CPAWS-BC Press Room

Parks in trouble in British Columbia: Auditor General’s report highlights poor planning by B.C.

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:38:34 -0400

NEWS UPDATE: August 23, 2010 – B.C.’s Auditor General says B.C. lacks the plans necessary to protect nature in B.C.’s parks and protected areas. In the report, the Auditor General finds that despite a sound vision of parks protection, the government falls short in actual plans for protecting parks. Download the report.

CPAWS REACTION: We’re heartened by the Auditor General’s findings. B.C. Parks suffer from chronic underfunding. It’s time for B.C. to properly care for these precious ecosystems and beautiful parks. We hope the B.C. government takes the recommendations of the Auditor General to heart and moves quickly to plan, implement and appropriately fund our parks system, on the eve of B.C. Parks 100th anniversary. It’s not a priority to nurture protected areas. It’s a necessity. Keeping wild places intact is the simple solution to our current and future environmental problems in British Columbia.

–Chloe O’Loughlin, CPAWS-BC Executive Director

See the Vancouver Sun story: http://www.vancouversun.com/Environment+ministry+failing+preserve+parks+auditor+general+finds/3433336/story.html
Photos: Mike Beedell

UNESCO Report Recommends Increased Flathead Protection

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:56:35 -0400

Brasilia, Brazil - A report commissioned by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is calling for a "conservation and wildlife management plan" for the transboundary Flathead and a new management plan for the Flathead River Valley that "gives priority to natural ecological values and wildlife conservation."

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and 10 other conservation groups petitioned the World Heritage Committee to draw attention to threats posed to the Waterton-Glacier World Heritage Site by proposed energy and mining development in the adjacent Flathead.

Press Release

Download full report (2 MB)

Story on theglobeandmail.com

Photo - Harvey Locke

Vancouver Sun: Obama, Harper to protect Flathead

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:11:27 -0400

Obama, PM to protect Flathead Valley

By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun June 30, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper used the G20 Summit in Toronto to commit to helping fulfil the "historic" terms of a memorandum of understanding between B.C. and Montana to protect the transboundary Flathead River Valley.

Photo: Joe Riis, iLCP

Great news! Gwaii Haanas marine park approved by Parliament!

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:53:32 -0400

NEWS RELEASE
June 7, 2010

Parliamentary breakthrough for Canada’s first deep sea national marine conservation area:
B.C.’s revered Gwaii Haanas waters a step closer to protection

OTTAWA – After two decades of discussion, CPAWS welcomes the long-awaited legislation expected to be introduced in the House of Commons today by Environment Minister Jim Prentice to finalize Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve. This 3,000 km2 rich ecological area is nestled off the shores of B.C.’s much-revered Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, on Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands).

“This is an important day. The spectacular Gwaii Haanas islands were protected years ago. But sadly, protecting its ocean took much longer. CPAWS has long advocated for the conservation of the waters of Gwaii Haanas because they are so rich ecologically. The life inhabiting these waters is spectacular, from giant blue whales and Steller sea lions, to small delicate corals and diverse seabirds. We consider this area Canada’s “Galapagos of the North”, says Sabine Jessen, CPAWS national oceans program manager.

“We congratulate the Haida for their vision to conserve the waters of Gwaii Haanas and Haida Chief Guujaaw for persevering in the long years of discussions and study by the federal government,” says Jessen. “The Haida recognize the connection between their land and sea – each depends on the other. Today’s legislation will help to protect the long term health of these spectacular island ecosystems.”

The move today to introduce an order-in-council into Parliament will require the consent of all parties to ensure that the NMCA is finalized before this session adjourns for the summer.

“We strongly urge all parties to agree to pass the order-in-council before the House rises in June. It’s time to finally protect the waters of Gwaii Haanas. The risks to our oceans are growing as climate change advances. For our fisheries to thrive for coming generations, we need to speed up Canada’s marine conservation planning. This is a welcome step in that direction by Minister Prentice,” says Jessen.

“CPAWS will be closely following the development of a management plan for the Gwaii Haanas NMCA after it is designated to ensure that habitat and species conservation are top priorities,” adds Jessen.

Currently, less than one percent of Canada’s waters are protected, compared to nearly 10 percent of our public lands. CPAWS’ vision is that Canada will protect at least half of its public land and water.

To download this news release

For more information on Gwaii Haanas

About CPAWS, visit www.cpaws.org

B.C.'s fragile Glass Sponge Reefs headed for permanent protection

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:01:26 -0400

NEWS RELEASE

June 8, 2010

Canada moves to protect B.C.’s precious Glass Sponge Reefs:
Fragile, prehistoric reefs considered a submerged “Jurassic Park”

OTTAWA – CPAWS celebrates the long-awaited announcement today that B.C.’s extremely fragile Glass Sponge Reefs are headed for permanent protection. Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, has declared an “Area of Interest” for a future Marine Protected Area around the reefs, considered one of the great wonders in Canada’s oceans.

