April 2000 Vol. 8 No. 2

Another Success in K-Country —no golf at Evans Thomas

F o rest Product Cert i f i c a t i o n —a path to sustainable fore s t ry

Great News for Kananaskis Country Kan-Alta Golf Course Proposal Scrapped AWA Press Release onservationists are hailing a decision by the government in its 1999 Recrea t i o n Legault adds that the Alberta Wil d e r n e s s Kan-Alta Golf Management Ltd. to scrap Development Policy, announced last May by Association will now call on Environment Minister Cplans for an 18-hole golf course near the Pr emier Klein, has “made it difficult to justify a Gary Mar to protect the Evan Thomas alluvial fan en v i r onmentally sensitive Evans Thomas Creek a stand-alone golf course in Kananaskis Country.” as part of the Elbow–Sheep Wildland Park. major step towards protecting Kananaskis The Evans Thomas alluvial fan is among the Established in 1996, and first proposed by the AWA Co u n t r y . best wildlife habitat in Kananaskis Country and in in 1967, the Elbow–Sheep Wildland Park excluded “This is great news,” says Stephen Legault, southern Alberta, says Legault. This area is one of the Evan Thomas Creek region because of the golf first vice-president of the Alberta Wil d e r n e s s two areas identified as the best grizzly bear habitat course proposal. “There is no reason now for Gary Association. “Kan-Alta Golf Management has in K-Country by a 1998 study by the Eastern Mar to avoid protecting this valuable part of recognized the overwhelming public opposition Slopes Grizzly Bear Project. The other is the south Kananaskis Country,” says Legault. to further development in Kananaskis Country end of the Spray Lake, where Genesis Land and made a good business decision based on Development Corporation plans to build a four- The AWA encourages members to write to sound economic and environmental policy. They season res o r t . Kan-Alta Golf Management and thank them for deserve a lot of credit for making this decision.” “Albertans should be quick to congratulate recognizing the need to protect the Evans Thomas Government polls show that over 95 per cent of Kan-Alta for this bold move,” says Dieter Gade, C reek region. Then write to Genesis Land Albertans want no further commerc i a l chair of the 15-group Kananaskis Coalition. Gade Development and urge them to follow the lead of development in K-Country. says that this move will add fuel to the fire of Kan-Alta and scrap their plans for the Spray Val l e y . Kan-Alta currently manages the 36-hole golf Albertans seeking protection for the Kananaskis course in Kananaskis Country that is situated and Spray Valleys. In particular, he says, this will Kan-Alta Golf Management Ltd. about a kilometer from the proposed Evan st r engthen the voices of those calling on Genesis Box 1710 Thomas course. In their February 18 news rel e a s e , Land Development Corp.—a -based Kananaskis, AB T0L 2H 0 Kan-Alta cites “economic, environmental, and development company—to abandon their plans public concerns” as grounds for withdrawing its to build a 6,000 person ski resort, 400 room hotel, Genesis Land Development Corp. application to build the 18-hole golf course. They co n f e r ence centre, heli-ski operation, and golf Second Floor, 2882-11th Street N.E. state that “the no new development position” of course at the south end of Spray Lake. Ca l g a r y , AB T2E 7S7 EDITOR/PROJECT MANAGER Wendy Adams

ASSISTANT EDITOR CONTENTS Joyce Hildebrand ADVISORY COMMITTEE Cliff Wallis, Vivian Pharis, Peter Sherrington, Stephen Legault GREAT NEWS FOR KANANASKIS COUNTRY DISTRIBUTION MANAGER 1 Kan-Alta golf course proposal at Evans Thomas Chuck Herr scrapped CONTRIBUTORS Alan Tong, Sam Gunsch, Martha Kostuch, Ed Struzik, Martijn van Galen, David PARADISE BESIEGED Sheppard, Helene Walsh, 64 New lobby group calls for more development in Stephen Legault, Jill Seaton 3 the four mountain parks PRODUCTION AND GRAPHICS Onjo Design BIGHORN WILDLAND RECREATION AREA Now open for logging LITHOGRAPHY AND PRINTING Ca l g a r y Colorpress on recycled paper with vegetable oil based, biodegradable inks.

