We look to the parks system to provide protection for biodiversity and wilderness. However, recent research indicates that all but one (the Banff Jasper -Yoho complex) of the large park complexes in North America have lost species within the last 80 years. One park in New Brunswick has lost over three dozen species since its creation 40 years ago (Parks Canada).

Only 4% of our parks are large enough to sustain large carnivores. Since the BC government announced its Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy in 1995, no core grizzly habitat has been protected. The area needed to sustain viable populations of wide-ranging species is much greater than previously thought. One study concluded that maintaining a viable population of as few as 390 grizzlies in the Rockies may require a total area of 11,700 square miles (31,440 square kilometres). This does not mean that we need to create parks this size, but that we must ensure connections between our protected areas.

53% of the original temperate rainforest in B.C. has already been lost to logging and clearcutting, and less than 7% of our prime ancient rainforest is protected from future destruction. Despite widespread international disapproval, 97% of industrial logging in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest is still done by clearcutting. Clearcutting exposes rainforest soils to sunlight, wind and rain resulting in extreme dryness and soil loss. Instability and soil erosion on steep slopes often results in slides and increased sediment in stream-beds, seriously degrading fish habitat. Clearcutting also provides access to hunters and poachers, and inevitably leads to other forms of development.