Speaking of Science
Double, double toil
and trouble :
The science, the policy, and the politics
of Canada’s Species at Risk Act
Presented by Dr. Arne Mooers
Free Public Lecture
7–9 pm, Thursday
October 22, 2009
Room 7000
SFU Vancouver
Harbour Centre building
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
As seating is limited,
reservations are
recommended.
To reserve, email
cs-science@sfu.ca
or telephone
778-782-5466.
Canada was the first major nation to ratify the international Convention
on Biodiversity over 15 years ago. In 2002, it passed historic legislation to
protect its endangered wildlife: the Species at Risk Act. How is it doing?
Well, it is now undergoing its first official review by Parliament, and its
first trials by fire in the courts. Some aspects of the law are good on
paper, and pretty good in practise. For instance, Canada does a good job
of identifying those bits of biodiversity that need protection. However,
after that, things get decidedly murkier, especially if what needs
protection is tasty (like wild salmon), or iconic (like caribou).
Deciding on what medicine is best for species at risk isn’t
straightforward. We will have a look at what goes into the pot, and who
is doing the cooking.
Dr. Arne Mooers is an Associate Professor of Biodiversity
at Simon Fraser University and the incoming Chair of
the Biodiversity and Conservation Committee for the
Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution. He was
involved in pressing the government to incorporate
clear scientific principles in the Species at Risk Act, and
is a lead author of a review of the Act for the Federal
Parliament.
www.sfu.ca/cstudies/science
Co n t i n ui n g St udies i n S cie n ce