Biodiversity Conservation in British Columbia

Biodiversity Conservation

Biodiversity & Conservation

Biodiversity conservation programs in BC work toward maintaining the diversity and abundance of native species and habitats throughout British Columbia. Activities include:

providing information and scientific expertise on wildlife species and populations:

mouse

endangered species (e.g.,Vancouver Island marmot)

red- and blue-listed species

small mammals

amphibians

reptiles

birds

large carnivores

furbearers

ungulates

conducting and coordinating wildlife and biodiversity research in three areas:

sensitive species
wildlife health
ecosystem health

biologist examining a sedated wolverine
Wildlife biologist examining
a sedated wolverine.

	developing strategies to protect the natural diversity of B.C., e.g., BC Biodiversity Strategy; Mountain Caribou Conservation Strategy; Wildlife Harvest Strategy; and Identified Wildlife Management Strategy;
	participating on and/or leading recovery teams for species and ecosystems at risk (responding to the National Accord) and evaluating recommendations for recovery plans;
	regularly communicating, cooperating and developing partnerships with regional staff, other agencies, organizations and the public to maintain native species and their habitats (e.g., Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, BC Frogwatch, and stewardship programs such as Heron Stewardship) and to provide program objectivity and consistency province-wide;

	coordinating and administering acquisition of land critical for wildlife, securing important habitat through the establishment of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs - 22 presently approved, total area in BC = 231,516 ha, more info), Land Act Reserves, and Wildlife Habitat Areas (view a complete list of approved WHAs);
	participating in and providing wildlife and wildlife value information for land use planning processes and practices, and environmental assessments and impact reporting; and
	coordinating Branch planning for access management and habitat protection.

Wildlife and habitat inventory activities are carried out by the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM). Also part of MSRM is the BC Conservation Data Centre, which inventories and tracks rare and at risk elements in British Columbia.