“These are the only living glass sponge reefs known in the world and are precious beyond words. We are so glad that they are finally on a firm road to permanent protection,” says Sabine Jessen, CPAWS national oceans program manager. Thought to have gone extinct 30 million years ago, the 1987 discovery of these reefs in Hecate Strait stunned the scientific community.

“According to the world’s foremost expert on these sponges, it was like finding a herd of dinosaurs still alive on land, ” says Jessen. She is referring to the words of Dr. Manfred Krautter of Leibniz University. “Although world oceans have plenty of individual glass sponges, B.C. has the only reefs and they’re huge – eight stories high in some places. They’re also ancient, dating back 9,000 years,” adds Jessen.

“These reefs are entirely suitable for UNESCO World Heritage Site status – they’re that precious on a global scale,” says Jessen. “When Canada takes the next step in the process and formally creates an MPA for B.C.’s reefs, CPAWS will once again urge Canada to apply for their designation.”

Today’s announcement means that the ban on bottom trawling – an activity that instantly destroys these fragile glass sponge reefs – will remain in perpetuity, instead of one-year renewals.

“We hope Canada also moves to protect the smaller glass sponge reefs closer to Vancouver and Victoria. While not nearly as large, they are still considered wonders of the deep and need protection,” adds Jessen.

CPAWS is calling on the federal government to accelerate action to create a network of marine protected areas on all of Canada’s coasts. The network can be planned in the context of marine spatial planning processes currently underway. Our vision is that Canada will protect at least half of our public land and water. Less than one percent of Canada’s oceans are currently protected.

For more information:

To download this news release

Click on the picture at left, or download our Glass Sponge Reef brochure here

Download the Glass Sponge Reef Backgrounder (PDF)

Visit: www.cpawsbc.org/campaigns/marine/glassspongereefs.php

About CPAWS, visit www.cpaws.org

Photo at top: Finger goblet sponge, Dr. Manfred Krautter

Historic Agreement for Canada’s Boreal Forest

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:39:14 -0400

Groups sign world’s largest conservation agreement

Twenty-one member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and nine leading environmental groups, including CPAWS, unveiled an unprecedented agreement that applies to 72 million hectares of public forests licensed to FPAC members. This agreement will conserve significant areas of Canada's vast Boreal Forest, protect threatened woodland caribou and provide a competitive market edge for participating companies. READ MORE

Boreal Caribou in B.C.

Photo: Wayne Sawchuk

B.C. bans mining in the Flathead Valley

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:52:49 -0500

Congratulations to all CPAWS supporters!

In a surprise move, the B.C. government ordered a complete ban on mining activity in the Flathead Valley. It's great news for CPAWS and all our supporters, as we've waged a three-decade long battle to protect the Flathead. Congratulations to all who wrote letters and supported the campaign financially.

This Rocky Mountain valley is home to the greatest density of grizzly bears in the interior of North America, along with the complete native suite of predators and prey, like wolves and elk.

The B.C. government announced the mining ban in its Throne Speech, along with a new working relationship with Montana to protect the transborder wilderness that extends into the United States.

The Flathead Valley is nestled in the southeast corner of British Columbia, above and beside Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a World Heritage Site and United Nations Biosphere Reserve. The Flathead's major river flows south to form the western border of the peace park in Montana. Mining would have hurt the purity of that river water and ultimately damaged the larger ecosystem. (Photo: Harvey Locke)

Although the mining ban announced by the B.C. government is a tremendous step, CPAWS will continue to campaign for a national park in the lower third of the Flathead Valley, along with a wildlife corridor for the animals moving from Waterton-Glacier up to Banff.

"The Flathead is such a special place. CPAWS needs to make sure it's protected forever. Please keep up your letter writing and campaigning. We need a park and wilderness corridor in the Flathead. Thank you for your help over the past three decades and your continued support into the future," says Chloe O'Loughlin, Executive Director of CPAWS-BC. "And tip a glass tonight for the mining ban. It's a great step forward."

For more information on B.C.'s Flathead Valley

Haida Nation and Canada sign partnership agreement for Gwaii Haanas marine conservation

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:46:01 -0500

JANUARY 16, 2010

Vancouver – CPAWS was pleased that today the Council of the Haida Nation and the Government of Canada, represented by Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, signed a long-awaited agreement to cooperatively manage the proposed Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area.

Photo: Sabine Jessen

Located at the southern part of Haida Gwaii, formerly known also as the Queen Charlotte Islands, Gwaii Haanas is widely considered an environmental jewel. It’s a place where towering rainforest meets a crashing sea. The federal government and the Haida protected the land through a National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. But the surrounding ocean ecosystem remains largely unprotected, despite a commitment to also protect it over 20 years ago.

CPAWS has worked alongside the Haida people since the 1980s during the South Moresby campaign, and has passionately advocated for the conservation of both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Gwaii Haanas..

