BCWF- News release- Groundbreaking MOU signed

[souwester]

Lange1212 I got 100 bucks that says NDP does nothing but take opportunities away from us if you are into a friendly bet? You pick the time frame 1 year ? two years? hopefully they are gone by then.
Any one who ACTUALLY hunts big game in this province should see that this MOU is the future.
Whoever was involved with this started a good thing hopefully more progress can be made.
you guys that want to continue arguing allocation are going to be alone at the table soon ... good luck.

carry on.

[Buck]

Resident hunters need to assert to the powers that be that anything above the 10% threshold of allocation for the guide outfitting business will not be tolerated.I would have nothing to do with any collaboration involving the GOABC the have no honor and no integrity.Now is the time to strike against the allocation debacle hold the government accountable to the promises they made to garner the votes to have the libs thrown out.This MOU is only to the GOABC's advantage as an attempt to normalize the preposterous allocation theft that has occurred.
The general public hold the guide outfitting business in contempt we should distance ourselves from them they are not needed as we move to wildlife recovery.

[Oldblackdog]

Biologists ask B.C. government to reconsider wildlife agency funded by hunters

Published on: July 17, 2017 | Last Updated: July 17, 2017 4:18 PM PDT



Undated photo of grizzly bear hunt in British Columbia. PROVINCE
Dozens of wildlife groups are speaking out against the creation of a new provincial agency dedicated to wildlife management, saying the B.C. government prioritized the views of hunters over scientists.
Announced by the Liberal government before the start of the election campaign, the stand-alone agency was to be formed in the fall with $5 million in government funds. In following years, it would be supported by hunting licence revenue of up to $10 million annually.
The use of hunting revenue to support wildlife stewardship was met with enthusiastic approval from hunting groups like the B.C. Wildlife Federation and the Guide Outfitters Association, both of which were quoted in a government press release issued in March.
But the announcement came as a complete shock to dozens of other conservation groups that don’t have a stake in the wildlife harvest, said Pamela Zevit, director with the Association of Professional Biology.
“We heard about it in the media,” Zevit said Friday. “We’re not saying there shouldn’t be a new agency, but we’re concerned about who is deciding what it will look like. It is important that modern science guides wildlife management decisions.”
Earlier this week, the association fired off a letter to premier-designate John Horgan and Green party leader Andrew Weaver, asking for a seat at the table.
But other groups have gone further, asking the new government to halt plans for the agency all together.
In a letter supported by 17 organizations and businesses, B.C. Nature president Alan Burger asked the government to review its wildlife management strategy, adding “there is an urgent need … to look beyond consumptive use of wildlife and put the priority on managing for healthy and functioning ecosystems.”
Another letter, this one signed by 23 wildlife groups, including the SPCA and the Wilderness Committee, urged the new government to increase wildlife management staff and funding for government ministries rather than creating a separate agency.
The letter cites a radio interview given by Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett in the days following the announcement, in which he said the government was afraid to manage wolves and grizzly bears because of the politics involved. Conservation groups say hunting groups are even more ill-suited to the task.
The letter also expressed concern an independent agency could be influenced by donations and funding from outside groups.
“If the fees for hunting licences were to go directly to a non-government agency that decides hunting quotas, the agency can then increase its own funding, staff and salaries by selling more hunting tags,” says the letter.
“This would induce managers to turn a blind eye to the scientific facts governing wildlife populations, and the focus would be on increasing the numbers of game animals, rather than on ecosystem health.”
While the government pledged to continue to dedicate $2.6 million each year to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for its conservation projects, scientists are also concerned that work on species at risk could become secondary to animals that can be hunted.
The NDP said it was unable to comment before its new cabinet has been sworn in.
gluymes@postmedia.com
twitter.com/glendaluymes
Related

[Whonnock Boy]

People should have full disclosure when people such as yourself make comments such as these.

you guys that want to continue arguing allocation are going to be alone at the table soon ... good luck.

carry on.

