Event Title
Overcoming inertia - affecting postive outcomes for species at risk conservation
Presentation Abstract
The SCCP was the first organization in BC to do pilot implementation of recommendations jointly prepared by the provincial Species and Ecosystems at Risk and Local Governments Working Group (SEAR LGWG). While local governments have many of the tools needed to achieve protection for species at risk, those that work to achieve such actions are few. The reason for this inertia is most often due to challenges at the political level. The learning outcomes from the SCCP’s work on this project are many as have been the challenges. Ultimately the goal is to have a consistent and committed approach to integrating species and ecosystems at risk in land use policies and practices.
One of the challenges is that the province of BC has a bilateral agreement with the federal government delegating the responsibility to ensure species at risk and critical habitat are protected. The reality is that actions to do so have not been well supported politically and BC remains alone in not having dedicated provincial species at risk protection. Local governments in particular remain confused or unaware of their responsibilities and have often sought to avoid acting, citing a need for the province to compel then or provide clearer messaging in order to act.
As session conveners the SCCP will set the stage for the session, discussing these challenges and how interests might move forward to affect positive outcomes for conservation in the absence of clear legislative direction from the province to local governments on species at risk protection.
Session Title
From Conversation to Conservation Action: Balancing Endangered Species Protection and Growth on BC's South Coast
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Endangered ecosystems--Political aspects--British Columbia; Endangered species--Political aspects--British Columbia
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Overcoming inertia - affecting postive outcomes for species at risk conservation
2016SSEC
The SCCP was the first organization in BC to do pilot implementation of recommendations jointly prepared by the provincial Species and Ecosystems at Risk and Local Governments Working Group (SEAR LGWG). While local governments have many of the tools needed to achieve protection for species at risk, those that work to achieve such actions are few. The reason for this inertia is most often due to challenges at the political level. The learning outcomes from the SCCP’s work on this project are many as have been the challenges. Ultimately the goal is to have a consistent and committed approach to integrating species and ecosystems at risk in land use policies and practices.
One of the challenges is that the province of BC has a bilateral agreement with the federal government delegating the responsibility to ensure species at risk and critical habitat are protected. The reality is that actions to do so have not been well supported politically and BC remains alone in not having dedicated provincial species at risk protection. Local governments in particular remain confused or unaware of their responsibilities and have often sought to avoid acting, citing a need for the province to compel then or provide clearer messaging in order to act.
As session conveners the SCCP will set the stage for the session, discussing these challenges and how interests might move forward to affect positive outcomes for conservation in the absence of clear legislative direction from the province to local governments on species at risk protection.
Comments
Pamela Zevit RPBio, Program Coordinator South Coast Conservation Program: Pamela provides overall coordination of the SCCP's program streams as well as inter-regional collaboration and engagement, working with government and non-government partners, funders and practitioners on developing best practices and facilitating knowledge sharing around the science and management of endangered species and their habitat.
Christine Cooper, B.Sc.Env, M.L.Arch, is the Conservation Planner for the SCCP working on engaging local governments to integrate species at risk into land use planning: With a background in ecology and a focus on urban wildlife, Christine’s primary role is to influence land use decisions by providing local governments and the development community with the tools to integrate species and ecosystems at risk into biodiversity considerations in the built environment.