Living Planet and Living Rivers need strong environmental laws
When we launched our 8th biennial Living Planet Report on May 15th, we were once again reminded of a stark but simple truth: we are taking more from the planet than it is able to give. The technical term for this is ecological overshoot – which we measure by comparing humanity’s large and growing footprint to the earth’s capacity to produce the natural resources and ecosystem services on which our lives and livelihoods depend. We have been in ecological overshoot since 1970, and the gap between the earth’s supply and our demand continues to grow.
The Niagara River flowing toward Lake Ontario, with Canada on the left and the United States on the right. © Frank PARHIZGAR / WWF-Canada
Among the most striking numbers for me is the reported global decline in freshwater biodiversity by 37% since 1970. When faced with such trends, it is hard not to become discouraged. But alas, I am not! Because I know – not just believe – I know that through sound science, collaboration and shared purpose, we can turn things around.
Take what might seem the smallest of examples: Marden Creek, what to many looks like little more than a small, unimportant trickle of water cutting across the landscape just outside of Guelph, Ontario. Well a century ago, Marden Creek was home to a thriving native brook trout population – then for a century, it wasn’t. That is, until our friends at Trout Unlimited stepped in and began to restore the system by removing small dams and taking other measure to restore the habitat for trout to spawn, feed and seek refuge. And for the first time in a century, the creek is flowing free again – and the brook trout have returned – and we at WWF are honored to have played some small role in that effort.
To turn the trend on freshwater biodiversity around means that we need many, many more projects that restore habitat and ecosystem health, and just as many efforts aimed at protecting systems that are still healthy and productive. For this to happen, we need strong laws and regulations on which to build the science, collaboration and shared purpose – yet as we know, Canada’s environmental regulations are under assault. Of great concern to me are the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act, which will weaken protections on fish habitat and limit the scope of protection to as-yet-undefined commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries.
These changes may seem inevitable, but people are speaking out in growing numbers through the Black Out Speak Out campaign: I encourage you to add you voice.
For my part, I will be sharing my concerns regarding the changes to the Fisheries Act with Members of Parliament and Canadian Senators in the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural resources, and to a Subcommittee on Bill C-38 (Part III) of the Standing Committee on Finance.
Now more than ever, we all need to speak up for our environment and our waters, and to take every opportunity we have to do so.