“We honour the tenacity and commitment of the Haida people in finally achieving this agreement today,” says Sabine Jessen, CPAWS National Manager of Oceans and Great Freshwater Lakes. “We know the Haida people are committed to protection of the land and sea ecosystems, which are so intertwined in Gwaii Haanas. CPAWS will continue to support future efforts needed to achieve meaningful ocean conservation in this environmental jewel.”

The partnership agreement announced today with the Haida is an important step forward for a future Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA). A similar partnership for the management of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve has been an international model for cooperative management. CPAWS expects that today’s announcement of an additional partnership for the ocean environment will have the same success and provide management continuity for integrated protection of the land and sea.

“We need to think blue in Canada and in British Columbia… and fast,” says Jessen. “We need to protect our deep blue oceans with a network of conservation areas. Gwaii Haanas is an opportunity to showcase the interdependent nature of our coastal land-sea ecosystems and our commitment to safeguard these wet worlds,” says Jessen. “CPAWS will work with the Haida and Canada’s representatives for meaningful protection of the rich and diverse marine ecosystem in Gwaii Haanas.”

“We hope that this announcement today harkens a renewed government commitment to speedier action on protecting B.C.’s marine ecosystems. This needs to include the vulnerable ocean in the busy Southern Strait of Georgia, for which there is also a longstanding commitment to a national marine conservation area,” says Jessen.

“With continued and worrisome ocean ecosystem degradation throughout Canada’s coastal and ocean environments, we need more efficient progress on marine conservation and a coast-wide network of marine protected areas.”

For more information: Sabine Jessen 604-657-2813 (cell) or sabine at cpawsbc dot org

CPAWS National Marine Program Manager Sabine Jessen with Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Parks Canada CEO Alan Latourelle at January 16th signing of agreement between Canada and the Haida Nation to co-manage the proposed Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area.

The New York Times article highlights gold mining threats to B.C.'s Flathead Valley

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:33:40 -0500

DECEMBER 17, 2009

THE NEW YORK TIMES- A Canadian mining company's discovery last week of high-grade gold deposits north of Glacier National Park has raised alarm among environmentalists that development of the deposits could imperil Montana's Flathead River Valley and fragment North America's most prized grizzly habitat. READ FULL ARTICLE

Photo: Harvey Locke

New Poll Shows Strong Local Support for Flathead National Park

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:58:53 -0500

Eyes of World Focus on Flathead Following United Nations Visit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 3, 2009

Fernie, BC -East Kootenay residents support a National Park in the southeastern one-third of B.C.'s Flathead River Valley at a rate of 2 to 1, according to a poll released Today.

The poll, conducted in late October by McAllister Opinion Research, also found that 77 per cent of East Kootenay residents support the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries in south eastern BC that would be off-limits to hunting and heavy industry.

"People who live in the East Kootenay know the Flathead River Valley deserves permanent protection and that wildlife urgently need safe havens," said Casey Brennan, Wildsight's Southern Rockies program manager. "These polling results confirm the impression we get from talking to local residents- that a strong majority support a Flathead National Park and creation of wildlife sanctuaries, even though a small but vocal opposition likes to claim otherwise."

The Flathead River Valley, in BC's southeast corner, has come under intense international scrutiny because of plans for coal strip mining and other development in this critical wildlife corridor, which adjoins Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park - a World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In late September, the World Heritage Committee sent a mission to Waterton-Glacier and the Flathead to determine if the world's first international peace park is at risk from proposed Flathead energy and mining developments. The mission's report has not yet been completed.

"BC's land use plan for the Flathead is completely incompatible with the values of the adjoining World Heritage Site," said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Sarah Cox. "Our international reputation could be at risk on the eve of the Olympic Winter Games if the province continues with its foolhardy plan to prioritize mining and energy development in this special place."

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-BC (CPAWS BC), Sierra Club BC, and Wildsight are asking for a National Park in the southeastern one-third of BC's Flathead River Valley, to complete the Waterton-Glacier World Heritage Site. The conservation groups also want BC to establish a Wildlife Management Area in the rest of the Flathead River Valley and adjoining habitat.

"The Flathead provides critical habitat for rare and at-risk species that migrate to and from Waterton-Glacier, and it has the highest density of grizzly bears in the interior of North America," said Chloe O'Loughlin, CPAWS-BC Executive Director. "We're asking the BC government to do its part to protect this globally-significant wildlife area, and the very first step is to declare an immediate no-staking reserve in the valley."

-30-

For Flathead wilderness and wildlife photographs taken by members of the International League
of Conservation Photographers see: http://gallery.me.com/ilcp
All photos are freely available for use by media.

Contact:

Chloe O'Loughlin, CPAWS: (604) 685-7445 × 23
Sarah Cox, Sierra Club BC: (250) 386-5255 × 257, c. (250) 812-1762
Casey Brennan, Wildsight: c. (250) 423-0402