Together for Wildlife Strategy

Engagement Summary

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development has adopted a four-phase engagement process to develop a new and improved wildlife management and habitat conservation strategy for British Columbia.

We are currently wrapping up phase 3 of our engagement process. During this phase, we consulted all First Nations in B.C., and engaged stakeholders and the public on the draft Together for Wildlife strategy.

For more information, visit the Together for Wildlife website.

Engagement Timeframe

November 22, 2019 to January 9, 2020

Input Received

• 733 on-line surveys completed
• 20 submissions received from stakeholder groups
• 18 submissions received from members of the general public
• Consultation with First Nations completed

Input leads to action:

The key messages heard were:

• Ensure sufficient, dedicated, long-term funding for wildlife and habitat stewardship;
• Do not delay on implementing the strategy;
• Introduce new legislation that puts wildlife and habitat “on par” with land use activities, and ensures the same rules apply to all land users; and,
• Work together with First Nations, stakeholders, local communities and across government to successfully implement the strategy.

To address this input, the following changes were made to the final strategy:

• Added a new action to review existing, and consider new, creative funding models, and make recommendations to ensure sufficient, dedicated, long-term funding for wildlife and habitat stewardship in BC;
• Referenced providing support and advice to the Minister on new and existing legislation, under the mandate for Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council; and
• Broadened reference to related programs across government under actions for the establishment of a Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council, regional Wildlife Advisory Committees, and First Nation-BC Wildlife Forum.

The Ministry has already begun to implement several actions and are developing an implementation plan to ensure critical work begins immediately and momentum is sustained.

To find out more, read the What We Heard summary report.