MONTANA SETS FOREST STANDARDS Writers and editors appreciate your comments and feedback. Please refer to FOREST PRODUCT CERTIFICATION the Wild Lands Advocate in the subject 4 line of your email message. Selecting the right program Email: [email protected]

TO ADVERTISE in our next issue, contact (403) 283-5839. WOODLAND CARIBOU PROTECTION Guidelines ignored by oil and gas industry SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe to the Wild Lands 5 Advocate, send $25 to: CONSERVATION GROUPS LAUNCH Alberta Wilderness Association, 5 FOREST CERTIFICATION PROCESS P.O. Box 6398, Station D, 7 Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1

WILD LANDS ADVOCATE MISSION CHEVIOT PUBLIC HEARINGS RE-OPEN To provide readers with accurate, Federal court dismisses company’s appeal current and insightful coverage of wilderness and conservation issues 6 related to Alberta's wild places and PARKS CANADA WARY OF MINE public lands, which will stimulate Jasper’s ecosystem at risk if project proceeds personal action on behalf of Alberta's wildlands, wild rivers and wildlife. CAW RIDGE NEEDS CHEVIOT-STYLE HEARINGS SUBMISSIONS Although most of our articles are assigned, unsolicited contributions (manuscripts, photos, artwork) are welcomed, with the understanding that LETTERS the AWA cannot be held responsible for AWA not radical enough member says loss or damage. Enclose a self- 7 addressed stamped envelope to ensure CALENDAR OF EVENTS the return of unsolicited material. Guidelines for contributors available 5 upon request.

DEADLINE May 9, 2000 A L B E R TA WILDERNESS ASSOCIAT I O N albertawilderness.ab.ca EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed by the various DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE CALGARY/PROVINCIAL OFFICE SOUTHERN ALBERTA authors throughout this publication are Bob Campbell - Lethbridge PRESIDENT Phone: (403) 283-2025 CHAPTER not necessarily those of the editors or of Vivian Pharis - Cochrane Cliff Wallis - Calgary Fax: (403) 270-2743 Phone: (403) 627-4106 the Alberta Wilderness Association. The Christyann Sloan - Calgary Email: [email protected] Box 2631 editors reserve the right to edit, reject or 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Clint Docken - Calgary Alberta Wilderness Resource Centre Pincher Creek, AB T0K 1W0 withdraw articles submitted. Stephen Legault - Harvey Heights Jane Kennedy - Calgary 455 - 12 Street N.W. 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Calgary, Alberta, Canada EDMONTON/NORTHERN Wendy Adams - Calgary Mailing Address ALBERTA CHAPTER PAST PRESIDENT P.O. Box 6398, Stn. D Phone: (780) 988-5487 Peter Sherrington - Cochrane Calgary, AB T2P 2E1 Box 52194, Garneau Postal Outlet The Alberta Wilderness Association has five scheduled Edmonton, AB T6G 2T5 meetings of its provincial Executive and Board of Directors per ye a r . Policies, issues, concerns, programs and strategies are discussed and decided at these meetings. Any interested AWA members are welcome to attend as guests. Please contact the provincial office, at 283-2025, to get confirmation of the date and location of the meetings, as well as to carpool. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 485535 • ISSN# 1192 6287

2 Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 2 April 2000 Paradise Oil Sands BESIEGED Projects Need a Closer Look By Martijn van Galen

