One of the greatest threats to the diversity of natural life on this planet is the loss and destruction of habitat that sustains plant and animal species.
Most scientists agree that human activity is causing rapid deterioration in biodiversity. The loss of critical wildlife habitat, from expanding human settlements, logging, mining, agriculture and pollution are destroying ecosystems, upsetting nature's balance and driving many species to extinction.
Canada must work to reverse this trend by addressing the plight of Canada’s threatened wildlife, enacting effective laws and implementing policies to protect endangered species and their habitats.
The need for decisive action to implement a conservation vision is more urgent than ever because of climate change. As the world warms, one quarter of all living species could be at risk of disappearing — potentially the greatest mass extinction in 65 million years.
Protecting intact forests is an effective way to reduce stress on species and maintain the important ecological services these forests provide, including clean air and water. In fact, one of the best ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change on wild places and species is to protect large networks of intact wilderness areas that can protect a diversity of habitat types and provide opportunities for species movement.
Protected areas are a shared responsibility between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, so achieving success will require the federal government to provide leadership by coordinating nationwide action by all levels of government to complete Canada’s networks of marine and terrestrial protected areas, and to ensure they are well-connected, representative of all Canadian ecosystems, and protect key wildlife habitats.
Another key federal role is protecting species at risk. Enactment of the federal Species at Risk Act in 2002 was an important step forward, but implementation has, so far, been ineffective. A reinvigorated effort to effectively protect all listed species by mapping and protecting their habitat and implementing recovery plans is needed.
Action Agenda
Ask each candidate running in your riding about their commitment to the following action agenda:
• By 2009 announce a funded plan to complete and manage Canada's network of National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, including updating its legal and policy framework.• By 2009, implement a pricing mechanism that places an adequate value on carbon stored in intact ecosystems. This will simultaneously strengthen biodiversity conservation and climate protection.
• By 2010, complete Canada's system of national parks, and ensure their long-term ecological integrity
• Immediately announce that Canada will protect its boreal and arctic ecosystems by establishing interconnected networks of protected areas and implementing regional land-use plans in the Northwest Territories before approving any large-scale industrial projects, including the Mackenzie Gas Project. Canada should set a goal of protecting a minimum of 50 percent of its intact wild areas as part of comprehensive land-use planning initiatives for intact areas.
• Immediately accelerate implementation of the Species at Risk Act by implementing recovery strategies and action plans for all species listed before 2007. Ensure inclusion of critical habitat maps and precautionary management actions in all recovery plans, and amend the Act to require mandatory habitat protection for species at risk on non-federal lands.
• Immediately reverse funding cuts to the Migratory Birds Program of the Canadian Wildlife Service.
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