The British Columbia Environmental Network (BCEN) Webpages 

Member organizations within the Network advocate for environmental responsibility and community participation in activities leading to ecological sustainability.


Help protect Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) from the proposed Prosperity Mine.

The World Health Organization states about 20% of the world's population, 1.1 billion, live in countries where water is scarce. Industrial use is the major user of freshwater and the capacity of our water bodies to process these pollutants are limited leading to water scarcity. Taseko Mines Ltd. is proposing the use of Teztan Biny as a acid tailings lake, a practice that since 2002 has been supported by controversial changes to the Fisheries Act under Schedule 2 which allow for the redefining of any lake as a “Tailings Impoundment Area.” The proposed mine's two kilometer-wide open pit, tailings pond, waste rock piles, roads, and transmission lines would destroy the entire sub-alpine ecosystem around the lake and Teztan Biny.



Teztan Biny is part of the Tsilhqot’in homeland and the Taseko River / Fraser River watershed.  


Raven has produced a documentary film, Blue Gold, the Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) The film looks at Taseko Mines Ltd.'s proposed "Prosperity" mine that would see Fish Lake (Teztan Biny), Little Fish Lake (Naba) and the surrounding area destroyed as they gain access to the gold and copper reserves in the earth. In the place of these gorgeous, trout-bearing lakes, Taseko will leave behind an estimated 700,000,000 tons of tailings and waste material, including arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium and other toxic metals. This toxic legacy will permanently scar the area, destroy habitat for major species like grizzlies, moose and deer, and potentially contaminate the largest wild salmon run in North America. The Tsilhqot'in Nation holds proven Aboriginal hunting and trapping rights in the area where Taseko wants to build the mine.

"It is not possible for us to agree to the destruction of land that sustains us." - Chief Marilyn Baptiste, Xeni Gwet'in First Nation.

How is it even possible to destroy a fish-bearing lake to support the private interests of a mining company? Recent changes in the Fisheries Act allow for the destruction of freshwater bodies in Canada. Once added to Schedule 2, lakes and rivers loose the protections of the Fisheries Act and are allowed to be used as toxic dumpsites for metal mining corporations. Teztan Biny is one of several lakes across Canada currently slated for destruction. The permanent destruction of the lake and watershed cannot be compensated ecologically. There are many other communities across Canada facing similar destruction of sacred places due to this short-sighted federal law.

B.C. recently issued its Environmental Assessment Certificate for the mine - over the objections of the Tsilhqot'in Nation - which opens the door for Taseko to apply for the permits needed to clear and develop this site.

Things you can do

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT FISH LAKE!

WRITE TO YOUR MLA: Demand the British Columbia government stop the use of lakes as toxic waste dumps, address environmental damages and remediation, and address human health issues that affect the First Nations as a result of mining operations.

WRITE TO YOUR MP: Demand the Canadian federal government recognize its Aboriginal Treaty obligations and concerns of First Nations about the human and ecological health crisis, the climate change impacts, and the damages to water and air quality.

Send a message to MP Dick Harris to voice your opposition to the project at: harrir1@parl.gc.ca

Send a message to Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice at: Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca


WRITE TO PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER: Demand Canada meets its Kyoto Protocol commitments and halt all subsidies and end all mining that produces acid mine drainage.

We all say ‘No’ to this mine and the destruction of the land and our clean water resource. Petition

No acid mine drainage here. Vote for music videos from worldwide submissions from Algeria, Germany, France, U.S., and Canada. Artists for Fish Lake / Teztan Biny Music Competition


Norm Hann on a 365 km 'paddleboard' journey from Kitimat to Bella Bella

STAND UP 4 GREAT BEAR is an 365 km 'paddleboard' journey to raise awareness about the proposal to ship Oil in Supertankers to China by building a pipeline from the Tar Sands in Northern Alberta to Kitimat.

Kitamaat Village chief councillor Dolores Pollard blessed Hann during an impromptu ceremony on the local docks.

She said he carried a “powerful message” and assured him the Haisla ancestors would accompany him on the difficult journey.“With a tiny little board and one man, you can bring so much awareness,” she said, before singing a tribal song entitled “We don’t need Enbridge on the Douglas.”

Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline would bring 225 oil tankers through B.C.’s coastal waters each year.

BCEN Call for Ban on Sour Gas and Unconventional Natural Gas Extraction


British Columbia Environmental Network Proposed Resolution

“WHEREAS extensive environmental and health damages are being caused to the Residents of Peace River Area, their animals, their water and their livelihoods by sour gas wells, pipeline malfunctions, and leaks due to the sour gas industry,

“WHEREAS extensive environmental and health damages are caused by horizontal drilling and high pressure hydrofracturing gas extraction techniques due to the contamination of water, soil and air by the toxic chemicals used in drilling and fracturing, and the naturally occurring toxic chemicals brought to the surface from deep in the ground,

“WHEREAS these environmental and human and animal health damages will have damaging economic consequences on agricultural and residential property use and value, and on farming, tourism, forestry, schools and ecological and recreational businesses,

“WHEREAS the infrastructure costs of building and repairing roads, water treatment facilities, and other public services would far exceed any economic benefit to local communities, and

“WHEREAS it is yet to be proven that the green house effects of the production and use of natural gas produced by horizontal drilling and hydrofracturing are any less than those of the production and use of coal when the life cycle emissions of natural gas production and the higher impact of methane as a green house gas are taken into account.

“Be It Resolved that the British Columbia Environmental Network calls on the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia to enact a ban on permitting sour gas wells on Peace River Farmland and on unconventional gas extraction that uses horizontal drilling and hydro-fracturing to explore, mine, or extract gas in the Province of British Columbia."

Will Koops Hydrofrack

For inquiries to join Landwatch, a listserve focussing on ecology and environment and British Columbia please provide a brief resume on action and email to editor at ecobc.org
New: BCEN ENGO Membership Application Download

The Peace River Valley

Habitat for biodiversity and food security for British Columbia. The Peace River Valley has a priceless role to play in ecologic resiliency to climate change

The BC Peace River Valley and Climate Change: Report

  The unique agricultural lands of the Peace River Valley have an enormous potential to increase BC’s food self-reliance… at least 42 vegetables can be commercially grown in the valley.

  Although a recent survey indicates that 91% of British Columbians feel it is important for BC to “produce enough food so [it doesn’t] have to depend on imports from other places”, BC continues to rely on imports for approximately 50% of its food supply.

  The Peace River Valley contains a substantial amount of exceptional agricultural land, especially on its lower terraces.  Approximately 10% of the valley is classified as premium Class 1 agricultural land, accounting for the vast majority of Class 1 land in Northern BC.  Approximately 50% of the valley is classified as Class 2 land.  Much of this Class 2 land would have agricultural capabilities equivalent to Class 1 land if irrigated.  

  The Peace River Valley’s climate is among the best in Canada for agriculture. Less than 1% of Canada’s total land base has the Class 1 climate of the Peace River Valley. The valley contains the only Class 1 climate in Northern BC.  

  Approximately 5340 ha of the Peace River Valley’s land would be flooded by Site C’s reservoir, over 1000 ha of additional land would be impacted by the project’s construction site and transmission line, and additional lands would be marginalized due to sloughing. At least 60% of the land which would be flooded by Site C’s reservoir has an agricultural capability class rating of 1 and 2; and at least 74% has a rating of 1 to 3.

“BC Hydro has suppressed our top-notch agricultural resources in Northeastern BC by buying up land reserve and consequently killing off the market gardens that used to flourish in the valley,” says Project Manager and Professional Biologist Brian Churchill. “The flooding from Site C would take these amazing fields off the map and put them under water. However, if Site C is stopped, once and for all, farmers could reinvest in vegetable crops, and BC residents would have a reliable local food source that actually grows with climate change.”

Peace River residents greet Government announcement of Site C Dam

A recital of the facts. the water of the peace is shared by BC and Alberta. Their turf encompasses all of the Peace watershed. Both are establishing their claim to the water with projects like Site C. Downstream, the NWT is fretting because Ottawa, which manages water north of 60, is sitting back and not protecting their interest. It will be the disaster on the scale of the Bennett Dam all over again. If you're looking for responsible bodies, there aren't any. Check out the Mackenzie river basin board and Alberta environment websites. See what they have to say. I can tell you now that you will be dismayed.

