Defend Forests for Canadian Wildlife
Canada’s forests are home to so many diverse animals. While many species are protected under provincial or federal law, and placed on the federal Species At Risk Act, this action is often insufficient to properly protect these species. This is due to weak policies regulating forest disturbance and habitat destruction. In order for these species to survive, they require healthy and abundant forests. Canadian forests are not being adequately protected by our governments, which consequently threatens the survival of countless animal species.
It can be extremely influential when a large group of people take the initiative to contact key decision makers (i.e. politicians, company CEOs, newspapers, international political bodies) to express their concern about an issue and what they think must be done about it.
Decision makers pay attention to certain issues if enough people deem them important; the number of letters (and articles) published in newspapers and sent to politicians on a particular topic are often used to gauge which issues are important to Canadians. Remember, politicians cannot read minds – you need to communicate your thoughts to get a point across.
Writing letters can be a fun and effective method to do so. Make it an event! Invite your friends over, bake some goodies or grab a coffee, and write, write away!
Here are just a few of the endangered species that live in Canada`s forests.
Learn more about each, and then take action to protect these animals and their habitat.
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Take immediate action to stop the trophy hunt of bears in BC! Learn more and sign the "Faltering Light" visual petition before the trophy hunt begins again in April.
Take Action
The Action Plan provided below, details the steps you can take to get informed about an issue and how you can rally friends and family to write for issues that you are collectively passionate about.
The specific information provided about each of the endangered, forest-dwelling species (i.e. the spirit bear, woodland caribou, and pine marten) outlines facts about each species, the threats to their survival, and more detailed actions you can take to speak out for them. In order to increase your impact and get your voice heard, we suggest targeting specific politicians and contributing to campaigns by well-known organizations. This will amass public pressure on the issue and show specific decision-makers that people care about the future of wildlife species in Canada. Read up on the barriers surrounding the protection of the spirit bear, woodland caribou, and pine marten habitats, and start an initiative to defend Canadian wildlife!
Share your experience by uploading your project report onto the online Project Database.
Objective: To direct the attention of key decision makers towards addressing the protection of wild animal species in Canada and their forest habitats.
Number of participants: It’s up to you. Make a goal for the number of letters you would like to send. The more the better! |
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Materials:
- Paper, pens (or computers and printers) and envelopes
- Important facts about the species (information for 3 endangered species provided)
- Sample letter (e.g. to Premier William for the Newfoundland marten)
- Contact information for politicians and newspapers (provided below)
- If you want to brainstorm with your group, use a large sheet of paper or a white board to share ideas before composing letters
Action Plan:
- hoose the wildlife species that you would like to write for. We have provided information about three endangered species that reside in Canadian forests: the spirit bear, the woodland caribou, and the pine marten.
- Research the necessary facts about the threats to your chosen species and the issues surrounding their protection. Start your research with the information sheets provided, and also check out the Planet Releaf fact sheets for relevant information.
- Determine a meeting place to brainstorm as a group, and write letters together. Invite others to join you (e.g. friends, family, school club, religious group, organizations you are affiliated with).
- Look up contact information for the politician, organization or newspaper you would like to write to. (Contacts for Canadian politicians and newspapers are provided below).
- Write away!!!
Note: When writing to politicians, it’s great to start with a standard letter template for writers to follow, however, the more personalized the letter, the more attention it will receive.
Note: When writing to a newspaper, keep in mind that “Letters to the Editor” is one of the most read sections in the newspaper. Hook your letter to a local or national current event to increase the likelihood of having it published.
- Encourage others to join in your letter writing campaign. The more letters sent, the more powerful their impact. For example, post a note on your Facebook profile with your letter and use your status to encourage others to write too. Or ask your teacher if he/she can allocate class time for students to write letters. There’s power in numbers!
- Mail your letters.
Note: Did you know that when mailing a letter to a politician in Ottawa, you don't need to use postage? Just pop it into the mailbox!
- Share your experience by uploading your project report onto the online Project Database.
How to contact your representative: 
Send a letter to Prime Minister Harper:
The Right Honorable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
Send a letter to a Federal MP or Minister:
House of Commons,
Parliament Buildings,
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Visit Canada's Parliamentary site for information about MPs and Ministers
Send a letter to your federal representative:
Search by postal code to find the contact information for your federal representative
Send a letter to your Provincial Representative:
Click on your province to find contact information for your MPP/ MNA/ MLA
Alberta |
Nunavut |
How to find your local newspaper:
Check the Canadian Newspaper Association for a list of Canadian daily newspapers, and the associated contact information.
Contact:
For more information about this project, contact roots_shoots@janegoodall.ca
