Parks

CPAWS as “guardians” of parks

Parks, once created, need guardians. CPAWS assumes that role increasingly. In 2010, CPAWS helped stop a poorly conceived run-of-river project in the Great Bear Rainforest. We currently add our voice to protect Atlin Lake from a harmful energy project (you can help). We also track potential wind power projects in the Muskwa-Kechika as these permanent installations have the potential to damage the world class wilderness and wildlife in the MK's Special Management areas, and in parks located near the project. It’s alarming to see increasing industry and private enterprise impacting parks – places that are supposed to be protected forever.

Funding for BC Parks

    2011 was the 100th anniversary of BC Parks, which was a milestone we celebrated. However British Columbia’s 1000 parks and protected areas remain woefully underfunded. The Auditor General presented recommendations to Legislature and the public to ensure that nature-first policies guide the direction of each of the BC parks. This report shone a light on the bleak situation in BC parks that has existed for many years. CPAWS works to ensure nature is properly conserved, parks funding is restored and there is the political will and public awareness of the critical need to revive B.C.’s glorious, but neglected, collection of parks.

Climate change and parks

British Columbia needs to protect nature as significant climate change is underway. B.C. has a tremendous variety of plants and animals – these species survive in grasslands, mountains, northern boreal, coastal rainforest and ocean ecosystems. We need to protect strategic large swaths of representative land and ocean – places with a healthy variety of changing lifeforms. CPAWS remains at the cutting edge of climate change and biodiversity research.