Pacific Estuary Conservation Program Rankings

The PECP is a Pacific Birds program that aims to coordinate efforts to secure and enhance estuary habitats with high ecological value along the coast. Partners include Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and The Nature Trust of British Columbia. Data from the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey of Birds Canada significantly contributed to the report. The goal is to provide an objective, BC-wide assessment of estuary occurrence and ecological importance to waterbirds. The first report was published in 2007. In this 2019 update, estuaries across the BC coast were identified, mapped, and ranked using GIS tools and standardized criteria. The ranking process was improved from earlier versions by updating or introducing new variables, including estuary size, species rarity, waterbird density, herring spawn, and fish escapement. The end product is a spatially explicit regional overview and prioritization of estuaries for conservation action.