VANCOUVER, B.C. -- October
22, 2012 -- On October 9, 2012, Nam Bak
Enterprises Limited was convicted and fined
in British Columbia Provincial court for
offences under the Wild Animal and Plant
Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).
Nam Bak Enterprises
received a total penalty of $50,000 for
importing without a permit American Ginseng
(wild and cultivated), a species listed
under the Convention on the International
Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Of
that amount, the company must pay a $45,000
fine and $5,000 to the Environmental Damages
Fund (EDF).
A 2008 inspection of
a sea-container in the Port of Vancouver
resulted in the detention of $150,000 worth
of American Ginseng (9 kg wild and 544 kg
cultivated) as well as Gastrodia (a species
of orchid). A permit to import these species
is required.
CITES is an international
agreement to regulate trade in specific
species of wild animals and plants, as well
as their respective parts and derivatives.
WAPPRIITA is the legislation used to implement
CITES in Canada.
The Environmental Damages
Fund is administered by Environment Canada.
It was created in 1995 to provide a mechanism
for directing funds received as a result
of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments
to priority projects that will benefit our
natural environment.
Please visit our website
to learn more about CITES and the Environmental
Damages Fund.
Environment Canada has
created a subscription service to help the
public stay current with what the Government
of Canada is doing to protect our natural
environment. Subscribing to Environment
Canada’s Enforcement Notifications is easy,
and free. Sign up today.
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Canada Releases Boreal
Caribou Recovery Strategy
OTTAWA, Ont. -- October
5, 2012 -- Canada’s Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced
the release of the final Recovery Strategy
for the Woodland Caribou, Boreal population
(boreal caribou).
“Our Government is committed
to conserving boreal caribou, an iconic
species to Canadians from coast to coast
to coast”, said Minister Kent. “To protect
this species, we have developed a recovery
strategy that offers a strong, practical
approach to conserving boreal caribou.”
The goal identified
in the recovery strategy is to achieve self-sustaining
local populations in all boreal caribou
ranges throughout Canada. This goal reflects
the best available information, including
scientific knowledge and Aboriginal Traditional
Knowledge. The recovery strategy follows
engagement with the public, Aboriginal communities,
government, industry stakeholders, environmental
non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) and
academia across Canada.
Success in the recovery
of boreal caribou depends on the commitment,
collaboration and cooperation of many different
constituencies that will be involved in
implementing the broad strategies and general
approaches set out in this recovery strategy.
+ More
Environment Minister
Meets With Members of Hunting and Angling
Advisory Panel
OTTAWA, Ont. -- October
12, 2012 -- Canada’s Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent, had his first
meeting with members of the Hunting and
Angling Advisory Panel (HAAP) on Friday,
October 5, 2012. The inaugural meeting focused
on organizational aspects of the HAAP, such
as setting the terms of reference, meeting
schedule, etc. The members represent a wide
collection of hunting, trapping, angling
and conservation organizations who were
appointed in May 2012, following an announcement
by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“Friday’s inaugural
meeting of the Hunting and Angling Advisory
Panel was a constructive and positive first
step in knowledge sharing,” said Minister
Kent. “The Government of Canada recognizes
that hunting, angling and trapping are central
to the livelihood, recreation and tradition
of many Canadians as well as to their local
and regional tourism industries. It was
a pleasure to meet with so many organizations
committed to the protection, and promotion,
of Canada’s environment. The success of
the grassroots approach they have taken
towards conservation is inspiring.”
The Panel’s purpose
is to provide advice to the Government of
Canada on a range of federal policies, programs
and activities related to conservation,
hunting, trapping and angling. It will also
ensure that government decisions are based
on inclusive, broad informed advice, while
promoting and encouraging effective stewardship
of Canada’s fish and wildlife.
The Panel is expected
to meet twice annually. The next meeting
will occur in early 2013.
Panel membership includes:
•Alberta Fish and Game
Association
•Atlantic Salmon Federation
•British Columbia Wildlife Federation
•Canadian Federation of Outfitter Associations
•Canadian Shooting Sports Association
•Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association
•Delta Waterfowl
•Ducks Unlimited Canada
•Fédération québécoise
des chasseurs et pêcheurs
•Fur Institute of Canada
•Manitoba Wildlife Federation
•New Brunswick Wildlife Federation
•Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Federation
•Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters
•Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
•Pacific Salmon Foundation
•Prince Edward Island Wildlife Federation
•Safari Club International - Canada
•Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation
•Trout Unlimited Canada
•Wildlife Habitat Canada
•Yukon Fish and Game Association
