The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society released their 2009 Parks Day Report last Friday, July 17, in which the environmental organization took issue with eco-management practices in British Columbia's Flathead River Valley, and Alberta's Castle Crown. Both areas share an eco-system with Waterton Lakes National Park.
The organization's annual report card for parks and ecological reserves was released a day ahead of Canada's Parks Day -a celebration of national and provincial parks across the country. In Alberta, Banff, Jasper and Waterton Lakes participated in this year's parks day, as did numerous provincial parks.
The document had strong praise for Parks Canada and the Federal Government. CPAWS gave Ottawa an “exemplary” grade in protecting Canadian national parks. It says, the federal Parks Act of 2000 “is considered the 'gold standard' both nationally and internationally for the protection given to parks' ecological integrity.”
Both Alberta's and British Columbia's governments were graded at “needs improvement” levels, due in part to threats perceived by CPAWS to the Castle Crown and Flathead Valley areas.
Waterton Lakes National Parks western boundary exists at the British Columbia border; the Flathead Valley adjoins Waterton Lakes at the BC border.
Meanwhile, the Castle Crown comprises 100,094 hectares just north of Waterton Lakes.
Much like the National Park Conservation Association in the United States, CPAWS is an environmental advocacy group which seeks to establish new parks in the country and protect “Canada's threatened wild areas.”
By their own description, “CPAWS is Canada's voice for wilderness,” and “We're looking to keep at least half of Canada's public land and water wild -forever.”
The organization said that Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is threatened by by proposed development in the Flathead River Valley.
“The park is threatened by British Columbia's land use plan that encourages mining and gas extraction in the Flathead River Valley adjacent to the park,” it says. According to CPAWS, if mining and gas extraction begins in the area, “failure of waste ponds would send toxic sludge into Waterton-Glacier within 24 hours.”
Waterton-Glacier is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This report comes on the heels of a United Nations' decision to send a team of researchers to the international peace park as a “fact finding mission” designed to gauge the threat level of BC's land use framework to the park.
The team of UN researchers will conduct their investigation within the year, and the World Heritage Committee has asked the Canadian and American governments to conduct a joint assessment of their own.
Secondly and immediately north of the peace park, CPAWS has listed the Castle Crown area as a protected area at serious risk.
“This area of Rockies foothills in the southwestern corner of Alberta has been recognized by the provincial government as a biologically significant area.”
“The area is suffering from rampant unchecked motorized recreation and off-trail camping... in addition, clear cut logging is expected to begin this winter.”
Director of Communications Anne Douglas for Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation clarified the make-up of the Castle Crown area. She said that Alberta Parks manages 94 hectares, while Alberta Sustainable Resource Development manages 100,000 hectares in the area.
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development was not able to comment on the state of the Castle Crown area before the Boundary went to press.
The West Castle Wetlands Ecological Reserve was established in 1998 as an ecological reserved managed by Alberta Parks. This ecological reserve is one of 15 in the province, Douglas said.
When asked what amount of motorized recreation was allowed in the ecoldogical reserve, Douglas replied: “zero... the ecological reserve is foot access only.”
The Alberta government manages ecological reserves under the following guidelines:
“Ecolgocial Reserves preserve and protect natural heritage in an undisturbed state for scientific rescheduled and education.
*Ecological reserves contain representative, rare and fragile landscapes, plants, animals and geological feature.
*The primary intent of this class is strict preservation of natural ecosystems, habitats and feature, and associated biodiversity.
*Ecological reserves serve as outdoor laboratories and classrooms for scientific studies related to the natural environment.
*Public access to ecological reserves is by foot only; pubic roads and other facilities do not normally exist and will not be developed.
*Most ecological reserves are open to the public for low-impact activities such as photography and wildlife viewing.”
Publisher: Kathy Taylor Proprietor and published by Sun Media Corporation - A Quebecor Media Company at 714 Main Street, PO Box 1000, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada T0K 1W0
