The Endangered Ecosystem’s Alliance engages diverse allies to broaden the environmental movement. Greater engagement of businesses, unions, diverse faith groups, and various non-profits will greatly strengthen the ability to achieve conservation policies.

Below is the resolution signed by businesses, non-profit organizations and delivered to the BC Provincial government in November 2022.

Resolution to Protect British Columbia’s Endangered Ecosystems


Whereas:

Earth is in a mass extinction crisis. One million species are projected by scientists to go extinct due to human activities over the ensuing decades.

Earth is in a climate crisis. The current trajectory towards catastrophic global warming threatens civilization and life on Earth as we know it.

Nature is vital for our health and well-being. Research shows that being in nature supports our mental and physical health, reducing all sorts of ailments and boosting our immune systems.

Native ecosystems also provide clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, food, medicines, flood and erosion control, natural sewage treatment, regional and global climate regulation, genetic resources, and other “ecosystem services” that humanity relies on…indeed, native ecosystems are the foundation of life on Earth.

Protecting nature attracts and fosters more diverse, resilient, and prosperous economies, including supporting businesses and jobs in the tourism and recreation sectors; commercial and recreational fishing industry by sustaining clean water and fish habitat; real estate industry by enhancing property values in communities near protected green spaces; non-timber forest products industries like wild mushroom harvesting; high tech sector by attracting skilled labour that locates to areas with a greater environmental quality of life; and by providing numerous ecosystem services that benefit businesses.

Native ecosystems are cultural, economic, and spiritual foundations for First Nations communities, whose cultures evolved with them over millennia and who continue their close relationships with them. Across British Columbia, most remaining native ecosystems are on the unceded territories of diverse First Nations.

Greatly expanding protection for Earth’s diverse native ecosystems would be a game-changer to significantly avert both the extinction and climate crises, according to scientists. On a sufficient scale (scientists say half of Earth should be in protected areas and climate stabilization areas by 2030), it would draw-down massive amounts of atmospheric carbon, enabling simultaneous emissions reductions to keep global temperatures from rising above the global target of 1.5 degree Celsius.

Canada has committed to protect 25% of its land and freshwater area by 2025, and 30% by 2030, while British Columbia has yet to commit to these targets. Currently 15% of British Columbia’s land area is in legislated protected areas.

The UN Biodiversity Conference to be held in October of 2021 is the central opportunity for Canada to support and champion stronger international commitments for more ambitious, ecosystems-based protection targets and policies at home and abroad.

Therefore we, the undersigned individuals, organizations, local governments, and businesses are calling on the British Columbia government to take a pivotal step to avert the extinction and climate crises by committing to:

  • Develop science-based protection targets and policies for all ecosystems, from dry forests to rainforests (including old-growth forests), from grasslands to tundra, from freshwater to marine ecosystems.

  • At a minimum, adopt targets that match or exceed the national (25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030) and international (30% by 2030) protected areas targets.

  • Dedicate significant annual funding to purchase and protect private lands of high conservation value.

  • Support Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), with appropriate policies and sufficient funding for land-use planning, management and stewardship programs such as Guardians initiatives, and associated Indigenous-led sustainable economic development in First Nations communities.

  • Embrace the federal funding for expanding protected areas in BC for IPCA’s and land acquisition.