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Province stops museum plan, will consult public on museum’s future

June 22, 2022 12:45 PM
Royal BC Museum project is stopped
The Province is halting plans announced last month to rebuild the Royal British Columbia Museum.
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Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
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Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey

June 23, 2022 10:15 AM
Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey
More people in Surrey and the Fraser Valley will be able to pursue careers in physical therapy at a new training space coming to Surrey.
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Investing in biomedical engineering will bolster British Columbians’ health

June 13, 2022 11:15 AM
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close menu Agriculture and Food

B.C. ramps up support for agritech

June 24, 2022 8:30 AM
Two Vancouver-based agritech businesses are paving the way for stronger food security through B.C.’s Agritech Ramp-Up Pilot Program (Ramp-Up) with robotics and technology to support B.C.’s agriculture sector.
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Agriculture advisory group to help create more resilient food supply

June 14, 2022 8:30 AM
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Anti-racism data legislation becomes law

June 3, 2022 8:00 AM
Anti-racism data legislation becomes law
Indigenous and Black people, and people of colour, are another step closer to having better access to government programs and services as the historic Anti-Racism Data Act is enshrined in B.C. law.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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Province seeks public input on supports for children, youth

April 20, 2022 11:15 AM
A survey about B.C’s new service approach for children and youth with support needs is now open to the public.
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Process begins to select family connections centres

May 10, 2022 4:08 PM
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More Cariboo communities connected to high-speed internet

June 23, 2022 9:00 AM
More than 1,200 households in 15 communities, including four First Nations communities, have access to high-speed internet services in the Cariboo, thanks to the installation of new fibre to the home.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families

June 20, 2022 12:02 PM
Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families
Applications are being accepted from child care providers to join the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program this year, which will enable them to offer low-cost child care, making life more affordable for thousands more families in B.C.
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Nisga’a students will benefit from new gymnasium

June 20, 2022 2:30 PM
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British Columbians can access more in EV charger rebates

May 18, 2022 10:05 AM
Better rebates for EV chargers
The Province and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are making it more affordable for people to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in their homes, businesses and communities.
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B.C. supports EV adoption from purchase through repair

June 1, 2022 12:55 PM
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B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy

June 20, 2022 1:15 PM
B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy
People in British Columbia will be better protected from the impacts of wildfires, flooding and extreme heat through the actions included in the new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
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Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
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Heat pump demand heats up in northern B.C.

June 20, 2022 11:52 AM
Heat pumps are more affordable than ever in B.C. with a provincial sales tax (PST) exemption and the launch of a new incentive to help people switch to the cleaner, energy-efficient technology that works in warm and cold climates.
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Rating agencies validate B.C.’s financial plan to support people, businesses

June 10, 2022 11:23 AM
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close menu Forests

Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season

June 3, 2022 9:15 AM
Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season
British Columbians can expect cooler and wetter conditions in June, which means the fire hazard is anticipated to remain low through the early summer, as shown in the BC Wildfire Service’s latest seasonal outlook.
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Province launches public engagement on strengthening Great Bear Rainforest

June 9, 2022 9:00 AM
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Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital

May 30, 2022 11:10 AM
Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital
People in one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C. are one step closer to expanded patient care as construction begins on the redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital.
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BC Cancer launches lung-screening program

May 25, 2022 11:15 AM
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close menu Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act
Tahltan Central Government and the Province have entered into the first consent-based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).
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B.C. invests in First Nations language, arts, culture and heritage revitalization

June 14, 2022 1:15 PM
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Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour

January 20, 2022 8:00 AM
Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour
Nominations are being accepted for the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest honour.
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Outstanding people recognized for service during the pandemic

March 22, 2022 2:30 PM
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close menu Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation

Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure

June 16, 2022 1:30 PM
Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure
A new agreement signed between the Province of B.C. and the group Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) will help deliver innovative and clean solutions for future transportation projects and priorities.
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Tŝilhqot’in Nation will benefit from forest-to-frame project

June 22, 2022 10:46 AM
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close menu Labour

B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers

May 31, 2022 8:30 AM
B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers
As of June 1, 2022, B.C.’s lowest paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, which is the highest of any province.
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B.C. expands cancer coverage for firefighters

April 22, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Land, Water and Resource Stewardship

Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.

