***Mar 2006 Focus pg 1-32 - Focus Magazine

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talk of the townNature rarely makes it onto political platforms,but this election it could become awedge issue amongst the progressive parties—especially in the capital. Here, if there is one thingthat we rally around it’s the natural world. We gatherin large crowds to save the salmon, the old growthor other iconic symbols of nature.Yet the political parties are, as ever, reluctant tolead with the words “nature” or “biodiversity” intheir platforms.But that might be changing. Auditor GeneralJohn Doyle states in his March report—An Auditof Biodiversity in BC—that “Biodiversity is criticalfor the health and well-being of BritishColumbians.” And the BC Liberals have left aperfect vacuum for other political parties to fill,since, according to Doyle, the current governmenthas no comprehensive understanding of biodiversity in BC, doesn’tknow whether its actions are resulting in conservation of species, andis neither adequately measuring nor reporting on its progress.How the NDP and Greens position themselves on this file couldinfluence the critical swing voters. This month, I’ll report on theAG’s report, background and responses from the scientific communityand NGOs. Next month, as platforms are unveiled, I’ll report on thepolitical responses.Lying just behind the AG’s report are the key findings on BC’s performanceon nature, distilled from major scientific reports which have beenraising the alarms over the last few years. These include the AG’s earlierreport on BC’s protected area management. But leading the charge wereour own government scientists warning us, five whole years ago, thatour “globally significant” flora and fauna “without immediate action,were vulnerable to rapid deterioration, especially in light of climatechange.” In Taking Nature’s Pulse by Biodiversity BC, a collaborationof government scientists and NGOs, scientists recommended:• Increasing the network of protected areas in British Columbia withlarger areas and corridors to enable species to shift their distributionsin response to climate change.• Addressing climate change by protecting sinks and reducing emissionsthat result from cutting down forests and converting land-uses.• Slowing down conversion of natural ecosystems to urban developmentand agriculture in the three rarest ecosystems in Canada, righton our doorstep: Coastal Douglas-fir/Garry oak ecosystems, and theOkanagan’s bunchgrass and Ponderosa pine ecosystems.• Reducing ecosystem degradation from forestry, oil and gas development,and transportation and utility corridors.• Addressing cumulative impacts of human activities in BritishColumbia, which are increasing and resulting in the loss of ecosystems’ability to adapt to changes—i.e. ecosystem resilience.“Cumulative impacts” are the hottest political potato for biologiststo handle these days because they involve the assessment of impactsof any new project, such as a pipeline, in the context of all the otherimpacts going on in a region, e.g. mining, shale gas, hydro, forestry,The politics of nature (part 1)BRIONY PENNWhat the auditor general and the scientists are saying.Auditor General John Doyleetc. In other words, scientists ask the question, ifyou are a moose population in the Peace Rivercountry, will one more resource infrastructure—an LNG pipeline or Site C dam, for instance—putyour survival over the edge?The other hot topic is how much is enough?How much land needs to be protected to provideresilience for the changes coming. We onceused to think that 15 percent protected areas wasa goal and humans could do whatever we wantedon the other 85 percent. But that was 1972. Thingshave changed.Ex-provincial forest ecologist Dr Jim Pojar askedthe question about how much land to protect in hisseminal 2010 report, A New Climate for Conservation.After reviewing the existing literature on BC’s biodiversity,he concluded that if our life support systemsare going to weather the storms ahead, then legal protection for biodiversityneeds to cover at least half of the provincial land base. Thatmeans we have to think about wildlife everywhere, not just in parks.And this is not just because we need room for bears, but to ensure airand water quality and carbon sequestration.Pojar’s recommendation is to integrate a climate strategy with anature strategy and utilize climate-funding mechanisms. The reason issimple when you connect the dots. Climate change scientists call forcutting emissions and saving carbon sinks. BC has sinks galore. Fromour rainforests to our estuaries, they all capture carbon with naturalforests capturing the most. And when you destroy a forest, you alsorelease emissions. In fact, more net emissions are released from liquidatingforests than comes out of the tailpipes of BC’s cars (this dirtysecret is buried in the BC Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report 2010). Soconsuming forests is hardly carbon neutral—rather it adds carbon twice,once in losing emissions stored, and again by losing that productivesink for 30 years until it is replanted and starts growing again.On the other hand, if you protect your carbon sinks then you endup saving salmon, grizzlies and emissions. So our wild places providea double benefit, and climate policy should recognize that saving natureis the first line of defence against climate change.So the AG is on good authority when he recommends the governmentget serious about rehiring scientists and listening to them. In someministries, scientists were axed by as much as 50 percent when researchbranches were dismantled. When we have $400 billion of industryprojects on the books with only a $9 million budget for review by theEnvironmental Assessment Office (less than the premier spends runningher office), we have some problems.The AG points out that our current laws don’t support the objectiveof conserving biodiversity on our public lands that lie outside ofprotected areas (94 percent of the province is Crown land; only 15percent of that is protected). And even in our parks, wildlife isn’tgetting much help.The remaining AG recommendations are: Make biodiversity protectiona high priority in all our land use laws and planning; monitor22 April 2013 • FOCUS
