On June 18 B.C. Wildlife Federation President Chuck Zuckerman, BCWF Wildlife Committee Chair Gerry Paille and BCWF Director of Fish and Wildlife Restoration Jesse Zeman met with Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development Roly Russell, Director of Wildlife and Habitat for Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) and Ministerial Advisor Edena Brown to discuss declining fish, wildlife and habitat, public access to public resources and reconciliation through conservation.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation advanced a number of balanced solutions. First, dedicated funding from any commercial or industrial activity in British Columbia that benefits from the use of fish and wildlife or impacts their habitats, and a permanent endowment fund for fish, wildlife and habitat stewardship. Second, a reorganization of the FLNRORD, and overall centralized governance of wildlife stewardship with a more accountable and transparent governance structure. Third, setting legislated measurable and verifiable objectives for fish, wildlife and habitat that include a public consultation process to review proposed strategy and actions. Fourth, working together with First Nations to restore the wildlife, fish and habitat that B.C. has lost.
The presentation was well received. Parliamentary Secretary Roly Russell was attentive. He has a good working knowledge of conservation issues and a keen interest in the sustainability of fish, wildlife and habitat.
We will be meeting with Parliamentary Secretary Russell again soon to advocate on behalf of fish, wildlife and habitat as well as public access to public resources on behalf of our membership and the public.
If you would like to meet with your MLA and help us restore B.C.’s fish, wildlife and habitat and public access for future generations, please contact jessezeman@gmail.com to help assist you in meeting with your MLA.