Species at Risk in the Classroom
SCCP - The South Coast
Conservation Program
“The SCCP: A multi partner conservation program helping facilitate projects
and activities to restore and protect species and ecological communities at
risk on the South Coast of B.C.”
• Outline
• About the SCCP
• Some background on “SEAR”
• Issues for the South Coast
• Why the classroom?
• SARitc materials
• Questions
SCCP history and objectives
•Established in 2005
•Multi-partner or “joint venture” approach
(senior agencies, stewardship groups,
industry, academia, First Nations)
•Facilitates implementation of sound
conservation and management tools for
species and ecosystems at risk.
•Works at a landscape (‘eco-regional’) level
across the South Coast of British Columbia.
•Public & private lands
Red: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies that have - or are
candidates for- Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status in BC
Blue: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies considered to be
of Special Concern (formerly Vulnerable) in British Columbia.
Yellow: Includes species that are apparently secure and not at risk of
extinction. Yellow-listed species may have Red- or Blue-listed
subspecies.
COSEWIC Rankings these are generally the same as Species at Risk
Act (SARA) rankings*:
E = ENDANGERED: A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
T = THREATENED: A species that is likely to become endangered if
limiting factors are not reversed.
SC = SPECIAL CONCERN: A species of special concern because of
characteristics that make it is particularly sensitive to human activities or
natural events.
XT = Extirpated taxa no longer exist in the wild in British Columbia, but
do occur elsewhere.
NAR = NOT AT RISK: A species that has been evaluated and found to
be not at risk.
DD = DATA DEFICIENT: A species for which there is insufficient
South Coast Stats:
Red: 98 includes XT: 3
(soon to be 4?)
Blue: 177
Ecosystems at Risk: 3 to start* Coastal Sand Ecosystems,
WePT, Gopher Snake, PUOR
Coastal Douglas Fir, Wetlands
Identified Wildlife (under FRPA): 20
BC Wildlife Act: 0!!!!
COSEWIC Ranked: 69
SARA Listed (T-E): 59
MBCA: 14 (5 are SARA listed)
CITES: 17 (7 are SARA listed)
Number of SARA listed species on the South
Coast with published recovery strategies: 17
(includes XT)
*does not mean these are protected
The region’s at risk statistics
Competition for space is tight!
The South Coast –
nearly 2 million people
and rising
Understanding threats!
Getting the word out
Why the Classroom?
Increasing disconnect of youth from the natural world (“Nature Deficit
Disorder”)
Lack of available tools and resources to BC educators on local
endangered species education.
No rules or guidelines within formal education system over use of live
animals for curriculum.
Many schools have complementary programs (e.g. Salmonids in the
Classroom) but not a focus on biodiversity or SEAR
Connections to local conservation, greening and restoration efforts
(Streamkeepers or naturalist groups), invasive plant management
programs already exist.
Species at Risk in the
Classroom
‘Guidebook’ is the
anchor document
•
•
Background on
legal and public
efforts for SEAR
conservation
First Nations
perspectives on
SEAR
(i.e. Stó:lō peoples as part of
broader Coast Salish history
First module to accompany the guidebook has been
developed: Amphibians and Reptiles
Linkages to present provincial curriculum is provided as
well as information on where to go for further information
on other related resources and organizations
Next Steps:
Funded for continued work on modules and literature
resources for 2013-2015 (Federal Habitat Stewardship Program
funding)
2013 (underway):
• Module #2 (multi-species)
• Second Storybook
• Pilot with formal and informal education partners to
implement in education and conservation/stewardship
networks locally.
• Get storybooks available through POD system online.
• Apply for funding to supplement concept implementation and
work with a handful of schools to undertake a
complementary restoration project with a SEAR focus
2014:
Module #3 - theme will potentially focus on ecological
communities at risk
We share our neighbourhoods with an incredible
diversity of endangered species – the best way to
protect them is to know they are there in the first
place!
Questions
?
Learn More at:
www.sccp.ca
Like us on
Facebook
Check out our
factsheets at:
http://www.geog.u
bc.ca/biodiversity/f
actsheets/