April 21, 2022 11:15 AM
Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.
An ongoing effort to restore watersheds and wetlands in the province is creating a healthier future for British Columbians by mitigating the impacts of climate change on communities, strengthening ecosystems and securing quality drinking water.
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Minister’s and parliamentary secretary’s statement on federal decision about salmon farms

June 22, 2022 4:20 PM
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B.C. receives exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use

May 31, 2022 11:15 AM
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Text reads: Helping reduce drug stigma through decriminalization
British Columbia is taking a critical step toward reducing the shame and fear associated with substance use as the federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health announced the granting of a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to remove criminal penalties for people who possess a small amount of certain illicit substances for personal use.
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New Foundry will provide services to youth in northeastern B.C.

June 14, 2022 12:30 PM
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Ukrainians fleeing violence get immediate MSP coverage

April 25, 2022 1:30 PM
Ukrainians fleeing violence get immediate MSP coverage
Displaced Ukrainians arriving in B.C. with visas issued under the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) will now have access to date-of-arrival Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage.
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Pandemic relief funds help libraries adapt to changing needs

May 17, 2022 12:30 PM
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New funding helps prepare for Lytton rebuild

June 23, 2022 1:30 PM
The Province is committing $21 million to help re-establish essential infrastructure and services, and sustain ongoing municipal and community-led recovery efforts.
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Toxic drug supply continues to devastate communities throughout B.C.

June 9, 2022 10:00 AM
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Funding helps immigrants fight food insecurity, get connected

June 8, 2022 1:15 PM
People facing food insecurity in B.C. will benefit from new government funding for community-based programs.
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Network helps people with disabilities focus on mental, physical wellness

June 3, 2022 8:30 AM
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Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city
FIFA has confirmed that Vancouver has been chosen as an official host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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Grants help youth in and from government care get in the game

May 30, 2022 12:30 PM
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Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1

June 16, 2022 8:00 AM
Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1
Permanent repairs to flood-damaged sections of the Coquihalla (Highway 5) and Highway 1 will soon be underway, protecting the safe movement of people and goods in British Columbia.
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Major progress on Kicking Horse Canyon Project in first year of construction

June 8, 2022 9:00 AM
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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

B.C. continues acting on conserving biodiversity

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Honourable George Heyman

Honourable George Heyman

Honourable George Heyman

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Email: ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca

close menu Environment and Climate Change Strategy

B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy

June 20, 2022 1:15 PM
B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy
People in British Columbia will be better protected from the impacts of wildfires, flooding and extreme heat through the actions included in the new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
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June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

British Columbia News

B.C. continues acting on conserving biodiversity

https://news.gov.bc.ca/03760

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Information Bulletin

Victoria
Thursday, February 21, 2013 1:54 PM

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Information Bulletin

Victoria

Thursday, February 21, 2013 1:54 PM

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The B.C. government accepts the recommendations contained in an audit report released today by the Office of the Auditor General titled "Audit of Biodiversity in B.C.: Assessing the Effectiveness of Key Tools".

The recommendations highlight many of the issues all jurisdictions are challenged with when managing to conserve biodiversity, and, as indicated in government's formal response to the audit, B.C. is committed to improving its management on a number of fronts.

The B.C. government recognized that effectively managing to conserve biodiversity in the 21st century required a fundamental shift to how natural resources are managed in this province. Government is in the process of implementing a shift from a ministry-by-ministry approach to a co-ordinated, natural resource sector approach that will incorporate biodiversity objectives - along with other social, economic and environmental objectives - into all natural resource decisions.

This new "One Land Base, One Land Manager" approach includes leading-edge measures:

  • To assess the cumulative effects of resource development.
  • To implement new ways of mitigating the effects of development on the Province's environmental values.
  • To further protect and recover B.C.'s species at risk.
  • To more effectively report on environmental conditions to the public.

The audit report focuses only on habitat protection measures under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Conservation Framework. Not assessed in the audit are the many other measures already in place in B.C. to help conserve biodiversity, including:

  • Extensive external partnerships with conservation organizations and local governments.
  • Extensive collaborative funding efforts with natural resource users (e.g., BC Hydro Compensation Program and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation).
  • Extensive best-management practices for development, including the recently updated "Develop with Care 2012: Environmental Guidelines for Urban and Rural Land Development in British Columbia".
  • Various land-use plans, including the recently completed Kaska Dena Strategic Land Use Planning Agreement.
  • The ecosystem-based management approach on the Central and North Coast.
  • Various third-party certifications of B.C.'s sustainable natural resource products, such as marine fisheries and forest products,
  • Invasive alien species management in collaboration with the Invasive Species Council of B.C.
  • Development of species management plans, including recent plans for northern caribou and coastal northern goshawk.

