BCWF hosts forums across British Columbia to raise awareness of wildlife and land use issues

As provincial elections approach, an organization that deals with wildlife and related issues is holding election rallies to ensure their concerns are heard.

The BC Wildlife Federation has already held nine election town halls across B.C. and plans to hold 15 more, says Randy Shore, BCWF public relations and communications specialist. Three town halls are planned for the Okanagan in the coming weeks, followed by four more on Vancouver Island, with Metro Vancouver hosting four town halls in September.

“We want to ensure that voters and our elected representatives have the opportunity to discuss wildlife management without the noise that comes with the general election period,” Shore said. “Furthermore, it takes time for parties to draw up their manifestos. We want to ensure that they consider wildlife management during that process.”

Topics addressed at town halls include habitat management in the face of wildfire, with BCWF concerned about commercial encroachment and motorized access to fire-damaged areas, and the related issue of backcountry access. Shore said specific requests from the conservation community include the creation of an independent wildlife management agency; more dedicated funding for fish and wildlife conservation; and enshrining public access to public resources through legislation.

Behind these broader issues lie specific questions about the future of the legislation that regulates 95 percent of provincial territory.

The BC NDP government earlier this year put a pause on plans to amend the Land Act. The decision came after widespread concerns from legal scholars, political opposition, advocacy groups and citizens about the consultation process, which began in early January 2024 and was due to conclude on March 31. Several voices accused the government of secrecy.

“Changes to the Land Act could affect the way Crown lands and natural resources are managed in perpetuity,” Shore said. “Every British Columbian in urban and rural communities has a stake in how shared resources are managed. If there are to be changes to the way lands and resources are managed, we believe that process should be public and transparent.”

Experts predict that the election will be decided on issues such as housing availability, the state of health care, and overall affordability. But while issues around conservation and land use may be less pressing, they are no less important.

“British Columbia is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth,” Shore said. “If we don’t take action now to properly manage our wildlife for sustainable abundance and our lands and waters to be healthy and resilient, our natural gifts could be lost to future generations.”

He noted that people are genuinely concerned when they hear that spending on natural resource management has been declining in the provincial budget for 50 years.

“They can see firsthand that some wildlife populations are declining and not enough is being done to support them,” he said. “In rural communities where the outdoors is such a big part of everyday life, our events are packed with concerned citizens.”

That could be the case when the South Okanagan community of Oliver hosts a BCWF town hall on Aug. 16. Experts consider the region one of the most environmentally sensitive in Canada, but also a hotbed of land-use conflict, as evidenced by the various controversies surrounding plans to establish a national park reserve in the area, as well as growth pressures.