B.C. can’t afford to gamble with biodiversity—protecting nature must be systemic, not symbolic.
VANCOUVER/UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (MUSQUEAM), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) TERRITORIES — Ecojustice congratulates the progress highlighted in the first annual report on the Tripartite Framework Agreement but urges the federal and B.C. governments to strengthen their commitments to systemic reform that prioritizes biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The agreement, signed in 2023 between First Nations, the provincial, and federal governments, aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its key 30×30 target—protecting 30 per cent of land and water by 2030. While the report outlines meaningful First Nations-led conservation efforts, it lacks clarity on the tangible impact on critical habitat protection.
“We commend the progress made on the First Nations-led work outlined in this report. However, the provincial government must prioritize biodiversity into its broader decision-making,” said Sarah Korpan, Government Relations and Campaign Manager, Ecojustice. “B.C. can’t let short-term economic uncertainty push environmental priorities aside as a quick reaction to U.S. tariffs. Finalizing and implementing the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health (BEH) framework is critical to supporting the full implementation of the Tripartite Framework Agreement and avoiding irreversible damage from rapid natural resource expansion.”
Victoria Watson, Staff Lawyer at Ecojustice, added: “Initiatives that place First Nations at decision-making tables are essential during these unprecedented environmental and economic times. But these initiatives cannot exist in silos. The GBF mandates whole-of-government integration of biodiversity values, yet 80.3per cent of B.C.’s lands and waters remain under standard regulations that prioritize industry over ecosystem health. The government’s cross-ministry push for critical minerals reinforces this disparity within and outside of park borders. Without broader reform, government will contradict the spirit of this agreement and the GBF.”
The report also lacks transparency on species-at-risk protections. Charlotte Dawe, Government Relations and Campaign Specialist, Ecojustice, noted: “We continue to play whack-a-mole conservation, where one area is protected while destruction accelerates elsewhere. Without integrating biodiversity considerations across all sectors and land, we risk a net loss for nature.”
To uphold its commitments, the B.C. government must provide clear data on how much critical habitat protection has increased in the first year of this agreement and finalize the BEH framework. Without this, the intent of the Tripartite Framework Agreement is at risk of being undermined.
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Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions, law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