Government will also be co-ordinating with BC Parks, and their ongoing efforts, in response to the Office of the Auditor General's 2010 report on "Conservation of Ecological Integrity in B.C. Parks and Protected Areas". This work has seen revisions to BC Parks' land acquisition criteria, ensuring ecological values are appropriately represented in new land acquisitions, as well as a variety of ongoing operational and policy initiatives to further enhance the conservation of ecological integrity within British Columbia's parks and protected areas.

Currently, 37 per cent of B.C.'s land base has one or more biodiversity conservation designations associated with it. Examples of these designations include Ecological Reserves, Parks, Conservation Lands, Wildlife Habitat Areas, Ungulate Winter Ranges, Special Conservation Areas and other conservation areas.

Contact:

David Karn
Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834

A backgrounder follows.

BACKGROUNDER

The following is the text of the Province's response provided to the Office of the Auditor General regarding the biodiversity audit to be included in the final report.

Section 1: Overall comments

The ministries of Environment and Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations appreciate the efforts of the Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia (OAGBC) in their "Audit of Biodiversity in B.C.: Assessing the Effectiveness of Key Tools."

As the report indicates, every jurisdiction in the world is challenged with issues of biodiversity conservation. Scientists are challenged to measure, monitor, and understand biodiversity; while governments work to manage in ways that balance economic growth, social interest, and ecological integrity. The laws, tools, policies, and programs required to manage biodiversity are, like the system itself, necessarily complex and multifaceted.

Currently, 37 per cent of British Columbia's land-base has one or more biodiversity conservation designations associated with it. Examples of these designations include ecological reserves, parks, conservation lands, wildlife habitat areas, ungulate winter eanges, and special conservation areas. The level of conservation varies with each of these designations, but government is looking at the performance of these areas to better inform future decisions and incorporate climate-change mitigation and adaptation.

The Province recognized that effectively managing to conserve biodiversity in the 21st century required a fundamental shift to how natural resources are managed in B.C. Government is now in the process of implementing a shift from a ministry-by-ministry approach to a co-ordinated, natural resource sector approach that will incorporate biodiversity objectives (along with other social, economic, and environmental objectives) into all natural resource decisions.

This new "One Land Base, One Land Manager" approach includes leading-edge measures to assess the cumulative effects of development on B.C,'s social, environmental, and economic values; to explore new ways of mitigating the effects of development on our environmental values; to further protect and recover species at risk; and to more effectively report on environmental condition to the public.

Conservation of biodiversity is a key mandate of the natural resource sector. This audit and its recommendations will help support ongoing efforts to manage and conserve British Columbia's biodiversity and will be co-ordinated with the ongoing efforts of BC Parks in response to the OAGBC audit on Conservation of Ecological Integrity in B.C. Parks and Protected Areas. That work has seen revisions to BC Parks' land acquisition criteria, which ensures that ecological values are appropriately represented in new land acquisitions, as well as a variety of ongoing operational and policy initiatives to further enhance the conservation of ecological integrity within B.C.'s Parks and Protected Areas.

Section 2: Brief response to each recommendation

Recommendation 1: Make a long-term commitment to collect sufficient and reliable information about the status of biodiversity in B.C. and apply this information to make informed decisions about the conservation of biodiversity.

Government recognizes the high value of additional information, but also recognizes that field-data collection is increasingly expensive. Because of this and because the scope of biodiversity is so large, the Province is strategic about where it invests. For example, the Province recently invested in species and ecosystems inventories in B.C.'s Northeast, a current hotspot for development. Government also relies on a number of external avenues to acquire better information by working with partners and networks, by encouraging citizen science programs, and by seeking access to existing external collections. The BC Conservation Data Centre, where much of this information is managed, is a recognized leader in Canada in the collection and dissemination of information on species and ecosystems at risk.

Starting in 2013, the ministries will initiate work to:

  • Streamline policies for data collection to further improve data submissions in support of conservation status assessments and legal listing decisions (by end of 2014).
  • Develop options to secure long-term funding for species and habitat inventory, monitoring, and related reporting (by 2017).
  • Develop a process for using ecosystems and ecological communities as a coarse-filter approach to manage for species such as non-vascular plants and invertebrates (by end of 2014).

Recommendation 2: Review its legislative framework to ensure that any significant gaps, inconsistencies or barriers to achieving conservation of biodiversity are identified and addressed.

The natural resource sector ministries are responsible for 130 provincial statutes that provide for the sustainable management and protection of the Province's natural resources and reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples. Thus, government relies on a suite of regulations and policies to protect and conserve the biodiversity of British Columbia. Government is not aware of any jurisdiction in Canada that does not use multiple regulations and policies to conserve biodiversity.

As part of the shift to a more co-ordinated natural resource sector, the Province recognizes there are opportunities to refine B.C.'s legal and policy frameworks.

