see, it would take the B.C. government 225 years to reach the target of protecting 30 per cent of land. 2030 is five years away, so the math isn’t really working.”
McNeil mentioned B.C. needs to work on fixing its shortcomings to address conservation needs in the province.
“We know that nature and wilderness are core to what makes B.C. such a special place, so we’re simply asking the government to meet its own commitments,” said McNeil.
“We also have not seen the government implement clear funding processes to establish new protected areas. These protected areas need to be established in partnership with Indigenous Nations, communities, industry and experts.”
McNeil stated the provincial government has the chance to step up conservation efforts, but it needs the political will to do so.
“We know that it’s possible to find a path forward to 30 per cent protection by 2030, but it requires the government to work with Indigenous nations and communities,” said McNeil.
“I believe it’s possible to get there, but there is no time to waste. These processes need to start immediately.”
You can see the provincial and national results for Canada’s Conservation Report Card here.
– with files from My Kootenay Now Staff
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