ast fall I worked with the Alberta Wilderness Association. There I Lwas, a jazz musician come stu- dent-teacher from the University of C a l g a r y, learning about endangere d species and habitats when I hadn’t even taken Biology in high school. Not only that, but I had to then teach students about them. Needless to say, I learned a lot and with it came a new appreciation for the environment we live in. One area of Alberta’s environment that has always concerned me deals with the oil sands projects that I think we hear too little about. I remember in high school social studies a teacher saying that there was more oil in the oil sands than in the Middle East. Remember the pictures of Kuwait burning and you may understand that Jasper Environmental Association part of the BBVS public process but did not provincial governments.” the environmental impact of trying to n organization calling itself the get what it wanted. In a recently leaked draft “Five harvest so much oil in one area can be Association for Mountain Parks The recent Ecological Integrity Panel, Point Strategic Plan to Regain the devastating. Not to say that we would AP rotection and Enjoyment comprising leading national academics Middle Ground” Cotton recommends: just burn it off, but there are other (AMPPE) is linked to a malicious cam- and consultants, was commissioned by the o rganizing an “aggressive media impacts besides deliberate disasters to paign to discredit the Minister of Minister to examine the future of the parks campaign to reposition AMPPE” and consider. Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, for her and how well they are conserving nature. “expose the unreasonable hard l i n e Located in Alberta’s boreal forest stand against overdevelopment in the The Panel’s report, due in March, is positions of the environmental groups”; and Canadian Shield bioregions, the B a n ff, Kootenay, Jasper and Yo h o al r eady being attacked by the business intensively lobbying all levels of actual oil sand reserves are estimated (in National Parks. This attack is being orga - co m m u n i t y . government including the A l b e r t a 1996) at 1.7 trillion barrels, while 300 nized by Crosbie Cotton, former senior AMPPE falsely accuses Parks of p remier and Alberta Economic billion barrels are considered recover- editor of the Herald and now media advi- “well over 100 closures or restrictions Development; and strengthening ties able. In research I discovered that this sor to the national park ski hill baron s . placed on human use in the four with “other affinity groups” such as the may well be a very important envi- The Minister is implementing changes mountain parks” (a mysterious list right-wing Fraser Institute and the US ronmental issue for Alberta in the new recommended by an independent task unavailable to the public). Political “Endangered Species Coalition.” millennium considering that a number fo r ce following the 1996 Banff Bow Val l e y scientist Barry Cooper, at a re c e n t The Board of Directors of this “not- of the big oil sands developers are Study (BBVS); a study necessitated by AMPPE meeting, re c o m m e n d e d f o r- p rofit” organization will include getting mines and extraction plants into excessive tourism. She is righting some of exaggerating trail closures and banning CP Hotels, Brewster Transportation, the full production in the next five years. the wrongs caused by past bad- of outdoor activities to alarm national park ski hills, hotel Suncor Energy’s “Project Millennium” management decisions, many res u l t i n g Canadians. He also wrote in the Calgary associations, and other businesses. at Steepbank is slated to be ready in the fr om strong lobbying by developers to Herald “the only way to save the parks... Parks Canada is desperately spring of 2001, increasing oil sand senior government ministers. AMPPE was will be to turn them over to the underfunded (since 1994 Jasper National production to 220,000 barrels of oil a day Park alone has had its budget cut from (BOD). Mobil Oil Canada is building a $4.6 million to $1.3 million). The result is facility ready in 2003 at Kearl Lake to reduced enforcement of regulations, lack pump 100,000 