Page 15 - Canadian Wilderness spring summer 2017
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CPAWSTRACKS ACROSS CANADA
South Nahanni Watershed Crown of the continent, where Alberta, British Columbia, and
Headwaters need better Montana meet. Photo: Laine Ripley
protection
Alberta: Leading the country
When Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve was established in achieving 17 per cent
in February 2012, the agreed-upon boundary was reduced at protection of landscapes
the final hour, leaving high conservation value areas, including and inland waters
critical caribou calving grounds, outside of the park.
The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories, In February 2016, Alberta Minister of Environment and
and the Sahtu Secretariat are considering a proposed Parks Shannon Phillips announced the government of
ammendment to the Sahtu Land Use Plan that would designate Alberta’s commitment to achieving 17 per cent protection of
this area as special management zoning.This would allow Alberta’s lands and inland waters by 2020 in accordance with
development of the unprotected headwaters of the South international targets agreed upon by Canada. Minister Phillips
Nahanni Watershed and surrounding habitat.The amendment reiterated this commitment once more in February 2017.The
could also result in the further reduction of the intended government of Alberta has also taken lead on Canada’s Pathway
conservation outcome of the park. to Target 1 initiative – Conservation 2020; Minister Phillips
CPAWS will continue to campaign for this critical area to sits as co-chair of the initiative alongside federal Minister of
be included within Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve, but Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna.
establishing conservation zones through the Land Use Plan will
be important to ensure its protection in the short term. CPAWS Northern Alberta continues to encourage the
government of Alberta to design its protected areas network
- Kris Brekke, CPAWS NWT to be representative of the suite of Alberta’s biodiversity, and
For more information, visit www.cpawsnwt.org to connect protected areas across the province for wildlife
movement and adaptation to climate change.This includes
Nááts’ihch’oh Photo: Christian Bucher, Parks Canada finding areas for protection in under-represented natural areas,
Map: Parks Canada Agency such as our foothills and parkland, which are currently less than
3 per cent and 4 per cent protected, respectively.
- Alison Ronson, CPAWS Northern Alberta
For more information, visit www.cpawsnab.org
www.cpaws.org SPRING/SUMMER 2017 • Canadian Wilderness • 15
