Good news --

[Kondla, Norbert SRM:EX]

Canada, eh --
OTTAWA, December 12, 2002 - The Species at Risk Act (SARA) received Royal
Assent today, bringing to a close a nine-year legislative process to protect
Canada's species at risk and their critical habitat. The new legislation
will come into force in 2003. 
"Today we fulfilled a commitment made by this government to ensure
protection for species at risk and the places where they live," said the
Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment. "SARA is the result
of an extensive consultation process that has seldom been seen in Canadian
history and the legislation enjoys broad support among Canadians. This
inclusive process will continue as the Act provides for openness and
transparency at all stages."
SARA is one of three elements of the government's Strategy for the
Protection of Species at Risk. Under the Accord for the Protection of
Species at Risk, the Government of Canada works with provinces and
territories on a common approach to protecting species at risk in Canada
that includes complementary legislation and programs to protect habitat and
species. 
"Protecting species at risk is a shared responsibility of all governments in
Canada," said Minister Anderson. "This Act ensures the federal
responsibility is met, and it also helps to fulfill some of Canada's
international obligations under the Biodiversity Convention."
The other key component of the federal Strategy is stewardship, a
cornerstone of the Government of Canada's approach to species protection.
Canada's Stewardship Agenda, approved earlier this year by federal,
provincial and territorial Ministers of Wildlife, encourages Canadians to
work together in a landscape approach to protect habitat, contribute to the
recovery of species at risk and conserve Canada's natural heritage. One such
initiative is the federal government's Habitat Stewardship Program for
Species at Risk, which funds projects that support habitat conservation and
stewardship. Hundreds of projects involving Aboriginal organizations,
landowners, businesses, industries, and non-government organizations have
been approved over the last three years. The Government of Canada committed
$45 million to the Habitat Stewardship Program over 5 years.

Minister Anderson also noted the link between the passage of SARA and the
Government of Canada's overall environmental agenda. "SARA complements many
other environmental initiatives," he said. "For instance, our actions on
climate change also protect species and their habitats - we know climate
change affects the forests and waters that support species."
The species at risk legislation ensures that species are assessed under a
rigorous and independent scientific process that operates at arm's length
from the federal government. It also requires the development of recovery
action plans for species that are found to be most at risk, and recognizes
the essential role of Aboriginal peoples in the conservation of wildlife by
requiring the establishment of a National Aboriginal Council on Species at
Risk. 
SARA will come into force by an order in council in 2003. In the period
leading up to the order in council, the Government of Canada will develop
the regulations required under the Act, including regulations on
compensation.
For more on species at risk in Canada go to:
http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/species/strategy/index_e.cfm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Norbert Kondla  P.Biol., RPBio.
Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management
845 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, British Columbia V1N 1H3
Phone 250-365-8610
Mailto:Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca       



 
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