Starting in 2013, the Province will:

  • Initiate a review of the natural resource sector legal framework to identify and address significant gaps, duplications, or inconsistencies (by 2017).
  • Develop and implement policy, procedures, and guidelines for mitigating impacts to priority biodiversity values (by end of 2013.
  • Assess and recommend new methods, including incentives, to promote voluntary protection of species at risk on private land (by 2015).

Recommendation 3: Assign responsibilities and timelines for its conservation actions and demonstrate how the prioritization of these actions is conserving biodiversity.

For an issue as all-encompassing as biodiversity, prioritizing is essential and government does it by necessity. The Province also relies on others (e.g., industry, First Nations, municipalities, and the general public) to engage in the conservation of biodiversity in B.C. This "shared-stewardship" approach requires flexibility to enable opportunistic use of partners, resources, and capacity when and where they become available.

The Conservation Framework is only one approach to priority setting, assigning actions to over 6000 species and ecosystems to better align conservation priorities across multiple agencies. In the last five years much has been learned about the challenges of maintaining such a comprehensive list of priorities.

Starting in 2013, the Province will initiate work to:

  • Refine the priority-setting process of the Conservation Framework to be more efficient and further integrate the delivery and tracking of these priorities into provincial programs (by 2015).
  • Update the content of the Ecosystems Program Plan and integrate the strategies and actions within the plan into natural resource sector planning (by 2014).

Recommendation 4: Establish goals, objectives, targets, and timelines to fully implement its habitat designation tools and determine whether other tools are necessary to achieve its objective of conserving biodiversity.

British Columbia's approach to habitat protection is collaborative. The Province evaluates the socio-economic impacts of habitat decisions, and engages with parties that may be affected by them. This type of collaboration results in more effective conservation outcomes and reflects the will of British Columbians.

The Province recently implemented a Government Actions Regulation (GAR) Implementation Strategy. This is a mechanism to better prioritize biodiversity and habitat designations under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Oil & Gas Activities Act and to guide annual business planning and resourcing.

Starting in 2013, and in conjunction with the review of the natural resource sector legal framework, the Province will:

  • Initiate a review of the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (Forest and Range Practices Act; Oil & Gas Activities Act), and assess options to improve implementation efficiency and better align with both landscape-level biodiversity initiatives and the coordinated natural resource sector approach (by end of 2013).
  • Develop a plan to fully implement existing habitat designation tools in conjunction with an assessment of the need for additional tools (by end of 2014).

Recommendation 5: Complete sufficient monitoring to assess the effectiveness of its actions in the conservation of biodiversity.

The complex nature of biodiversity means that there will never be a definitive picture of the status of biodiversity, nor will all of the causal factors that influence that status be definitively understood. Thus, the Province must combine strategic monitoring efforts with surrogate measures, models, and indicators to evaluate the status of biodiversity and efforts to conserve it.

When the Forest and Range Practices Act was implemented, government established a monitoring system known as the Forest & Range Evaluation Program (FREP), which is designed to evaluate forest and range practices in achieving management objectives, including those for biodiversity. Effectiveness protocols have been developed for several species, some monitoring has been conducted, and more is planned.

As part of the shift to the natural resource sector approach, the Province will:

  • Investigate options for expanding the current FREP program to develop a more integrated and comprehensive approach to natural resource monitoring (by 2014.
  • Continually seek new opportunities for cost-sharing and/or information-sharing with industry and other partners to support monitoring efforts (ongoing).

Recommendation 6: Report periodically to the Legislative Assembly and the public on how its actions are impacting the status of biodiversity and how it is meeting its provincial, national, and international commitments to biodiversity.

Changes to the status of biodiversity in an area the size of British Columbia occur slowly, thus reporting efforts on changes to that status will, necessarily, reflect that time frame.

Less than five years ago, the Province worked with partners to produce "Taking Nature's Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia." The Province also co-published the Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010 report. In November 2012, the Ministry of Environment launched Environmental Reporting BC, a web-based state of environment reporting portal. Environmental Reporting BC is a modernized model, including open data, and more iterative updates. It also includes an easy window for the public and decision makers to access data, reporting products, and reporting sites across key environmental topics. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/soe/

Starting in 2013, the Province will:

  • Develop and publish an initial indicator on change in status of native vertebrates in B.C. (by early 2013).

Develop a centralized, web-based approach to reporting on species at risk in B.C. that will provide access to and link together different initiatives, agencies, and information related to species at risk in B.C. (by 2015).

Contact:

David Karn
Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834


https://news.gov.bc.ca/03760

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