donut hole

December 15 2021

Skagit Donut Hole

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Photo: Wilderness Committee

The Skagit (pronounced ska-dj-ut) donut hole is a 5,800 hectare “hole” in provincial park protection between Manning Park and Skagit Valley Provincial Park. Skagit River’s sparkling headwaters and lush forests are home to hundreds of animals, including 200 bird species, chinook salmon (an orca food staple), and already struggling Grizzly bears. People on both sides of the Canada/US border love this area, too—it’s important to the Upper Skagit, Stó:lō, Syilx and Nlaka’pamux Peoples, and beloved by one million outdoor enthusiasts who hike, fish, ski, snowshoe, paddle, and horseback ride here every year.

For years, the Skagit donut hole has been under attack from logging and mining companies who want to develop and destroy it. Already, logging has carved holes into the landscapes that will take decades to re-green.

We need to protect this special place before it’s too late.

GOOD NEWS

Thanks to the hard work of several groups including CPAWS-BC, the BC Minister of Forests and Minister of Environment announced that logging would be banned in Silverdaisy and 26 Mile valleys in December 2019.

In January 2022, CPAWS-BC celebrated a huge win when the BC government announced that Imperial Metals—the company that has held mining tenures in the donut hole—had surrendered their rights to the area.

This announcement comes off the heels of relentless efforts by an international coalition made up of nearly 300 conservation and recreation organizations, Tribes and First Nations, elected officials and local businesses, as well as over 6,000 individuals, who have opposed Imperial Metals’ application to mine in the Skagit for years.

TIMELINE

1995: Donut hole formed by creation of Skagit Valley Provincial Park and adjustments to the boundaries of Manning Provincial Park
2018: Clearcut logging begins in donut hole
2019: Imperial Metals’ files gold mining application for Skagit headwaters (in donut hole)
2019: Woohoo! BC bans logging in donut hole
2022: Woohoo! Imperial Metals surrenders mining rights in donut hole

RIGHT NOW

With a dam, mining, and logging out of the Skagit donut hole, it’s time for the BC government to work closely with local First Nations to fully protect it.

Together, we can encourage them to do just that. Join us in sending the BC government a note of thanks!

Stay in the loop! Subscribe for the latest donut hole updates, action alerts and more right to your inbox.

ID: new conservancy in Tahltan territroy over misty mountain water.

April 8 2021

A new conservancy in Tahltan territory to be protected

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A new conservancy in Tahltan territory to be protected

Ice Mountain Lands beside Mt. Edziza Provincial Park in northwestern BC will protect ecological and cultural values for future generations.

April 8, 2021

The announcement of the new Mount Edziza Conservancy is very exciting. We would like to congratulate the Tahltan Central Government for their work to protect this important area.

This is a shining example of Indigenous leadership on land protection that will pave the way to delivering on Canada’s biodiversity conservation commitments to protect 25% by 2025 as a milestone on the way to 30% by 2030. The multisectoral collaboration between industry, non-governmental organizations, and provincial and federal governments can serve as a hopeful model for the future of conservation.

This is a very sacred and special area to Tahltan people, and this decision will protect it from development for generations to come says Annita Mcphee, executive director of CPAWS-Bc

This area is of high biodiversity and cultural importance. The new conservancy fills in a ‘donut hole’ similar to the one found between Skagit and Manning provincial parks, another important area for wildlife, recreation and ongoing cultural connections. CPAWS-BC looks forward to supporting more of these collaborative efforts for a healthy and resilient future for the landscapes we all depend on.

Will you speak up now to protect the Skagit?

Take Action

December 4 2019

Decision to Safeguard Silverdaisy Valley Welcomed by CPAWS-BC

cpawsadmin News donut hole, grizzly, logging bc, mining bc, silverdaisy valley, skagit

For interview, contact:

Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner, CPAWS-BC

tori@cpawsbc.org

604-685-7445 x24

Decision to Safeguard Silverdaisy Valley Welcomed by CPAWS-BC

December 4, 2019

Traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, Vancouver BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) welcomes today’s announcement from Minister George Heyman and Minister Doug Donaldson that the Silverdaisy Valley in southwest BC is now off-limits to commercial forestry. Alongside First Nations and tribes on both sides of the border, CPAWS-BC has been working in partnership with other conservation and recreation organizations to secure long-term protections for this high-value landscape that has long been of great conservation interest.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates tremendous leadership from the BC government to work towards nature protection in critical parts of the province,”says Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner for CPAWS-BC. “We congratulate everyone involved for their persistent and collaborative efforts to find a resolution to the threat of logging in the rich and intact Silverdaisy Valley.”

Located in the upper reaches of the Skagit River Valley in BC, the Silverdaisy Valley is surrounded on all sides by two of BC’s most well known protected areas, E.C. Manning and Skagit Valley Provincial Parks. This area supports year-round recreational opportunities, as well as important habitat for rare and endangered Spotted Owls, and the most imperiled grizzly bear population in the province.

Since commercial forestry operations began in this area in 2015, there has been significant concern from environmental organizations, outdoor businesses and Indigenous rights holders who have used this area as a traditional gathering place for millenia. Today’s announcement shows the government’s shared commitment to protecting the Skagit River Valley.

“Keeping this broader landscape intact is absolutely critical to maintaining the overall health of this world-class ecosystem in the long term,” says Ball. “These new protections from forestry are what’s most needed in this landscape right now, and we commend the government for working collaboratively with First Nations and stakeholders to get to this result.”

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For interview, contact:

Tori Ball, Terrestrial Campaigner, CPAWS-BC

tori@cpawsbc.org

604-685-7445 x24

Silversdaisy Peak in Skagit River Valley. *Photo by: Wilderness Committee*

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) is dedicated to the protection of public land and water, and ensuring our parks are managed to protect the nature within them. Our vision is to establish large, intact areas of wilderness on land and in the ocean that can nurture nature through climate change and support all life.