British Columbia (BC) is Canada’s most biologically diverse province or territory. BC contains 14 ecological zones--each with unique ecosystems--which are home to over 70% of Canada’s mammal, breeding bird, and non-vascular plant species.

The benefits (or services) provided to humans by these ecosystems are not limited to air, water, and resources. They also include societal enjoyment through tourism, recreation, and cultural connection.

Assessments of BC warn of the risk of several climate-related events such as severe wildfires, water shortages, heatwaves, ocean acidification, flooding, and glacier loss, the majority of which would have catastrophic economic consequences.

Global initiatives to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity include the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). However, Canada faces many complex challenges with solutions being linked to:

1. evaluating current biodiversity management actions,
2. monitoring and preserving genetic and ecological diversity,
3. strengthening the role of Indigenous leadership and knowledge in biodiversity stewardship,
4. enabling communities to adapt to environmental and economic changes,
5. increasing the role of social science research to enhance conservation strategies and outcomes,
6. understanding the societal value of natural assets (see full article).

Now is the time to join international efforts--while focusing on BC’s unique challenges--to protect our remaining forests, grasslands, wetlands, and oceans from biodiversity loss.