BOD, Syncrude Canada is of essential res e a r ch, shattered morale, building the A u rora oil sands mine Bighorn Wildland Recreation Area and the need to enter into unholy project to produce 257,000 BOD in 2005 “partnerships” with businesses un- and finally Shell Canada with a new committed to Parks’ mandate. project due to start production in 2002 at Open for Logging The 1993 Angus Reid Poll showed 120,000 BOD. only four per cent of Canadians What does this mean for Alberta’s By Martha Kostuch west of the Forestry Trunk Road but (described by the poll as “rec re a t i o n environment? Think of all the roads, the t the We y e rhaeuser open particularly within the Bighorn boosters”) were in favour of expanded trees, the superheated water needed to house/public meeting held in Wildland Recreation A rea. We y e r- development in the national parks. This get the oil out of the sand, the high ARocky Mountain House on haeuser was asked to relinquish its four per cent came almost entirely from amounts of traffic in construction and F e b ruary 22, 2000, it became clear that portions of the FMA within the BWRA Alberta and B.C., the voice of customers, the other waste that humans cre a t e We y e rh a e u s e r’s Forest Management and to conduct a cumulative environ- rather than the Canadian people. when they settle in an area. Consider the Agreement (FMA) includes a significant mental assessment of logging (together The four mountain National Parks number of employees needed to work portion of the Bighorn Wi l d l a n d with other activities) west of the need your help now. Those who care these mines, approximately 6,700, and R e c reation A rea (BWRA) which goes Forestry Trunk Road. about them must speak out loud and construction crews currently employing right up to Jasper National Park. Tw o Since it doesn’t appear as if we can clear against their exploitation by big nearly 8,400. That’s a lot of vehicles and other forest companies, Sunpine and count on the Alberta government to take t o u r i s m with its army of lobbyists, noise pollution as well. Consider also Sundance, may also have FMAs which any leadership in protecting this area, financial backers and spindoctors. that astronauts can now see the open pit include parts of the Bighorn. we will have to hope that Weyerhaeuser oil sand projects from space. If this The Department of Fores t r y ’ s acts responsibly. I urge you to contact Please write to the Prime Minister and hasn’t adversely affected the habitats of explanation for the inclusion of the We y e rhaeuser and Environment Min- the Minister of Canadian Heritage Alberta’s species I don’t know what will. Bighorn Wildland Recreation Ar ea in ister Gary Mar. (addresses on pg. 7). So what can we do? Perhaps at this Wey e rh a e u s e r ’s FMA is that the BWRA In addition to the logging being • Support the government’s stated stage we need to make the companies included quotas when the area was pr oposed west of the Forestry Trunk Road commitment to protect the national already there more accountable for the announced in 1986 and that they had within the 3 FMAs, the Al b e r t a parks and urge them not to back damage done and also re s e a rch and made a commitment to honour existing government is currently seeking input into down in the face of fabricated scare keep an accurate on-going assessment of dispositions. So even though the quotas designing a process to consult the public tactics. the environmental impact to the habitats we r e only for 20 years (and had been about logging west of the Forestry Trun k • Urge curtailment of further growth and species living there. Then, when the issued in the early 70s), the government Road outside of the FMAs. in the four mountain National Parks. time comes when we do get an decided to roll them into expanded FMAs. If you are interested in having input, • Call for funding that will protect Endangered Species Act, we can start to At the Rocky public meeting there contact Butch Shenfeldt at the Rocky parks’ wilderness and wildlife. enforce it and maybe make a difference was strong opposition to any logging Forestry Office, (403) 845-8250. • Send a copy to your newspaper. in the long run.

Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 2 April 2000 3 Montana Sets Standards in Forest Protection By Alan Ton g consultation on future land-use in the Alberta will not be able to make the same he Alberta government could stand Eastern Slopes. claim and may lose some of their market to learn a few lessons concerning In the present however, wilderness s h a re to rival American firms in the Tpr otection of the environment from pr eservation options for wild areas in fu t u re . our neighbours to the south. Last year, Alberta are being closed for good as more National parks and protected wild- P resident Clinton announced a plan to and more wilderness is being logged and erness areas also contribute to the permanently protect six million acres of developed by a government that seems to economy in ways besides pro v i d i n g Fo r est Service roadless lands in Montana be eager to liquidate its wild land ti m b e r . In Montana, an American state as part of his effort to protect all national res o u r ces. Some of the areas most in similar to the province of Alberta in many fo r est roadless lands from environ m e n t a l - danger of being “liquidated” are the de ways, wildlife-related industry supplies ly destructive activities. This plan was facto wilderness. These areas exist in a the state with $1.7 billion in rev e n u e praised by the AWA’s American sister wild state in the present but do not have a n n u a l l y. “By protecting these wild org a n i z a t i o n s . the benefit of legislative protection. As places, we are protecting some of the most Bob Ekey of the Montana Wil d e r n e s s Dick Pharis used to say, “These areas are pr oductive big game habitat in Montana,” So c i e t y , said of the announcement, “This recognized by God but not by the Al b e r t a said Glenn Hockett, president of the is truly an historic moment for the government.” Roadless areas in Al b e r t a Gallatin Wildlife Association. conservation of Montana’s—and the ar e often ref e r r ed to as being part of this Phil Knight of the Native Fores t nation’s—wild places.” Bethanie Wal d e r de facto wilderness land and are in Network’s Yellowstone office expounded of the Wildlands Center for Prevention of danger of being developed despite its on the value of Montana’s roa d l e s s Roads adds, “Protecting roadless area s value to wildlife and human beings alike wildlands. “The Forest Service itself goes far beyond re c reation. Roadless when left in its natural state. estimates that National Forest rec re a t i o n , ar eas provide critical wildlife and aquatic Pr otection of roadless areas in Al b e r t a including birdwatching, mountain biking, habitat in addition to providing clean air is unlikely to negatively affect the camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing, and water for people. This will give our economy of the province. The Al b e r t a generates over one hundred billion dollars roadless wild lands a chance to stand the government’s lack of initiative in terms of an n u a l l y . These activites often take place test of time.” establishing plans to protect wilderness within roadless areas,” said Knight. Cu r r ently Alberta has no plans to ar eas and roadless areas in the prov i n c e ’ s “Building roads and logging these pristine pr otect its candidate-protected areas in a fo r ests may be disastrous for its fores t r y roadless areas negatively impacts many manner similar to the American prog r a m . industry if current trends in the fores t kinds of rec r eation, generating a net During the 1970s, Alberta did have plans pr oduct markets and forestry certification economic loss to Montana.” to establish moratoriums, or a halt to continue. Due to the legislation enacted In Alberta, parks and wild areas that development, to protect its wild areas. An by the American government, firms a re currently protected account for almost completely effective one was logging in U.S. National Forests can ap p r oximately 1.5 per cent of Al b e r t a ’ s placed on the whole of the Eastern Slopes maintain that ecologically significant GD P and about 2 per cent of employment of the Rocky Mountains in the early 1970s landscapes have been identified and a c c o rding to a study based on while there was a major public pr otected. Logging firms operating in information collected during 1993–94.

practices likely to achieve sustainable Principle 6.4 fo re s t r y . FSC is the only program that Re p r esentative samples of existing Selecting the Right Forest Product en s u r es the establishment of prot e c t e d ecosystems within the landscape shall ar eas as ecological benchmarks of the be protected in their natural state and natural forest where this is still possible, rec o r ded on maps, appropriate to the Certification Program and attempts its restoration where it is not. scale and intensity of operations and By Helene Walsh country) and FSC principles One of the critical req u i r ements of the uniqueness of the aff e c t e d he certification of forest pro d u c t s 2. Te n u re and use rights and ecological forestry is the establishment of res o u r ces. is an important issue because con- res p o n s i b i l i t i e s ecological benchmarks of natural fores t Principle 9 Tsumers, particularly in Euro p e 3. Indigenous people’s rights against which the new forestry practices Maintenance of high conservation and North America, are concerned about 4. Community relations and worker’s can be measured as to their success in value forests. These are defined in the sustainability of the world’s fore s t s ri g h t s maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity. part as and want to support the efforts of 5. Benefits from the fores t To be successful these protected area s a) forest areas containing regionally responsible companies. If a certification 6. En v i r onmental impact must be free of industrial use, larg e significant concentrations of scheme is to be successful it must have 7. Management plan enough to maintain natural proc e s s e s , bio-diversity where viable popu- performance-based standards that incor- 8. Monitoring and assessment rep r esentative of the region’s ecosystems, lations of most if not all naturally porate all forest values including eco- 9. Maintenance of high conservation and accommodate the needs of wide- occurring species exist in natural nomic, societal, ecological; it must have value fores t s ranging species. patterns of distribution and independent third party evaluation and 10 . Pl a n t a t i o n s Some of the specific FSC principles abundance; and product labelling that establishes a chain and criteria that apply to protected area s b) forest areas that are in or contain of custody for identifying that the prod- Alberta Forest Product Companies ar e the following: rare, threatened, or endangered uct originates from a forest where log- ar e presently considering several cert- Principle 6 ecosystems. ging is managed according to interna- ification programs. These also include Environmental Impact. Fo r est man- tionally agreed social and environmental FORESTCARE and programs developed agement shall conserve biological Benefits to Industry of FSC principles and criteria. by the Canadian Standards As s o c i a t i o n di v e r s i t y ...and maintain the ecological Ce r t i f i c a t i o n T h e re have been many efforts to and the International Organization for functions and the integrity of the To achieve FSC certification fores t s establish certification schemes at St a n d a r ds. FORESTCARE is an industry fo r est. must be managed to ensure long-term regional, national, and international certification program used by the Al b e r t a Principle 6.2 supply and high quality of timber. This is levels. While all these schemes have Fo r est Products Association. This pro- Sa f e g u a r ds shall exist which prot e c t good for long-term interest of companies merit, conservation groups concerned gram exceeds government standards in r a re, threatened and endangere d and forest-dependent communities. The about ecological management of our many aspects and many Alberta fores t species and their habitats (e.g., planning involved to ensure this can f o rests support the Forest Steward - industries are certified by it. The nesting and feeding areas). Conser- result in increased forest prod u c t i v i t y , ship Council (FSC) program This Canadian Standards Association (CSA) vation zones and protection area s e ff i c i e n c y, and sometimes savings in program has established internationally has developed a set of Sustainable Fores t shall be established, appropriate to operating costs. High standards of applicable, independently verifiable Management System Standards which the scale and intensity of fore s t fo r estry such as those req u i r ed by FSC standards with the intent of achieving assess a company’s management of fores t management and the uniqueness of can improve a company’s image and ecological forestry practices throughout against a wide range of environ m e n t a l the affected res o u r ces. in c r ease their likelihood of maintaining or the world. There are 10 principles and criteria. Under this program, each Principle 6.3 i n c reasing market share, avoiding criteria of forest management that must company sets its own standards with Ecological functions and values shall consumer action, and gaining a price be used by regional working groups respect to the criteria. The International be maintained intact, enhanced or pr emium for their products. Benefits can developing standards appropriate to Or ganization for Standards (ISO) devel- res t o r ed, including: also result from increased employee d i ff e rent types of forest. Regional oped voluntary standards that enable a) forest regeneration and morale and community support. s t a n d a rds must be approved by the international trade. To be certified, a succession Although a relatively new program, a international body. company registers its management plan b) genetic, species, and ecosystem fo r est area half the size of the United and the company is audited to ensure this diversity Kingdom and involving 25 countries has The FSC 10 principles and criteria of plan is followed. c) natural cycles that affect the al r eady been certified to FSC standards . fo r est management include: The Forest Stewardship Council productivity of the forest In Europe and the U.S., Buyers’ Grou p s 1. Compliance with laws (of the certification specifically req u i r es the best ecosystem. Continued on page 7

