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I think these reports reflect the importance of belonging to a snowmobile club. When areas close, it` very rare you`ll ever see them opened again. When a club is dealing with Gov. membership #`s count. There are some good points here you could use in your letters.
Here are two reports about the recent meeting in Victoria that 4 members of the Caribou Committee of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club attended in an effort to keep Caribou Basin and Standard Basin open to sledding. Along with our members was Les Auston of the BC Snowmobile Federation. To arrange a meeting of this caliber with three government ministers this quickly was exceptional, this all happend within a week. Our thanks to Les for once again coming through for us.
This is one example of why you should be a member of a snowmobile club if you are a snowmobiler. Your number as a member and your membership dollars make it possible for us to travel to these meetings in an effort to keep areas open. When you buy your membership, do not lend it out to others, have them buy their own and by that action give the club the support it needs when fighting for our member's rights.
We will keep you informed as time progresses, lets hope our visit will make a difference.
Club Report
The Caribou Committee of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society have been working hard at trying to maintain our snowmobiling opportunities and keep our areas open. In the last few weeks we were made aware that formal documents had been prepared to officially close Caribou Basin and Standard Basin (the area south of the Keystone cabin.) The caribou committee responded quickly by contacting the British Columbia Snowmobile Federation regarding our concerns and asked for Les Austin’s support in dealing with this issue. Les was more than happy to assist us in our battle to save our areas one more time. He sent an urgent request for a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Minister of Natural Resource Operations, Minster of Forests Mines and Lands, and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. A meeting was granted and was scheduled for just under a week away.
On February 10th four members of the Caribou Committee attended the meeting in Victoria. The challenges and concerns that were presented include:
The prepared closure for Caribou and Standard Basin and the threat of further closures in the future
Lack of adequate maps
Lack of proper process
Lack of funding to assist in supporting environmental stewardship programs
Those in attendance understood that we feel that all additional closures and further restrictions to access should be stopped. We requested stronger support from government including:
Stronger working relationships with government employees. We want them to work with us towards solutions rather than defaulting to closures.
Financial support for environmental stewardship programs
Maps that the snowmobiling public can easily understand
Increased funding for alternative managements options, including “on the ground” enforcement.
The RSC and SRS feel that a strong partnership is key to the recovery of Mountain Caribou while maintaining snowmobiling opportunities in British Columbia. We have proven that we are committed to the recovery of Mountain Caribou and will continue with our many stewardship programs. Thank you for doing your part by respecting the existing closures. Overall we felt that the meeting went very well. We expect that there will be high level input in regards to future closures. We will forward an update once we receive one. Thanks again for your support!
BSSF Report
The presentation to government in Victoria on the 10th went good; in fact I think it went very well. It was attended by Minister’s Bell, Bond, Coell and Thomson as well MLA Barnett. From the BCSF clubs we had; Angie, Bill, Tom, Kathy, Pierre and myself. Everyone had a part of the presentation and covered of the majority of the issues we face today.
Challenges and Concerns for Snowmobile Clubs
Regarding Mountain Caribou Recovery
For over forty years snowmobile clubs have been dealing with Caribou issues in BC
Snowmobilers participate at all levels of the recovery process
Worked with MOE to develop a nationally recognized Environmental Stewardship Program
Developed with MOE, a provincial Reporting and Observation form for clubs
Developed with MOE, provincial Environmental Sign Standards
Promote a complete provincial educational outreach program to all snowmobilers
Challenges clubs face today
Poor quality maps
Inadequate signage
Lack of proper process
Lack of funding
Additional closures
Lack of provision for snowmobile opportunities
Solutions for the current situation
Stop additional access loss
Provide funding for monitoring: caribou, predation, collars etc
Work with clubs to develop and produce maps people can understand
Work with clubs to develop and install signage in locations that will be most effective
Continue to work with clubs towards solutions for local issues and not default to closures.
Work with clubs to provide new opportunities not refer to existing areas as a winning solution.
Provide an annual permit system that will ensure all snowmobiler’s pay and the funds collected get allocated back to the snowmobile community for safety and the environment, etc.
Over the past many years snowmobile clubs have seen millions of hectares of land closed to their sport for various reasons. The mountain caribou recovery process is a major part of those losses, and today more areas are being sought after for additional closures and yet the areas currently used by caribou is a small portion of those areas. The recovery plan falls well short on predation control, funding and the overall number of animals needed to transplant. The focus on snowmobiling as a major cause of the decline is simply incorrect and with most of the areas in SMA agreements the clubs promoting educational outreach materials to all snowmobilers the government needs to help clubs deal with the gray cloud of doom and gloom people associate with closed areas. It has become very hard for clubs to continue to promote membership with all the negativity.
The BCSF spoke to the overall issues from a provincial perspective while each focused on their own concerns and challenges. There was major support for the BCSF and clubs from the minister level and the MLA.
I would like to thank Tom for speaking to the Cranbrook issues and Angie for Revelstoke, of course we cannot forget Pierre who spoke for the Quesnel Highlands which includes Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Mica Mountain.
In my opinion the team worked well, the comments were positive and all agreed that closing more areas to snowmobiling was not supported but I’m sure there will be high level comments into this process now. Any questions please call.
