B.C. Endangered Species Legislation Needed Now
For more than a year the Canadian government has been developing endangered species legislation to meet its obligations under the Biodiversity Convention it signed in 1992 at the Rio Summit on the Environment.
The environmental community greeted the proposed draft legislation with resounding boos when it was finally tabled as a white paper for public comment in the fall of 1995. Not only did the draft legislation only apply to federal lands--less than 4 percent of Canada's land base--it did not even require the protection of the natural habitat critical to species' survival.
It's not that the public is resistant to the idea of strong and universally applicable endangered species legislation. A recent poll found that 94 percent of Canadians support such legislation.
So, what's the problem? The Federal Government, in this era of shaky federal-provincial relations, says that it will not impose endangered species legislation on provinces. According to its legal experts, federal legislation would infringe on provincial jurisdiction over land-related matters. Thus, the provinces must take the lead roll in protecting endangered species in Canada.
Where does the NDP government and the opposition parties in B.C. stand on enacting endangered species legislation? Their silence is as loud as the noise made by the nameless plants and animals going extinct everyday around the globe because of humankind's relentless developments, especially the continued clearcutting of the earth's ancient forests.
For all political parties to consider, here are eight key elements that effective provincial endangered species legislation must contain:
- Protection for all endangered species and populations everywhere in B.C.
- A clear method as to how species at risk are determined--based on scientific not political criteria and including identification of main threats.
- Prohibition of all actions that harm endangered species or damage the natural habitats they need to survive.
- Preventive approaches to protect species, not just "critical care" when they're in the throes of extinction.
- Mandatory implementations of ecosystem-based recovery plans for each listed species.
- Stiff penalties for violating the Endangered Species Act.
- Incentives to promote cooperation amongst landowners, First Nations, and other governments to give endangered species and their habitats full protection.
- Provisions for citizens to use and enforce the Endangered Species Act.
Which B.C. political party will be the first to promise, if elected, to enact effective Endangered Species Legislation in B.C?
