An environmental group that's long called for the protection of endangered plant and animal species in B.C, is set to raise its voices once again this weekend.
Wondrous Tree Fellowship — formerly known as PoCo Heritage Trees — hopes the public can understand the need to preserve old-growth trees and forests through a series of demonstrations set for tomorrow (Nov. 28) at Tri-City politicians' offices.
Activists are hosting these pop-ups in recognition of what's called Lost Species Day, a 'Remembrance Day' for extinct animals, plants, cultures and ecosystems — officially commemorated worldwide on Tuesday (Nov. 30).
Spokesperson Nancy Furness explains, in a statement to the Tri-City News, the group is calling on the provincial government to enact Species at Risk legislation, created jointly with the feds in 2005.
In April 2019, Premier John Horgan pushed back the NDP's plan to enable it in 2020 citing, "There’s no significant species at risk legislation on the docket for the foreseeable future here in B.C."
"We will vow to fight to protect other species that are currently threatened or at risk of extinction, and we will celebrate the incredible diversity of plant and animal life that remains within the province," said Furness about Lost Species Day, explaining the event is set to honour experiences and practices linked to witnessing such biological losses.
According to Wondrous Tree Fellowship, more than 1,300 plant and animal species are considered at risk while another 1,000 meet the classification requirements, but are not included.
"Despite marketing ourselves as 'Super-natural, B.C.' we are failing to protect the myriad species that inhabit the province’s many ecosystems, from the coast to the mountain tops and from grasslands to old-growth forests, with worrisome consequences for biodiversity," Furness adds.
"Protection of species is left to a patch-work of difficult to administer regulations with many gaps."
In hopes of getting its message across, Wondrous Tree Fellowship says it'll be setting up four 'public art exhibits' depicting species extinction at the Tri-Cities' four MLA constituency offices.
This includes (in order of scheduled appearances):
- Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth
- 10 to 10:45 a.m.
- #107A 2748 Lougheed Hwy.
- Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Fin Donnelly
- 11 to 11:45 a.m.
- 510–2950 Glen Dr.
- Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Selina Robinson
- Noon to 12:45 p.m.
- #102-1108 Austin Ave.
- Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac
- 1 to 1:45 p.m.
- 2708 St. Johns St.
The group is set to wear costumes, hold up signs and pictures of plants and animals during the demonstrations.
If planning to attend, the public is being asked to wear masks and use hand sanitizer.
