The BC Endangered Species Protection Workshop is hosted jointly by West Coast Environmental Law Association and the BC Endangered Species Coalition. The aim of the workshop is to explore the adequacy of existing legislative and policy tools to protect species at risk in BC, and to identify the need for new and improved tools, including legislation, to protect species at risk in the province. The workshop is designed to be open and interactive in approach, with representation from government, industry, unions, community and environmental groups, First Nations and professional associations. Admission to the workshop is free.
A series of different panels will address topics such as: existing legislative and policy framework for protection of species at risk (see box below); process for listing species at risk; habitat protection; protection of trans-boundary species and recovery plans. Half the time in each session will be allocated to panel presentations, and the other half will be open for facilitated questions and discussions from the floor. The final session of the workshop will provide more time for open discussion of the need for a multi-stakeholder process to improve tools for protection of species at risk.
A Discussion Paper will be prepared after the workshop and will be sent to all registered workshop attendees. A copy of the Discussion Paper will also be placed on West Coast Environmental Law Association's home page - http://vcn.bc.ca/wcel.