$35 million for B.C. Parks not enough after years of cuts, says conservationist

The provincial government is investing $35 millionto "strengthen conservation"in B.C. over the next three years.

Part of the funds will go towards 25 more full-time park rangers,adding to their current roster of sevenfull-time year-round rangers.Italso includes a new B.C. Parks Foundation andprograms to protect the environment.

For some, the fundingis too little, too late.

Last summer the B.C. Government and ServiceEmployees Union (BCGEU) called out B.C. Parksfor having just over a handfulof full-time rangers responsible for patrolling 14 million hectares of protected areas in the province an area larger than the size of Greece.

B.C. Parks defendeditself, pointing out that 87 part-time rangers werebrought in to managepeak tourism season in the summer.

Joe Foy ofthe Wilderness Committee says the funding is amove in the right direction, but says it's still not enough.

"It doesn't get us to where we need to be to repair the damage after years of neglect," said Foy.

Foy compared it to "cutting off yournoseto spite yourface."

Cautiously optimistic

Foy says thedeficitin fundingover the years hashad negative impacton the environment and also on local businesses that rely on visitorsto the parks.

He says not having the funding to upkeep vast areas and deterpoaching, logging and ATVinghampers tourism.

"The [B.C.] Park's budget has been bumping along in the basement at about $30 milliona year and we want that todouble, as well assee the number infull-time parkrangers increase to at least 50," Foysaid.

BCGEUsays it is cautiously optimistic.

"We will be keeping in contact with our front lines members to seewhat their experiencesare as this initiative rolls out,"said president Stephanie Smith.

New programs

MaryPolak, Minister of Environment said the new investmentswill help topreserve and strengthen B.C.'s natural environment.

"We're so fortunate to have right in our own backyard. It's an investment not only for BritishColumbians, but indeed for the entire world,"Polaksaid.

The funding will also include new programs, such as openingparksto universities and climate-related agenciesto measure and monitor the impact of climate change on ecosystems and wildlife.

On the heels of last year's battle to book a campsite, which left many without digsfor the summer, the province is also investing $22.9 million to build 1,900 new campsites in provincialparksand recreation sites.

According to the province, over the past five yearsithas invested approximately $60 million inparkfacilities, projects toattractyoung families, and offeredrecreation opportunities and increaseattendance.