Successes
In the ongoing effort to protect Canada's precious wilderness, it's important to pause occasionally and recognize the progress we've made. Conservation is a marathon, not a sprint, so we're keen to acknowledge victories big and small.
The Nahanni is Protected Forever
Our biggest success in 2009 was being a part of the successful campaign to expand and protect the Nahanni in the Northwest Territories. The recently expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve and World Heritage Site now protects over 30, 000 square kilometres along the Northwest Territories' South Nahanni River, making it Canada's third-largest National Park.
The June 2009 announcement of the final park boundaries crowns years of hard work by CPAWS, the Dehcho First Nations, Parks Canada and others to permanently protect the iconic wilderness of the South Nahanni watershed.
Nahanni is an important wildlife habitat for 48 species of mammals, including mountain goats, Dall's Sheep, and the threatened woodland caribou and grizzly bear. It's also home to nearly 200 species of birds and over 700 species of vascular plants. Its protection brings us that much closer to our goal to protect at least half of Canada's Boreal wilderness.
Thousands of Canadians voiced their support to expand protection of Nahanni to include the infamous Cirque of the Unclimbables, the globally significant limestone caves of the Nahanni Karstlands and much of the South Nahanni watershed. As one of our featured campaigns on The Big Wild, our own community showed impressive support for the protection of Nahanni, raising funds, posting pictures and stories from visits to the area, and voicing their concerns through online petitions. Together, all our efforts really made a difference!
Mining Banned in the Flathead River Valley
In February 2010, during the provincial throne speech, the BC government announced a ban on all oil, gold and coal extraction in the Flathead River Valley.
The ban is the third of five steps towards total protection of the Flathead River Valley. The fourth step involves setting up a wildlife management area that will ensure wildlife can travel freely along a protected north-south corridor more than 1000 kilometres in length. The relationship between these two countries is an integral part of the fifth step - the creation of an International Peace Park that crosses three borders: British Columbia, Alberta and Montana.
Our work on the Flathead isn't done, but this is an important step toward protecting the region forever.
Read more about the ban on mining in the Flathead.
What is The Big Wild?
Watch our 92-second video to get the low down on The Big Wild.
In 2008 Mountain Equipment Co-op, in partnership with CPAWS, created
The Big Wild. MEC provides funding, research and staff for The Big
Wild, which makes it easy for Canadians to stand up for wilderness.
