Nature Conservation

BC Nature’s conservation work is guided by our long-standing motto: “Know Nature and Keep It Worth Knowing.”
Through the Conservation Committee, BC Nature acts as a collective voice for nature in British Columbia while working in partnership with our member clubs to support conservation efforts at both the provincial and community levels.

Our role is to represent nature in B.C. by helping the public, decision-makers, and naturalists understand current conservation issues, the science behind them, and the actions that can make a meaningful difference. Rather than working in isolation, we collaborate closely with BC Nature member clubs, providing tools, research, and coordination to strengthen club-led conservation initiatives across the province.

What We Do
The Conservation Committee focuses on enabling informed, effective conservation action by:

  • Preparing clear, evidence-based backgrounders on conservation issues to support public understanding and club engagement
  • Writing letters of action to elected officials and policy decision-makers on priority conservation matters
  • Providing letter-writing templates and guidance to member clubs to support local advocacy efforts
  • Bringing together scientists, naturalists, and subject-matter experts to facilitate webinars and public discussions
  • Raising awareness of conservation issues through BC Nature’s communication channels, including social media and video platforms
  • Producing conservation reports, articles, and contributions for BC Nature Magazine
  • Collaborating with other BC Nature committees, including Education, Communications, and Fundraising, to align conservation messaging, outreach, and impact

Committee Structure
To support both depth of expertise and broad engagement, the Conservation Committee is organized into two complementary teams:

  • Chair: Jennifer Dowd (link to my profile on the bcnature website)
  • Core Conservation Team
    This team leads issue identification, coordination, communications, and the development of backgrounders, action letters, and public-facing materials.
  • Advisory Consultation Team
    This team is made up of members with specialized expertise in areas such as ecology, biology, environmental science, land use, or policy. Advisory members are consulted as needed to help build, review, and truth-source research, ensuring that BC Nature’s conservation work is accurate, credible, and well-informed.

Priority Areas
The Conservation Committee engages with a wide range of issues affecting nature in British Columbia, including but not limited to:

  • Marine ecosystems and coastal health
  • Estuaries and migratory routes
  • Climate change and climate resilience
  • Landscape integrity and land-use planning
  • Pesticides and environmental toxins
  • Species at Risk
  • Wetlands and freshwater ecosystems
  • Wildlife management
  • Biodiversity conservation
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