Environmental Sections

The land is one organism. Its parts, like our own parts, compete with each other and co-operate with each other.... To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering. ~ ALDO LEOPOLD, FORESTER, ECOLOGIST, AND AUTHOR OF A SAND COUNTY ALMANAC (1949); FROM ROUND RIVER: FROM THE JOURNALS OF ALDO LEOPOLD (1953)

BC has around 50.000 species of wildlife and plants, its natural biodiversity is the highest in Canada and for this reason should be kept protected. The natural biodiversity of BC does not only keep the ecosystem healthy but it is also a major plus for the economical and social impact of the region. There are many actions that can be implemented in order to help conserve and protect BC’s ecosystem and keep it healthy. The improvement of species management can be studied on a landscape viewing scale that can be done by developing clear government priorities concerning species at risk as well as identifying and understanding the needs for each species to survive and thrive within the habitat area. The development of multi-species approach focuses on the management of different species at once, with a focus on the regional landscape to implement a priority species at risk action plan within provincial sub-region. The creation of a landscape-level program could be required to monitor conditions and environmental trends with the limitation of existing data. There is also a need to provide the most up-to-date information to support the identification, management, and recovery of species at risk. The best way to do this is to encourage data submission through streamline policies and procedure. Furthermore, the creation of a procedure to ensure priority action in order to identify species that should be prioritized for protection and for an assessment of the status of species. Moreover, tool improvement will facilitate the submission of data to the province. A partnership and cooperation between all levels of government, First Nations, conservation groups and private owners should be able to share more information between them in order to have a more active conservation plan.

Source: Protecting Vulnerable Species

The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program ( FWCP) has put together an Action Plan to manage and conserve the at risk species. The management objective is the maintenance or the improvement of the species populations status and their habitat. The second focus is on the development and improvement of sustainable activities that are already taking place in the area such as hunting, bird watching or wildlife viewing. The main species that are considered ‘at risk’ and considered by the action plan are the Roosevelt Elk, Vancouver Island Marmot, Great Blue Heron, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Band-Tailed Pigeon and Northern Red-Legged Frog.The research for these species is on the obstacles faced during migratory season and deviations that can occur. The other research will focus on species habitat which will be different for each species, within the locations of streams, wetlands and riparian areas. The projects are organised into five different categories: research and information acquisition, habitat based action, land securement, monitor and evaluating.
Some of the plans are already taking place are being implemented and the FWCP is helping fund the projects. For example the Vancouver Island Marmot Action Plan consists of a recovery strategic management project that is ongoing and should remain to increase the marmot’s population. However, the northern red-legged frog does not have an implemented action plan from FWCP but other plans are already in place and funded by FWCP. In conclusions, the major focus of the FWCP is the protection of the wildlife and plants that were affected by any of the watershed creations in the past.

Source: Campbell River Watershed