Botanical Beach, Port Renfrew, BC, Canada. images of Botanical Beach


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Fathers Day Road Blockade of Botanical Beach

By Greg Klem

Port Renfrew residents have planned a father's day road blockade to protest BC parks' continued neglect and mismanagement of the internationally famous tidepools at Botanical beach.

BC Parks own mandates state that the environmental and ecological integrity of parks should be balanced with recreational opportunities. The mandate also promises local community input and economic benefits in the creation and management of the parks.

strange geophysical tidal pools
Botanical Beach
Tidal Pools


Botanical beach in Port Renfrew is a national treasure in which none of these mandates have been followed.

The tidepools now possess less than 10% of the abundance of species that were once there due to years of increased visitation, poaching and lack of education. Despite the community's desire to manage the park, they were left out of the contracting process. The contracting out of services has no direct benefits to the community or the park itself. There is no plan to protect the tidepools, educate the public, hire locals or even consider local input. Locals, who were always promised access, are now being charged parking fees. Fees paid by tourists and locals will go to the contractor and BC parks to help fund a maintenance backlog in 807 provincial parks.

Botanical beach is 1 of 28 parks now charging visitation fees. This money should not leave the community. It can go to building proper infrastructure at the park to protect the pools and enhance viewing opportunities and education. The community has the resources and expertise to manage the tidepools for British Columbians and the people of Canada. Despite being ignored by Park managers, our MLA and the minister responsible for parks, Joyce Murray, the community still wants the lawful authority to fulfill the Park's mandate, create economic development and protect a national treasure that is being exploited and destroyed by BC parks.



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