[40incher]

Biologists ask B.C. government to reconsider wildlife agency funded by hunters

Published on: July 17, 2017 | Last Updated: July 17, 2017 4:18 PM PDT



Undated photo of grizzly bear hunt in British Columbia. PROVINCE
Dozens of wildlife groups are speaking out against the creation of a new provincial agency dedicated to wildlife management, saying the B.C. government prioritized the views of hunters over scientists.
Announced by the Liberal government before the start of the election campaign, the stand-alone agency was to be formed in the fall with $5 million in government funds. In following years, it would be supported by hunting licence revenue of up to $10 million annually.
The use of hunting revenue to support wildlife stewardship was met with enthusiastic approval from hunting groups like the B.C. Wildlife Federation and the Guide Outfitters Association, both of which were quoted in a government press release issued in March.
But the announcement came as a complete shock to dozens of other conservation groups that don’t have a stake in the wildlife harvest, said Pamela Zevit, director with the Association of Professional Biology.
“We heard about it in the media,” Zevit said Friday. “We’re not saying there shouldn’t be a new agency, but we’re concerned about who is deciding what it will look like. It is important that modern science guides wildlife management decisions.”
Earlier this week, the association fired off a letter to premier-designate John Horgan and Green party leader Andrew Weaver, asking for a seat at the table.
But other groups have gone further, asking the new government to halt plans for the agency all together.
In a letter supported by 17 organizations and businesses, B.C. Nature president Alan Burger asked the government to review its wildlife management strategy, adding “there is an urgent need … to look beyond consumptive use of wildlife and put the priority on managing for healthy and functioning ecosystems.”
Another letter, this one signed by 23 wildlife groups, including the SPCA and the Wilderness Committee, urged the new government to increase wildlife management staff and funding for government ministries rather than creating a separate agency.
The letter cites a radio interview given by Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett in the days following the announcement, in which he said the government was afraid to manage wolves and grizzly bears because of the politics involved. Conservation groups say hunting groups are even more ill-suited to the task.
The letter also expressed concern an independent agency could be influenced by donations and funding from outside groups.
“If the fees for hunting licences were to go directly to a non-government agency that decides hunting quotas, the agency can then increase its own funding, staff and salaries by selling more hunting tags,” says the letter.
“This would induce managers to turn a blind eye to the scientific facts governing wildlife populations, and the focus would be on increasing the numbers of game animals, rather than on ecosystem health.”
While the government pledged to continue to dedicate $2.6 million each year to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for its conservation projects, scientists are also concerned that work on species at risk could become secondary to animals that can be hunted.
The NDP said it was unable to comment before its new cabinet has been sworn in.
gluymes@postmedia.com
twitter.com/glendaluymes
Related

And the worm begins to turn ...

["No Choke"Lord Walsingham]

Beautiful photo and congrats on a great bear!

Some memorandum though? Gov't (nor anyone else who doesn't regularly pay money to one of the undersigned organizations on said memorandum) could give a rat's azz about what you agree on. I sincerely hope your organizations contribute greatly to this site on a financial level, or this couldn't be less as per news. If it does anything on any level ever, that would be fantastic. I surely won't hold hold my breath. Fact is, Mcgreggor v Mayweather is a more legitimate Boxing match than is a relevant announcement.

[bloody bellies]

great, let's put money into FN reserves for their wildlife, what exactly do FN do for crown land? how much money does FN give the government of BC for wild life management? If they give any, well it will just go back into their pockets for their reserves, unless I'm missing something.

[IronNoggin]

Biologists ask B.C. government to reconsider wildlife agency funded by hunters

Patterned loosely on the Freshwater Fisheries Society model, what has been proposed involves more groups than just hunters. As a consequence, those crying foul make one suspicious of their motives...

And a little looking into the matter suggests the Raincoast Foundation (an openly anti use, anti hunting collection of pseudo scientists) is largely leading the charge on the front opposed to this action. Amongst some of the bio types currently working directly for the gov or on a contractual basis (and fearful of cuts if the coin wanders away from the gov's control) they have found not only support, but an entity to hide / lurk behind while making their play.

Wildlife & wildlands in this Province are in trouble. A great deal of that trouble comes from the lack of funding, combined with the lack of political attention / focus. No government in BC has ever accomplished much substantially for these resources, and most in fact seem to think of them simply as a bank - to be sold and bartered off for political support / aspirations.

We are well overdue for an overhaul of the system. Getting management OUT of the greedy mitts of government is a major step forward. Ensuring adequate funding is in place (and again out of the hands of the gov) is another. Of course hunters & fishermen should be involved (alongside Proper Science) for they have a proven and vested interest in maintaining, actually increasing, the population and habitat levels out there.

Kind of shameful those voicing their opposition all things considered. Certainly does paint them with the same brush as those hiding directly behind them...

Cheers,
Nog