Habitat loss and modification are leading causes of population decline in many rare and endangered species. The federal Species At Risk Act (SARA) describes Critical Habitat (CH) as the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species (schedule 1), and that is identified as the species’ critical habitat in a recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species. Many projects now require screening for critical habitat (CH) as part of the impact assessment process.

In the morning, Katrina Stipec with the the BC Conservation Data Centre (CDC) will give an overview of the CDC and will demonstrate two online applications relevant to CH screening: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer and the CDC iMAP.

An update (via a remote presentation) will be provided on the Legislation pertaining to Species and Ecosystems at Risk in BC by Lynn Campbell with the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

In the afternoon this workshop will provide tools and methods for screening for CH, in addition to an overview of the Migratory Birds Convention Act and guidance on measures to mitigate incidental take by Celina Willis and Chloe Boynton. This portion of the workshop will include how to obtain CH mapping information; how to determine if one has the most current CH information for a given species; how Species at Risk (SAR) legislation is applied (for example, in the case of migratory birds that are also species at risk); and how to determine if a SAR or Migratory Birds Regulation (MBR) permit is required. Participants will learn about the different jurisdictional issues affecting federal versus non-federal lands. They will have the opportunity to “workshop,” in group sessions, through mock scenarios with species at risk and migratory birds to determine when a permit is required under SARA or the MBR and how to apply for the necessary permit.

Registration

Member: $180*

Non-member: $210