Tag Archives: Species at Risk

Animals

Canada betrays its ‘Species at Risk Act’ while province wipes out mountain caribou habitat: VWS

By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The nation’s Species at Risk Act is no law at all, says a local environmental group.

The Valhalla Wilderness Society contends that the Species at Risk Act (SARA) does not provide protection under the law for the endangered mountain caribou and its habitat, 30 years after Canada signed an accord — at the UN Convention on Biodiversity in Rio De Janeiro — to protect biodiversity, which spawned the enactment of SARA. 

Continue reading Canada betrays its ‘Species at Risk Act’ while province wipes out mountain caribou habitat: VWS →
Animals

Slugs and bugs are worth saving, too

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Conservationists striving to prevent species from going extinct find it tricky enough to save Canada’s most magnificent and iconic animals, like southern resident killer whales, mountain caribou or grizzly bears. 

But most of the 640 wildlife now listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act are flora and fauna that don’t get time in the spotlight. More than a third of at-risk species are plants, mosses and lichens most people would probably walk past without a second glance. 

Another 30 per cent are slimy, slithery, creepy creatures that folks might well notice but find repellent. But critters like slugs, bugs and snakes are critical to ecosystems, too, and deserve a lot more love. 

So, Canada’s National Observer asked three B.C. biologists to champion a less charismatic creature they think is fascinating and deserves a little public adoration.

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Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Endangered salmon are left to flounder as Canada hosts COP15

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The federal government is touting lofty goals at the United Nations biodiversity conference underway in Montreal, but Ottawa is failing to save iconic salmon and steelhead trout populations on the edge of extinction, B.C. conservation groups say. 

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Forests, Parks

Has B.C. turned a new leaf around protecting biodiversity?

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Environmental groups are applauding B.C. Premier David Eby’s new promise to protect 30 per cent of the province’s land by 2030 in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. 

The goal signals a potential shift by the NDP under the new premier to improve B.C.’s lacklustre record of protecting biodiversity and endangered species hot spots, conservation groups say.

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Uncategorized

Protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitat

By Geraldine Kenny

“Hope is hard to come by these days”, admits  Jane Goodall.  She is well aware why people are  feeling a sense of despair. But she has a remedy for that.  “Stop looking all around the world, just think about where you are, or some project that you really care about, and roll up your sleeves and do something about that.”  

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