Press Release
September 30, 2005
CPAWS supports Environment Commissioner's call for federal action to protect biodiversity
OTTAWA -- Today, the federal Commissioner on the Environment and Sustainable Development identified serious shortcomings with the federal government's initiatives in the areas of biodiversity and oceans, as well as the need to do more to protect our national parks, in the report she tabled in Parliament.
CPAWS, a national non-profit organization committed to conserving Canada's big wilderness landscapes, urges the federal government to embrace the Commissioners' call to move from words to actions to protect Canada's lands, seas and diversity of life.
"We need to start with clear, government-wide plans, investment and actions to fulfill commitments to establish a network of terrestrial and marine protected areas across Canada," says CPAWS spokesperson Sabine Jessen.
On protecting Canada's oceans, the Commissioner noted that Canada has made very little progress in implementing the 1996 Oceans Act, including the establishment of marine protected areas, and completing integrated oceans management plans.
"It's clear from the lack of progress since the act was passed nine years ago, and the low level of committed funding, that the federal government has simply not made oceans conservation and management a priority in Canada", said Jessen, who is the Conservation Director for CPAWS' British Columbia Chapter. "Our oceans are in crisis, and more words are not going turn things around."
Canada has made international commitments to complete a national network of marine protected areas by 2012, but with only two marine protected areas designated under the Oceans Act to date (Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents and The Gully), it seems unlikely that we can meet this target unless the government as a whole immediately makes oceans conservation a priority.
On protecting biodiversity, the Environmental Commissioner's report includes a scathing criticism of the federal government's lack of progress in implementing the 1996 Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. The Commissioner noted that the federal government is "stalled out" in implementing its commitments to protect biodiversity.
"CPAWS is working across the country with communities, industry and First Nations to implement a vision of large landscape scale conservation that protects biodiversity.
"We need the federal government to get on board and provide leadership, working with the provinces and territories to complete conservation planning, and to then actually
legally protect a network of areas across Canada," says Tim Gray, CPAWS National Conservation Director.
"The federal government also needs to provide leadership to re-tool our society to focus on sustainable use of our natural capital. Nice words will not protect woodland caribou, grizzly bears, or deep sea corals, or the ecosystems that provide us with food, clean water and air, and other necessities of life. Only actions will," adds Gray.
In 2004, Canada helped to develop an international program of work on protected areas as part of the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity.
CPAWS agrees with the Commissioner's findings that Parks Canada is making progress on protecting the ecological integrity of national parks in Canada. "We applaud the agency's efforts and the financial support provided by the federal government and urge continued focus on this important goal," adds Gray.
"But we're concerned that Parks Canada is not always supported by other federal departments in its efforts to protect these national treasures. Unfortunately, in a number of cases, Parks Canada's efforts to protect parks are being opposed by other federal departments. This is a serious and unacceptable situation," said Gray.
For example, in Nahanni National Park Reserve, efforts to expand the park to protect the entire South Nahanni Watershed are being impeded by mining proposals, supported by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, that threaten the ecological integrity of this World Heritage Site. While local First Nations, conservation groups and thousands of Canadians support protecting the watershed, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is actively opposing this work, preferring to leave areas upstream from the park open to mining, thus putting this iconic river and national park at risk.
"The federal government needs to show a more concerted and unified front towards achieving its conservation goals, rather than having some departments acting as industry lobby groups, while others attempt to fulfill their environmental protection mandate." Gray concludes.
Contacts:
Sabine Jessen, Conservation Director, CPAWS-BC Chapter, cell 604-657-2813
Tim Gray, National Conservation Director, CPAWS cell 416 986 2408
CPAWS - British Columbia Chapter