<strong>Focus</strong> presents: Triangle HealingADVERTISEMENTTips to prepare for your 10K experienceHOW THE NDP and Greens position themselves onthis file could influence the critical swing voters.our progress; assign the responsibility to someone who can enforce itwith timelines and report back to the public.There have been some solid endorsements from the NGOs on theserecommendations. The indefatigable Jessica Clogg of West CoastEnvironmental Law in Land Use Planning for Nature, Climate andCommunities makes comprehensive suggestions for the legislative overhaul,including a reinstatement of provincial land-use planning thattakes public input, scientific/indigenous knowledge, and climate changeinto account, targetting areas where biodiversity and high carbon storageareas coincide. It calls for rigorous assessments of cumulative impactsand using those assessments to guide decisions within an integratedland use system.Meanwhile, another team of ecosystem-mapping specialists andscientists, including what is left of our once-enviable Ministry ofEnvironment, has translated these principles into actions on the groundin a brilliant mapping exercise and report called Drawing the Line,written by Marlene Cummings of ForestEthics. They have cross-referencedmaps of existing conserved lands or lands restricted from certainresource activities and demonstrated that existing conservation landshave no ability to protect biological diversity; in fact only 15.6 percentof these lands have a higher conservation potential. Especially in thisera of dramatic climate change, this is simply not enough.Recommendations from Drawing the Line are consistent with theother two reports: Establish a conservation network across the provincethat connects legally-designated protected areas and conservation lands.Beef up land-use plans at all scales. Manage the land base for conservationoutside of protected areas and conservation lands and get thelaws and policies in place to do that.The language used in these reports doesn’t veer from the messagethat has been delivered by the scientific community now for over adecade—we have to do this to safeguard our life support systems.The big question, however, is: How will any political parties framethis in terms of the current rhetoric around jobs, families and theeconomy? For example, there is no escaping the fact that removingforests from annual allowable cut calculations leads to a decline inrevenue for the business-as-usual types. So what are the politiciansrecommending to deal with such realities? If we are looking at cumulativeimpacts of pipelines and a real commitment to biodiversity,will the NDP forego LNG pipelines and plants in favour of wildlifepopulations in the Peace? What of the exports of coal and bitumen thatsome argue we require to fund our social services? The Green Party ofBC advocates a full-cost accounting approach to energy harvest, transportationand use, with taxes used to deter emissions. But how willthey prioritize and balance biodiversity and economic health? Staytuned for some answers next month.www.focusonline.ca • April 2013Briony Penn has been reporting on the environment sinceher first article in The Islander in 1975 on Garry oakmeadows and has been a columnist in Victoria publicationssince 1993.In Victoria, April means training for many. This year will mark the 24th year thatVictoria’s running enthusiasts have taken to the streets in what has become oneof the most popular running weekends in North America. The TC 10K and ThriftyFoods Family Fun Run will be held on April 28th this year with an expected12,000 people taking part.Whether you’re a runner, or a walker—and whether you’re competing or not—taking good care of your body so it will perform how and when you want it to isessential. “Hydrate, suit-up, warm-up, challenge yourself—but don’t over-do it—warm-down, and then pamper,” advises Regan.Triangle can help every step of the way.“Pure, dynamically-enhanced structured water hydrates faster and more efficientlythan tap water alone, and is so much better for you then high-fructose cornsyrup-laced sports drinks,” says Regan.Triangle carries water purificationsystems for the home, the tap, or evensingle water bottles. They also carrya wide range of water supplementssuch as the healing Double Helix Wateror ASEA, a life-changing heath aidthat provides superior support toathletes. And coming soon is the KenricoAlkaline Water Stick Purifier with alifetime guarantee.Getting your feet into shape isessential for any kind of exercise. WithBarefoot Science, you can correct theissues like plantar fasciitis, fallenarches, and bunions—instead ofattempting to simply comfort damagedfeet. And you can do it for a fractionof the cost of expensive orthoticsor specialized running shoes. BarefootScience’s patented insoles actuallyheal and strengthen feet so that painTeeter Hang-Ups Inversion Tableis permanently eliminated.This one you know: Take care of your back. “So many people are suffering needlesslyfrom back pain and taking painkillers just to walk, never mind run,” says Regan.“There’s a better way—a Teeter Hang-Ups Inversion Table. In just a few minutes onthe table, the body decompresses, naturally using your body weight and gravity so softtissue in the joints can hydrate and decompress.” You’ll quickly understand why peoplerely on this ancient therapy to relieve back pain, stress and improve their quality of life.And finally: Pamper yourself every night—not just race night—with anexceptionally comfortable and supportive mattress. Triangle’s latex mattresses areall-natural, so contain no harmful gasses or compounds, and they balance supportand comfort like no other product on the market—and they are guaranteed for25 years not to hammock.You really have to experience these amazing products to fully appreciate them.Stop into Triangle and try out the Teeter Hang-Ups Inversion Table and have a laydown on a latex mattress. You won’t believe how comfy and relaxing getting intoshape can be!Happy running!Triangle Healing Products770 Spruce Avenue, Victoria, BC250-370-1818 • www.trianglehealingproducts.comTriangle Healing Products, its owner, its employees do not provide medical advice or treatment. They provide information andproducts that you may choose after evaluating your health needs and in consultation with health professionals of your choosing.23
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***Mar 2006 Focus pg 1-32 - Focus Magazine

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