Les Auston
Executive Director
BC Snowmobile Federation
Here are two reports about the recent meeting in Victoria that 4 members of the Caribou Committee of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club attended in an effort to keep Caribou Basin and Standard Basin open to sledding. Along with our members was Les Auston of the BC Snowmobile Federation. To arrange a meeting of this caliber with three government ministers this quickly was exceptional, this all happend within a week. Our thanks to Les for once again coming through for us.
This is one example of why you should be a member of a snowmobile club if you are a snowmobiler. Your number as a member and your membership dollars make it possible for us to travel to these meetings in an effort to keep areas open. When you buy your membership, do not lend it out to others, have them buy their own and by that action give the club the support it needs when fighting for our member's rights.
We will keep you informed as time progresses, lets hope our visit will make a difference.
Club Report
The Caribou Committee of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society have been working hard at trying to maintain our snowmobiling opportunities and keep our areas open. In the last few weeks we were made aware that formal documents had been prepared to officially close Caribou Basin and Standard Basin (the area south of the Keystone cabin.) The caribou committee responded quickly by contacting the British Columbia Snowmobile Federation regarding our concerns and asked for Les Austin’s support in dealing with this issue. Les was more than happy to assist us in our battle to save our areas one more time. He sent an urgent request for a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Minister of Natural Resource Operations, Minster of Forests Mines and Lands, and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. A meeting was granted and was scheduled for just under a week away.
On February 10th four members of the Caribou Committee attended the meeting in Victoria. The challenges and concerns that were presented include:
The prepared closure for Caribou and Standard Basin and the threat of further closures in the future
Lack of adequate maps
Lack of proper process
Lack of funding to assist in supporting environmental stewardship programs
Those in attendance understood that we feel that all additional closures and further restrictions to access should be stopped. We requested stronger support from government including:
Stronger working relationships with government employees. We want them to work with us towards solutions rather than defaulting to closures.
Financial support for environmental stewardship programs
Maps that the snowmobiling public can easily understand
Increased funding for alternative managements options, including “on the ground” enforcement.
The RSC and SRS feel that a strong partnership is key to the recovery of Mountain Caribou while maintaining snowmobiling opportunities in British Columbia. We have proven that we are committed to the recovery of Mountain Caribou and will continue with our many stewardship programs. Thank you for doing your part by respecting the existing closures. Overall we felt that the meeting went very well. We expect that there will be high level input in regards to future closures. We will forward an update once we receive one. Thanks again for your support!
BSSF Report
The presentation to government in Victoria on the 10th went good; in fact I think it went very well. It was attended by Minister’s Bell, Bond, Coell and Thomson as well MLA Barnett. From the BCSF clubs we had; Angie, Bill, Tom, Kathy, Pierre and myself. Everyone had a part of the presentation and covered of the majority of the issues we face today.
Challenges and Concerns for Snowmobile Clubs
Regarding Mountain Caribou Recovery
For over forty years snowmobile clubs have been dealing with Caribou issues in BC
Snowmobilers participate at all levels of the recovery process
Worked with MOE to develop a nationally recognized Environmental Stewardship Program
Developed with MOE, a provincial Reporting and Observation form for clubs
Developed with MOE, provincial Environmental Sign Standards
Promote a complete provincial educational outreach program to all snowmobilers
Challenges clubs face today
Poor quality maps
Inadequate signage
Lack of proper process
Lack of funding
Additional closures
Lack of provision for snowmobile opportunities
Solutions for the current situation
Stop additional access loss
Provide funding for monitoring: caribou, predation, collars etc
Work with clubs to develop and produce maps people can understand
Work with clubs to develop and install signage in locations that will be most effective
Continue to work with clubs towards solutions for local issues and not default to closures.
Work with clubs to provide new opportunities not refer to existing areas as a winning solution.
Provide an annual permit system that will ensure all snowmobiler’s pay and the funds collected get allocated back to the snowmobile community for safety and the environment, etc.
Over the past many years snowmobile clubs have seen millions of hectares of land closed to their sport for various reasons. The mountain caribou recovery process is a major part of those losses, and today more areas are being sought after for additional closures and yet the areas currently used by caribou is a small portion of those areas. The recovery plan falls well short on predation control, funding and the overall number of animals needed to transplant. The focus on snowmobiling as a major cause of the decline is simply incorrect and with most of the areas in SMA agreements the clubs promoting educational outreach materials to all snowmobilers the government needs to help clubs deal with the gray cloud of doom and gloom people associate with closed areas. It has become very hard for clubs to continue to promote membership with all the negativity.
The BCSF spoke to the overall issues from a provincial perspective while each focused on their own concerns and challenges. There was major support for the BCSF and clubs from the minister level and the MLA.
I would like to thank Tom for speaking to the Cranbrook issues and Angie for Revelstoke, of course we cannot forget Pierre who spoke for the Quesnel Highlands which includes Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Mica Mountain.
In my opinion the team worked well, the comments were positive and all agreed that closing more areas to snowmobiling was not supported but I’m sure there will be high level comments into this process now. Any questions please call.
Les Auston
Executive Director
BC Snowmobile Federation
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