The would-be signatories to the water sharing plan for the Mackenzie basin are lining up to claim 'their' share as a prelude to a formal agreement sometime in the next decade.

The story is the division of the Peace water and who gets what and the final destruction of the Peace/Athabasca delta and wetlands. What the Bennett and Peace dams began, Site C will finish. that's the story, not a tale of someone whose scrap of property will be drowned; he'll be compensated. But of a rare place that is almost never seen by anyone but a few trappers and wildlife biologists, millions of migrating birds and resident rodents will be gone. Forever.

UNESCO designation sought for Burns Bog

Why? Peat bogs store and filter 10% of the world's fresh water. Carbon dioxide emissions from peatland exploitation are estimated to be 3 billion tonnes per year. Preservation and restoration of peat bogs can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 10%

Stop South Fraser Perimeter Road Petition

Despite being widely regarded as the lungs of the lower mainland, trees are being cut and commercial developments are being built. Highways may soon run through it. Draining has not stopped. The Conservation Covenant is not doing its job. To all of those who oversee the Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area Management Plan, realize what is being destroyed: vital wildlife habitat as well as your own environment. Although Mother Nature is very generous, her supplies are not endless. By continuing to act against the objectives set out in the Management Plan, you are taking away your own clean water. You are actively polluting the air that you breathe and destroying rare and endangered plant and wildlife species. Please keep your promise and Protect our bog.

Sandhill Crane Nest Exchange - PacificWild.org

Sandhill Crane - Click For Video

Alexandra Morton and the Walk for the Sacred Salmon
Petition to Protect Wild Salmon

Brothers and sisters of First Nations, fishermen, wilderness tourism operators, citizens, artists, musicians, supportive politicians: we are the Salmon People. Together we can have our wild salmon. Open net pens...GET OUT!

Get Out Migration walk and rally was a great success and a new beginning for a true environmental movement in BC. Alexandra Morton started her walk from her home to bring public attention to destruction of the foundation of life in our province , the salmon. In her journey to Victoria she relied on the ordinary citizens for moral, logistics and monetary supports and not corporate environmentalists or corporate foundations. She took us forward by bringing back the people to the center of our environmental struggles. Now is our turn to focus our activity and energy to protect the Wild Salmon and we all know we do not have much time left. To be successful we all must join this fight. The victory is in our reach and by successful protection of Wild Salmon we will be ready with a new energy and grass support to tackle other issues.


No Coal Mine Disaster for the Comox Valley


Company unable to answer questions about how much water it would take to wash metallurgical coal, or where the company plans to get the water.

Home of world famous Fanny Bay oysters

About 140 bird species have been recorded at Fanny Bay. The tidal areas are visited by many waterfowl, shorebird species, bald eagles and osprey. Spring herring spawns attract sea lions to Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. California and Steller's sea lions come to the area around Boyle Point to feed on huge schools of herring found in Baynes Sound during the winter. The Steller sea lion has attracted considerable attention in recent decades due to significant, unexplained declines in their numbers over a large portion of their range. Steller sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The mine would increase not only future GHG emissions by unsequestering 44 million tons of carbon over its projected operation, but if allowed, would have a massive and deleterious impact on the biodiversity and watertable of the entire region.
Read Coalwatch--What You Can Do Now Download

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE RAVEN COAL MINE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: The Public Comment Period will most likely take place in "late Spring". There is no word yet from the EAO on locations or dates of the Public Meetings. Coalwatch is still urging people to write Rachel Shaw, Rachel.Shaw@gov.bc.ca with the EAO and request that a public meeting  be held in your community during the Public Comment Period. Copies of your letters can be sent to your MLA, Regional District Director, and/or MP.  Contact information for forwarding your letters is available on our website: www.coalwatch.ca  Coalwatch appreciates receiving copies of your letters at  info@coalwatch.ca




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