{"id":59312,"date":"2023-07-12T09:10:18","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T16:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/?post_type=engagement&#038;p=59312"},"modified":"2025-12-18T09:49:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T17:49:49","slug":"commercial-bear-viewing-strategy","status":"publish","type":"engagement","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/commercial-bear-viewing-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Commercial Bear-viewing Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group engage-banner has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fbda80\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engagement was open July 12 to October 31, 2023<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1474\" height=\"947\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2617\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/bear-image.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/bear-image.png 1474w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/bear-image-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/bear-image-1024x658.png 1024w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/bear-image-768x493.png 768w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/bear-image-1200x771.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1474px) 100vw, 1474px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-container\"><div class=\"engagement-page\"><div class=\"engagement-content-wrapper\"><h1 class=\"engagement-title-banner \" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/themes\/bcgov-engagement\/dist\/images\/blue-curve-bg.svg)\">Commercial Bear-viewing Strategy<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-content\"><bcgov-breadcrumb>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\">Home<\/a>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/\">Engagement Opportunities<\/a> \n                  <span>\n        Commercial Bear-viewing Strategy\n  <\/span>\n  <div style=\"display: flex\" slot=\"breadcrumb-extra\">\n      <\/div>\n  <\/bcgov-breadcrumb>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">On this page&#8230;<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#summary\" title=\"\">Engagement Summary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#goals\" title=\"Goals\">Goals<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#results\" title=\"\">Results<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#links\" title=\"Useful Links\">Useful Links<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who: <\/strong>Ministry of Forests<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What: <\/strong>Feedback and education on a draft commercial bear-viewing strategy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong> Province-wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why:<\/strong> To educate the public on this important economy and identify gaps in its knowledge<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How: <\/strong>Online<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-engagement_category wp-block-post-terms\"><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__prefix\"><strong>Category: <\/strong><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/wildlife-and-habitat-protection\/\" rel=\"tag\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><span role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"engagement-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/04\/Coastal_Bear_Viewing_BC-LoriHomstol.jpg);background-position:50% 100%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns more-padding-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary\">Engagement Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>B.C. is looking into new ways to work with First Nations on wildlife and habitat protection. The Province prepared a <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/05\/Commercial-Bear-Viewing-Strategy_Draft-Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">draft Commercial Bear-Viewing Strategy<\/a> in collaboration with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stewardship staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advisors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Knowledge holders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hereditary chiefs and councillors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Commercial Bear-Viewing Strategy summarizes Indigenous and Western scientific information, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How to assess potential bear viewing locations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Considerations for guide training<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Viewing recommendations (group size)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When and where to view bears<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitor and assess impacts of bear viewing programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide advice for agencies managing bear viewing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A questionnaire collected feedback on the draft Commercial Bear-Viewing Strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Note<\/strong>: A <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/grizzly-bear-stewardship-framework\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">separate engagement<\/a> took place on the <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/05\/Grizzly-Bear-Stewardship-Framework_Draft-Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework<\/a>\u00a0(PDF 3.6MB).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"goals\">Goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three goals to this public engagement process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol style=\"list-style-type:1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Educate and inform the public on the importance of bear viewing to the economy of B.C. including First Nation communities, and the cumulative knowledge of the effects of viewing activities on bears and measures available to mitigate any potential impacts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seek feedback, interests, opinions, and views from the public on the draft Strategy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify if there are knowledge gaps or deficiencies within the Strategy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Your feedback will inform the final version of the Commercial Bear-Viewing Strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"results\">Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The questionnaire received 192 responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"links\">Useful Links:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/plants-animals-ecosystems\/wildlife\/wildlife-conservation\/grizzly-bear\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Grizzly Bear<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/plants-animals-ecosystems\/wildlife\/together-for-wildlife\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Together for Wildlife<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/plants-animals-ecosystems\/wildlife\/human-wildlife-conflict\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Human-Wildlife Conflict<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/plants-animals-ecosystems\/species-ecosystems-at-risk\/recovery-planning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">BC Species Recovery Planning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/declaration.gov.bc.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"related-engagements\">\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Natural Resource Permitting Improvements. Categories: Land and Water, Natural Resource Sector, Natural Resources, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed with results.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed with results\">\n                                            Closed with results                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/natural-resource-permitting-improvements\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Natural Resource Permitting Improvements                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Land and Water<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resources<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/natural-resource-permitting-improvements\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/NRS-Permitting-Coldwater-River.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Xwulqw&#039;selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan. Categories: Environmental Protection, Land and Water, Reconciliation Initiatives, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/xwulqwselu-koksilah-watershed-plan\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Xwulqw&#039;selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Land and Water<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Reconciliation Initiatives<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/xwulqwselu-koksilah-watershed-plan\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilahbanner.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Angling, Hunting, and Trapping. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Sector, Recreation and Tourism, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Angling, Hunting, and Trapping                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Recreation and Tourism<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2022\/12\/52020102588_38f5f124ed_o.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Mackenzie Forest Landscape Planning Project. Categories: Land and Water, Natural Resource Sector, Natural Resources, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/mackenzie-forest-landscape-planning-project\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Mackenzie Forest Landscape Planning Project                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Land and Water<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resources<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/mackenzie-forest-landscape-planning-project\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/11\/Mackenzie-FLP-bridge.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Kootenay Lake Forest Landscape Plan. Categories: Land and Water, Natural Resource Sector, Natural Resources, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/kootenay-lake-flp\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Kootenay Lake Forest Landscape Plan                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Land and Water<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resources<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/kootenay-lake-flp\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/11\/Kootenay-Lake-FLP.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Cranbrook Forest Landscape Plan. Categories: Land and Water, Natural Resource Sector, Natural Resources, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/cranbrook-flp\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Cranbrook Forest Landscape Plan                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Land and Water<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resources<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/cranbrook-flp\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/11\/cranbrook-three-sisters.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2617,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","engagement_category":[282],"engagement_region":[192],"engagement_status":[52],"engagement_pin_group":[],"class_list":["post-59312","engagement","type-engagement","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","engagement_category-wildlife-and-habitat-protection","engagement_region-province-wide","engagement_status-closed"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"pinned_engagement_toggle":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/59312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/engagement"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/59312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82681,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/59312\/revisions\/82681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"engagement_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_category?post=59312"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_region?post=59312"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_status?post=59312"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_pin_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_pin_group?post=59312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}