Canada and British Columbia launch development of a new Nature Agreement

VICTORIA, BC, Feb. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada and British Columbia have a long history of shared conservation goals and taking leadership together on climate change, environmental protection, and conservation. Now the two governments are enhancing this shared commitment by launching the development of a new bilateral Nature Agreement to strengthen conservation province wide. As part of this effort, the two governments are announcing immediate action to support ongoing efforts for the recovery of the Spotted Owl, and pilot projects using new approaches to protecting species at risk and enhancing biodiversity. The two governments will explore new ways to protect and restore habitat and strengthen ecosystem resilience to climate change. As part of our commitments to reconciliation, Canada and British Columbia will continue to work with Indigenous Peoples in these efforts.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, along with the Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, are committed to a target date for the completion of this agreement within one year.

The Nature Agreement will build on collaborative measures already in place such as the Pathway to Canada Target 1 and the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada. It will include recovery measures for the Spotted Owl, including an updated recovery strategy for the species, and a strategy for the reintroduction of captive Spotted Owls to the wild. The remaining wild owls are currently nesting within Wildlife Habitat Areas, specifically protected for Spotted Owls as part of British Columbia's longstanding efforts to recover the species. Further, Ministers Heyman and Conroy are seeking a deferral of timber harvesting in the Spuzzum and Utzlius Watersheds.

Quotes

"As a proud British Columbian, I know how deeply we cherish and depend on nature. Now is the time for concrete action to protect natural ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. We are working towards protecting 25 percent of Canada's lands and oceans by 2025 and supporting Indigenous leadership in conservation to get there."

? The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"We live in a province with unique species and ecosystems found nowhere else in the world. Protecting and promoting the recovery of threatened species is a responsibility and requires action based on collaboration. The British Columbia?Canada Nature Agreement will ensure we are working with our federal counterparts, Indigenous nations, and others to define new approaches that are supported by science and Indigenous knowledge. These first pilot projects will strengthen habitat protection for the threatened species which depend on it, such as the Spotted Owl, and help build a systemic approach to protection of biodiversity."

? The Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

"On behalf of all British Columbians, this government is committed to protecting unique ecosystems and habitats that support wildlife so endangered species like the Spotted Owl have a chance at recovery."

? The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada will support the development of the Nature Agreement with an initial $2 million investment in matched funds for various conservation actions.
• The Spotted Owl caurina subspecies was listed as Endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act in 2003.
• A recovery strategy, led by British Columbia and developed by the Canadian Spotted Owl Recovery Team (CSORT), was adopted by the federal government in 2006. The Recovery Strategy identified several threats to the Spotted Owl including loss and fragmentation of suitable habitat, competition from Barred Owls, climate change, noise disturbance, and the extremely low population. The Recovery Strategy prioritized several specific measures to support recovery, including habitat protection and a captive breeding program to address the risks of a very low population.
• Currently there are over 281,000 hectares of legally protected Spotted Owl habitat in the province of British Columbia, enough to support a population of 125 breeding pairs.
• In 2018, federal, provincial, and territorial environment ministers agreed to the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada. This approach innovates by shifting efforts from single species, to focusing on collaborative efforts to conserve multiple species and ecosystems.
• British Columbia co-chairs with Environment and Climate Change Canada the Pathway to Canada Target 1, a collaborative federal, provincial, territorial, Indigenous and local government forum which seeks to protect and conserve more of Canada's nature. British Columbia has conserved more of its area (19.5 percent) than any other province or territory.
• A captive breeding program for Spotted Owl in British Columbia was in established in 2007 to set up a viable captive breeding population that would then be used to restore a wild population. This facility is the first and only breeding program for this species in the world and is located in Langley. The program currently consists of 28 Spotted Owls; offspring produced by these owls will be released into habitats protected for Spotted Owl recovery.

Related products

• Multi-species pilot projects and Spotted Owl recovery actions in British Columbia

Associated links

• Spotted Owl caurina subspecies 
• Overview of the Pan-Canadian approach to transforming species at risk conservation in Canada 

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada