Decision to Safeguard Tetrahedron Provincial Park Celebrated by Conservationists
7 February, 2019
Vancouver, BC — The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s BC Chapter (CPAWS-BC) welcomes today’s news that Minister George Heyman has turned down the request to change the existing protection status and boundaries of Tetrahedron Provincial Park on the Sunshine Coast.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) had requested a change to either the park boundary or its level of protection as part of a proposed water supply infrastructure expansion that would have seen further drawdown of Chapman Lake, a main feature within the protected area.
“We are thrilled that the minister has respected the feedback of British Columbians, who were largely opposed to the reclassification of this important protected area,” said Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner for CPAWS-BC. “It’s reassuring that our government is prioritizing conservation, at this critical time for protecting biodiversity across the province. ”
Stripping away the current Class A Park status from Tetrahedron or adjusting the park boundary would have had lasting effects, weakening the ecological and cultural values of the area. Well-managed protection for natural areas like Tetrahedron are critical to the long-term health of BC’s communities.
CPAWS-BC shared its opposition to this proposal in the BC Parks public consultation process, which included two open houses held on the Sunshine Coast in 2018. Both of these public, in-person consultations were packed with community members, many vocally opposed to stripping protection from Tetrahedron.
“Today’s announcement has left us feeling more optimistic for the future of BC’s parks and protected areas, which are among the most poorly resourced on the continent,” continued Ball. “We’re hopeful that this announcement is signalling a brighter future for our parks.”
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For interview, contact:
Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner, CPAWS-BC