The Bighorn Trail in the Blackstone-Wapiabi. Photo © AWA Files
Today’s announcement proposing Bighorn Country offers a significant opportunity for careful, well reasoned management for this world class wilderness area. Read more about AWA Welcomes Bighorn Country
EDMONTON – Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Northern and Southern Alberta chapters along with Paddle Alberta celebrate the announcement that the Government of Alberta intends to create a new park system that includes a large wildland provincial park. Read more about Alberta Conservationists Applaud Bighorn Wildland Park Designation
A proposal for an expansion of the Castle Mountain Resort (CMR) and its activities has been announced, on a scale similar to that proposed in the early 1990’s by Vacation Alberta Corporation that led to the 1993 Natural Resources Conservation Board public hearings. As presented, CMR’s Master Development Plan (May 2017) will not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) unless people convince Alberta Environment and Parks that an EIA is essential and necessary.
Take action. Submit a letter of concern by Friday, November 16 to Alberta Environment and Parks. Read more about Castle Mountain Resort Developments: Request an Environmental Assessment
Please join us at 7pm on Tuesday November 20 at the University of Alberta to hear the acclaimed writer Ed Struzik talk about his latest book “Firestorm: How Wildfire will Shape our Future.” Ed, who also is a Fellow of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy at Queen’s University and a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee, will outline why he believes a radically different approach to managing wildfire is needed in this era of global warming. Read more about Fire Storm: How Wildfire will Shape our Future
From the Alberta Wilderness Association website:
The following report by eminent natural resource economist Dr. Thomas Michael Power found that managing lands for woodland caribou recovery can grow the economy in the Bistcho-Yates caribou range lands of northwest Alberta. The October 2018 report was commissioned by Alberta Wilderness Association, David Suzuki Foundation and Harmony Foundation to evaluate a caribou restoration economy.
Download the full report here: Read more about Report: The Economic Impact of Restoring Woodland Caribou Habitat in the Bistcho and Yates Ranges in Northwestern Alberta
Managing lands for woodland caribou recovery can grow the economy in the Bistcho-Yates caribou range lands of northwest Alberta, eminent natural resource economist Dr. Thomas Michael Power found in an October 2018 report evaluating a caribou restoration economy. The report was commissioned by Alberta Wilderness Association, David Suzuki Foundation and Harmony Foundation. Read more about Caribou recovery can grow economy in northwest Alberta’s Bistcho-Yates ranges
with Dr. Michael G. Sullivan
AWA’s Annual Wilderness and Wildlife Lecture is an opportunity to present the ideas of researchers in a field related to conservation of wilderness that will inspire and challenge AWA to seek new directions and ways to increase its effectiveness. AWA is proud to present these lectures in pursuit of its mission “Defending Wild Alberta through Awareness and Action.” Martha Kostuch was an expert in consensus-based decision making her work helped join groups that traditionally might not have worked together. She sought ways to make the system work so we could move forward. AWA has honoured her legacy and her memory by naming our annual lecture the Martha Kostuch Annual Wilderness and Wildlife Lecture. Read more about 2018 Martha Kostuch Wilderness and Wildlife Trust Fund Lecture
Photo: N. Douglas
From our mountains, to boreal forests and grasslands, Alberta has an amazing number of wild spaces that we cherish and take pride in. Unfortunately, many of these areas are not protected and are at risk of being lost.
In 2010, Canada committed to conserving at least “17% of terrestrial areas and inland waters” by 2020 through networks of protected areas and other conservation measures. This is known as Aichi Target 11 under the United Nations Convention for Biological Diversity. Progress in achieving this target has been glacial: from 2010 to 2016, Canada only added 1% to its protected areas network.
Why are protected places important?
Protected places create safe havens for forests, grasslands, wetlands and oceans to recover without disruption from poorly considered industrial, agricultural and residential development.
Protected areas also provide habitat for wildlife species like grizzlies, wolves, caribou and trout.Currently, 50% of Canada’s wildlife species are in decline.
Wild Spaces 2020 is AWA’s campaign to celebrate Alberta’s amazing wild spaces and a call to protect them for future generations to enjoy. Our campaign works in partnership with other organizations to ensure that Canada is not only held to this promise, but aims to exceed it by the 2020 deadline. Read more about Wild Spaces 2020
Castle Mountain Resort is currently a winter ski and snowboard resort in the MD of Pincher Creek #9 on the NE 24-04-04 W5M, which is public land held under a license of occupation (DLO). Castle Mountain Resort Inc. is proposing to add summer activities, increase the winter activities and develop additional base area facilities to accommodate a larger number of visitors. Read more about Call for Statements of Concern: Castle Mountain Resort expansion
