Hear a quick summary overview by the Endangered Ecosystem Alliance's Executive Director Ken Wu about some of the progress for protected areas expansion policies and funding that were announced from Canada and several provinces during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal between Dec.7 to 19, 2022.
Read moreMedia Release: Closing the Conservation Gaps in Canada: Provincial buy-in, protection targets for all ecosystems, and conservation financing for Indigenous Protected Areas needed
A hardwood swamp forest in the Minesing wetlands of southern Ontario
Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) calls for a federal “Endangered Ecosystems Act” to ensure protected areas targets are devised for all ecosystems, to motivate the provinces to adopt protection targets and to ensure funding for protected areas expansion
Montreal - As 196 countries meet in Montreal at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) to negotiate new international protected areas targets and policies, conservation groups are increasing their pressure on the Canadian and provincial governments to close the conservation gaps in expanding the protected areas system in Canada.
Read moreConservationists optimistic over David Eby's commitments to protect B.C.'s biodiversity - News Article (CBC News)
An aerial photograph of the Nahmint Valley outside Port Alberni, B.C., shows protected old growth groves along the water and replanted hillsides that were previously logged. (Chris Corday/CBC)
In mandate letters to his land stewardship and forestry ministers, B.C. Premier David Eby says he wants to double the amount of protected land in the province, support new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and move faster on recommendations around the logging of old growth trees.
They're conservation goals advocates have been calling on for years to protect B.C.'s unique biodiversity, which has thousands of species at risk due to development and climate change.
"This is potentially a major leap toward protecting endangered ecosystems and the most at-risk, productive stands of old-growth forests left in B.C.," said Ken Wu in a release from the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance.
Read moreMedia Release: BC’s New Premier David Eby commits to double protected areas by 2030 & to develop a conservation financing mechanism for IPCAs
Conservationist Vicky Husband and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance executive director Ken Wu stand among unprotected old-growth redcedars in the Jurassic Grove on southern Vancouver Island in Pacheedaht territory near Port Renfrew
Yesterday in his mandate letter to the new Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen, BC’s new Premier David Eby committed BC for the first time to protecting 30% of the province’s land area by 2030 (currently 15% is protected). He also tasked Cullen to work with First Nations to support new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA’s) and to help “develop a new conservation financing mechanism to support protection of biodiverse areas.”
Read moreB.C. vows to reverse ‘short-term thinking’ with pledge to protect 30% of province by 2030 - News Article (The Narwhal)
BC Premier David Eby has committed to protecting 30 per cent of B.C. by 2030, doubling current protections. Photo: Province of British Columbia, Flickr
For years, our main campaign in BC has been that the province must commit to the federal protected areas targets (to protect 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 of Canada's land and marine areas) at a minimum and to provide conservation financing support for First Nations sustainable economic development linked to protecting the most at-risk, productive (big tree) old-growth forests and the most endangered ecosystems.
Today Premier David Eby committed BC to meeting the federal protected areas target of protecting 30% by 2030 of the land area (currently 15% of BC is in legislated protected areas), joining Quebec now which made the pledge much earlier.
Read moreVideo: Nature Protection in Canada - Time for Ambition and Ecosystem-Based Targets
Check out the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance's new 5 min video on "Nature Protection in Canada - Time for Ambition and Ecosystem-Based Targets" explaining key issues as 195 countries converge in Montreal to negotiate new international protected areas targets and policies at the UN Biodiversity Conference.
Most importantly SEND a MESSAGE to your provincial government and to the federal government to scale-up their protected areas ambition here.
Please donate to help us get this video out to millions of Canadians via social media ads - right now is THE greatest chance in history to pressure governments across Canada to protect native ecosystems!
And sign-up for our newsletter about our events, nature walks and news across Canada here.
SEND a MESSAGE: Protect Canada’s Endangered Ecosystems – the Provinces and Federal Government Must Act!
Right now 196 countries are converging UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal to negotiate new, international protected areas targets and policies.
Please SPEAK UP to your provincial and federal leaders for strong protected areas commitments to protect the most endangered ecosystems across Canada!
Read moreSEND a MESSAGE: BC Must Fund Indigenous Old-Growth Logging Deferrals and Protected Areas ASAP and Ensure Ecosystem-Based Targets!
British Columbia is the most ecologically and biologically diverse province in Canada, spanning from towering old-growth temperate rainforests to hot dry grasslands, from low elevation wetlands to high elevation alpine tundra, and from freshwater to marine ecosystems.
Currently, about 15% of the province is safeguarded in legislated protected areas, with ecosystems across the province at risk from a variety of industrial threats including industrial logging, suburban sprawl, oil and gas, mining, and agricultural conversion.
For almost 2 years, the BC and federal government have been negotiating a potential funding agreement to expand the protected areas system in BC.
If they do this, such a Nature Agreement could be the biggest game-changer for the protection of endangered ecosystems and old-growth forests in BC's history, finally ending the 50 year old War in the Woods!
PLEASE SEND a MESSAGE to the BC and Federal governments.
Media Release: Before COP15, Conservation Groups call on BC Government to Commit to Funding and Targets to Expand Protected Areas in BC
EEA Executive Director Ken Wu in the Jursassic Grove on Southern Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew in Pacheedat territory
BC has a chance to protect the most endangered ecosystems and promote community economic, social and cultural well-being linked to nature conservation - and also to finally end the War in the Woods over old-growth forests.
Read more