On June 18-19, 2014, the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) hosted its second successful International Wildlife Management Symposium in Richmond, BC. The theme for the event was Stewardship in Action.
The event brought together a variety of experts with opposing ideas and competing uses to explore some of the most pressing and controversial issues in wildlife management. How will managers address the impacts of pipelines? How can wildlife managers balance science with social ideas and needs? In the midst of so many landscape pressures, should we allow trophy hunting to continue?
Despite some differing views, it was clear that attendees still shared many of the same concerns about the future of wildlife. Many of these concerns surround maintaining habitat and how to balance resource development with the needs of wildlife.
Gray Thornton, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Wild Sheep Foundation, provided this feedback on the event: “Once again GOABC has raised the bar for symposium that bring not only the like-minded but diverse users and stakeholders together to search for solutions to our mutual goal of wildlife and wild lands conservation for all. While we may not always agree, collaborative efforts towards resource management is key, recognizing majority and minority opinions on either side of an issue worthy of discussion.”
