…Forests, wildlife and waterways are core to what makes [BC] so special. And with biodiversity declining worldwide at an alarming rate, including here in B.C., action to protect nature has reached a critical turning point. 2023 was a transformative year for commitments to protect nature. Not only are these promises answering the urgent call for change, they recognize the leadership of First Nations as equal partners and decision-makers. We have much to celebrate, and to do to make a difference on the ground. …Next year is a leap year. We urge the B.C. government to take a leap for nature — to bring the words on paper to life and make progress on important conservation targets. Only then can we ensure that nature in all its diversity — the big trees and the straggly ones, the caribou and the salmon, the bugs and the birds — is preserved for generations to come.