B.C.'s draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework

B.C.’s draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework sets out a common vision for the conservation and management of ecosystem health and biodiversity.

As an overarching priority of the B.C. government, the final framework will formalize a strategic direction for a more holistic approach to stewarding our land and water resources and making sure they are healthy and resilient for future generations.

The B.C. government is committed to protecting and conserving the province’s biodiversity and ecosystem health. Rich biodiversity and healthy ecosystems support us all and ensure that the natural environment (as well as communities and their economies) continue to flourish, especially in the face of climate change.  

The draft framework:

• Outlines B.C.’s intent, principles and actions that together set the direction for prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health throughout the province
• Lays out a path to maintain and enhance biodiversity and ecological integrity, and support healthy communities and economies into the future
• Works to align, integrate and enhance existing provincial and collaborative initiatives to better steward biodiversity and ecosystem health
• Guides and informs the future development of legislation, policies and actions required to support the ongoing transformation of land and water stewardship approaches, in collaboration and partnership with First Nations and with involvement from all people living in British Columbia
• Provides an approach that is adaptable to diverse ecosystems and cultures and finds ways of achieving collective stewardship throughout the province

The draft framework upholds and enables the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the UN Declaration) and the requirements and commitments of B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration Act). This foundation supports three pillars:

1. Adopting a “whole of government” approach that demonstrates vision, leadership and integration
2. Fostering and supporting a “whole of society” approach that includes broad input from the public
3. Adopting an open and transparent process for supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health, through ongoing evaluation, reporting and collective learning

The draft framework was developed through collaborative engagement throughout 2023 with First Nations and other parties including industry, non-governmental organizations, local communities, municipal leaders and academia. Research and examples from Canada and from other parts of the world have also helped to inform the draft and the innovative ideas within it.

Consultations with First Nations and engagement with local governments, industry, environmental organizations and the public on the draft framework took place from November 2023 to January 2024. Over 7,000 responses were received. Most responses expressed support for the draft framework’s vision and key actions to help shift from current land and water management systems to one that considers ecosystem health, community well-being and economic resiliency more holistically.

Many supportive responses emphasized the complexity of this shift and the need for additional engagement to ensure that the final framework is well understood, is broadly supported and the implementation path is clear.