VICTORIA, B.C. - Today, Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands and member of Tsartlip First Nation reintroduced legislation to protect bear dens in British Columbia as the province lacks comprehensive protection.
“For over 20 years, experts have been advocating for laws to protect bear dens in British Columbia,” said Olsen. “While specific regions like the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii have some level of legal protection, most of B.C. is wide open to the wrecking ball of logging companies smashing through bear habitats.”
This bill aligns with the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria and the B.C. Sierra Club’s recommendations on provincial bear den protection. Its passage would signal a meaningful step forward and a genuine commitment to protecting biodiversity in British Columbia.
The Union of BC Indian Chiefs recently passed a resolution calling on the province to protect bear dens and noted how it aligns with commitments in the Declaration Act for First Nations to protect their homelands, to “maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationships” and the “right to conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands and territories.”
“The BC NDP claims that they are prioritizing the ecosystem health and biodiversity of the province. They claim to care about preserving old growth. Yet under their watch large trees continue to fall and bear dens continue to be destroyed,” continued Olsen.
“It’s time to enact legislation to end the policy loopholes that leave bear dens unprotected. The Wildlife Amendment Act, 2024 provides a blueprint for how to protect these critical sites. All the BC NDP needs is the political will to do it.”
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