GRIZZLY BEAR CONSERVATION

Early day motion 447, tabled 14 March 2001 by Ian Cawsey (Labour). Signed by 152 members.

That this House congratulates the Canadian province of British Columbia on its decision to suspend the unsustainable hunting of their internationally important grizzly bear pending completion of reliable population studies; understands the grizzly bear has been driven from most of its range by man, is classed as 'at risk' in British Columbia which forms the heart of the species' remaining range and that the future of grizzly populations in the United States to the south depends on maintaining British Columbia's grizzlies; believes the hunting moratorium is, in the words of the British Columbia Premier, '... a prudent decision to protect and sustain grizzly bears' and an excellent example to the global community of science-based wildlife management; notes support for this measure from the Environmental Investigation Agency and over 200 other conservation and First Nations groups; and supports calls for the moratorium to be maintained until the future of the species is secured.

Signatures by party: Labour 95, Liberal Democrat 27, Conservative 13, Labour/Co-operative 7, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 2, DUP 1, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, UKUP 1, Unknown 1.