Johnny Mikes with the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative is emphasizing to British Columbia Officials that it is long overdue for the 2008 Sea to Sky Land and Resource Management Plan — LRMP to go into effect....................,The LRMP calls for long-term sustainable status for the four Grizzly populations that overlap the Sea to Sky area, such as the Squamish Lillooet population (roughly 60 bears) and the Garibaldi-Pitt population (with two bears).

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Whistler calls for grizzly bear recovery plans 

Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative starts push for action on threatened populations

By Alison Taylor

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• PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS
• NEEDING SUPPORT A grizzly family at Chilcott Lake.

The Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative is rallying support for government action to save the threatened local grizzly bear populations.

It wants the province to begin writing grizzly bear recovery plans, as outlined in the Sea to Sky Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), approved in 2008.

"It has been six years now and some of the bear populations are in trouble, remain in trouble, and it's time to get on with it," Johnny Mikes with the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative told council at a Committee of the Whole meeting Sept.2.

Whistler Council is the first to lend its support.

At Tuesday's meeting, council passed a special resolution saying: "that the community of Whistler continues to support the management, recovery and long-term viability (of) grizzly bear populations in the Sea to Sky region and encourages the creation and implementation of Grizzly Bear Recovery Plans as soon as possible."

The push comes after Mikes' presentation at the COW meeting.

Six years ago, he said, the province approved the Sea to Sky Land and
Resource Management Plan — LRMP. That plan called for long-term sustainable status for the four populations that overlap the Sea to Sky area, such as the Squamish Lillooet population with roughly 60 bears and the Garibaldi-Pitt population with two bears.

While there has been much research over the last six years since the plan was approved, the recovery plans have yet to be written.

"I think most people would agree they now have a pretty good basis of science on which to actually do the recovery plans and there's no need for much, if any more, science," 

said Mikes. "I think most biologists would tell you, we know what we need to know and now we just have to get on with writing the recovery plans, which were called for in the LRMP."

Mikes talked to council about the importance of protecting the little remaining pockets of grizzly bears in this region and keeping the corridors of connection open.

This area is the southern-most line of extinction for the grizzly bears, a line that has been steadily creeping north over the last century.

"I think it's important that it be known that there's broad-based community support throughout southwest British Columbia for the five threatened populations of south west B.C," he said before the meeting.

He will be rallying support elsewhere in the corridor.

Issue	Goals
Access	Efficient and coordinated network of access roads; Crown land disposition managed to ensure reasonable and adequate public access; Suitable access to undertake allowable activities.
Cultural Heritage Values	Recognize and respect the cultural heritage values associated with archaeological sites, First Nations cultural places, and pioneer heritage sites in planning and management of all resource development activities.
Forest Health	Maintain sustainability and resiliency of forested ecosystems, by identifying and implementing strategies and tactics to minimize losses from damaging insects, diseases and abiotic disturbances.
Recreation	High quality natural recreation features and land base to support recreation activities; Adequate and appropriate access to Crown land for public and commercial recreation; Types and levels of recreational use (commercial and public) managed to minimize impacts on other resource values, and prevent conflicts between recreational user groups; A comprehensive database of knowledge and tools to support recreation management.
Riparian and Aquatic Habitats	Healthy and well functioning riparian and aquatic ecosystems; Abundance and diversity of native fish and other aquatic species; Clean water and flows occurring within the range of natural variability; High quality angling experiences throughout the Plan Area.
Water	High quality of surface and ground water throughout the Plan Area; Stable supply of high quality water to support ecological requirements; Safe and secure supply of drinking water; Availability of water resources to support recreational and industrial requirements.
Wildfire Management	Enhanced ability to manage or suppress wildfire, to improve both public safety and protection of key values across the Plan Area; Maintain and/or restore ecosystem health within the Plan Area, through rehabilitation and reintroduction of health-sustaining disturbance processes.
Wildlife and Biodiversity*	Healthy and abundant wildlife populations, including populations of threatened and endangered species, throughout the Plan Area; Effective measures applied to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to wildlife during land based uses and activities.
Visual Quality	Appropriate standards for visual quality within scenic areas; To maintain an appropriate level of visual quality from viewpoints within designated scenic areas.

*Note:  The LRMP also includes detailed plans for specific wildlife species, including bald eagle, deer, moose, mountain goat, grizzly bear, marbled murrelet, and spotted owl.