B.C. has a whopping 1,807 species at risk of extinction — but no rules to protect them | The Narwhal

Opinion (the long list of authors is appended at the bottom of this article) B.C. has a whopping 1,807 species at risk of extinction — but no rules to protect them. With the highest national number of plants and animals at risk of disappearing, B.C. can’t afford to backtrack on promises to introduce endangered species legislation.

As scientists at the forefront of endangered species research, we are concerned that government backpedaling on endangered species legislation will be a major setback for threatened species, their wild spaces, and the benefits that we derive from them.

British Columbia has a whopping 1,807 species of animals and plants at risk of extinction, more than any other province or territory in Canada.

And yet B.C. is still one of the only provinces in Canada without legislation dedicated to protecting and recovering species at risk.

B.C.’s NDP party platform included the creation of the province’s first endangered species law, and Premier John Horgan reinforced this in the mandate letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, George Heyman.

We welcomed this announcement and have worked over the last year to advise the government so that the new law is based on strong science.

But recently, Premier Horgan appeared to back-track on his promise and his ministries’ efforts to build ‘made in B.C.’ legislation, stating: “There’s no significant species at risk legislation on the docket for the foreseeable future here in B.C.”

This potential reversal comes as a result of backlash from parties concerned about how habitat protection for southern mountain caribou could affect their bottom line.

Let’s be clear about what’s going on: particular parties that are highly invested in the status quo of habitat loss and degradation have persuaded cabinet that they will make job loss an election issue in retaliation for strong conservation.

But the evidence is abundant that — contrary to popular belief — protecting the environment doesn’t undermine net job growth. If anything it boosts it, by redirecting and encouraging economic growth towards less damaging practices.

The bottom line for caribou and many other wildlife species is crystal clear: without timely and meaningful protection and restoration measures, including a provincial endangered species law, these creatures will be lost forever.

Signed:

Tara Martin, Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia

Arne Mooers, Professor, Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Brian Starzomski, Ian McTaggart Cowan Professor, School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria

Chris Johnson, Professor, Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia

Cole Burton, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia

John Reynolds, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Julia Baum, Professor, Department of Biology, University of Victoria

Kai Chan, Professor, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia

Karen Hodges, Professor, Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Marco Festa-Bianchet, Professor, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke

Peter Arcese, Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia

Sally Otto, Professor, Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia

Shaun Fluker, Associate Professor of Law, University of Calgary

THENARWHAL.CA

B.C. has a whopping 1,807 species at risk of extinction — but no rules to protect them | The Narwhal

With the highest national number of plants and animals at risk of disappearing, B.C. can’t afford to backtrack on promises to introduce endangered species legislation