4 Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 2 April 2000 AWA and CPAWS Press Release director of World Wildlife Fund Canada, ew government and industry “The fact is, the best way to save most s p o n s o red re s e a rch shows species is to protect habitat and let the NAlberta’s oil and gas industry Woodlandoodland CaribouCaribou ProtectionProtection species save themselves. Preservation of has contravened government guidelines core habitat for at least a couple viable for protecting Alberta’s endangere d populations, along with habitat linkages woodland caribou. Three conservation Guidelines Ignored by between, is a keystone to recovery of a g roups are now asking the pro v i n c i a l t h reatened or endangered species, government to curtail the industry in particularly sensitive, specialized core home ranges of old-growth forests Oil & Gas Industry species like woodland caribou. This and treed peatlands essential to caribou species needs our help!” survival. The Alberta Wi l d e r n e s s Alberta conservation groups led by Association (AWA), the Edmonton Alberta Wilderness Association have Chapter of Canadian Parks A n d used government studies to identify Wilderness Society (CPAWS), and the three candidate wilderness areas that Alberta office of World Wildlife Fund would protect key caribou ranges in Canada (WWF) today submitted their Alberta’s foothills forest: the Chinchaga, assessment and proposed caribou con- the Little Smoky, and Kakwa. The recent servation policy re g a rding industrial caribou research into industrial impacts developments to Environment Minister on caribou ranges in treed peatlands Gary Mar. focussed on additional sites needed in At a January pre-inquiry meeting in the northern boreal forest. The groups Edmonton, CPAWS and AWA a s k e d point out that the province’s protected Alberta’s energy industry regulator, the areas program, Special Places, has not Energy Utilities Board (EUB), to review p rotected the critical caribou habitat the oil and gas industry’s contraventions that the integrity of the habitat is serious trouble. Yet, today, 27 years later, within these sites. of government guidelines. As part of an maintained to support its use by there has not been one single additional “So far, the Alberta government’s EUB inquiry into coal mining impacts caribou.” area of core caribou habitat set aside Special Places program’s failure to prot e c t on wildlife at Caw Ridge north of New studies released in 1999, f rom re s o u rce development and sites such as the Chinchaga has been a Grande Cache, Sam Gunsch with conducted through the University of protected for the recovery of the caribou special failure for woodland caribou. Not CPAWS recommended the EUB assess Alberta, demonstrate that the integrity since this alarm was sounded,” said Cliff only are old-growth forests being the cumulative effects on caribou of woodland caribou habitat has been Wallis, president of the A l b e r t a liquidated in Alberta, industry is in- survival from oil and gas field significantly impacted because the Wilderness Association. tensively fragmenting the remaining sites development that overlaps with logging animals avoid roads, wells and seismic Although woodland caribou of treed peatlands critical to caribou and coal mining on old growth forests lines throughout their ranges—all (including mountain caribou) are an populations,” said Sam Gunsch, executive and migration corridors of the area’s 300 disturbances caused by the petroleum endangered species in Alberta, intensive di r ector of Canadian Parks and Wil d e r n e s s caribou. industry. Research also indicates caribou industrial development is allowed in So c i e t y , Edmonton Chapter. “The prov i n c e Petroleum development in caribou near seismic lines and roads were at their core habitat because Alberta does has experimented with trying to integrate habitat in northern Alberta is governed higher risk of being killed by wolves, not have endangered species legislation. industrial activity into caribou habitat, by Information Letter (IL) 91-17, a due to the easier travel and access to The conservation groups say very high without setting aside large habitat areas for P rocedural Guide for Oil and Gas caribou for wolves. The oil and gas levels of industrial activity throughout at least a couple viable populations, for Activity on Caribou Range, released by industry has bulldozed more than a the province’s forests are causing insurance in case these experiments fail. the Department of Energy in 1991. It million kilometres of siesmic lines in unprecedented levels of habitat loss to “The new studies show these exper- states that “petroleum and natural gas Alberta. caribou. One caribou home range in the iments have failed for woodland caribou. exploration and development activities “In 1973, provincial biologists spoke northeast has over 1,600 oil wellsites. It will take more than a century for the can occur on caribou range provided out and warned the caribou were in A c c o rding to Peter Lee, re g i o n a l al t e r ed habitat to rec o v e r , if at all.” Conservation Groups Launch FSC Forest Certification Process By Sam Gunsch lberta conservation gro u p s issued an invitation to fore s t FSC certification of forest products bi l i t y ,” says Helene Wal s h , president of program. Timber companies should be Acompanies and other stakehold- is an international program that is Albertans for Wild Chinchaga. rewarded for improving their logging ers in the management of forestry prac- gaining support throughout the world. Since forests across the world and practices, but FSC certification is also tices to discuss the Forest Steward s h i p Launched in 1993, FSC certification across large nations such as Canada are going to require much larger parks in Council (FSC) and possibilities for an programs are in place or underway in quite diff e rent, the FSC provides an the forest.” FSC initiative in Alberta. Canada, United States, United internationally recognized framework Some customers of Canadian forest Albertans for Wild Chinchaga, Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, of 10 Principles & Criteria for products such as Home Depot and Ikea Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Bolivia, with another ten countries developing regional standards. FSC are requiring an increasing percentage (Edmonton Chapter) and World Wildlife establishing FSC contacts. In Canada re q u i res a transparent consultative of their products come from FSC Fund Canada invited the Alberta Forest regional FSC certification processes are process to develop regional standards certified forests. The products are Products Association, forest companies, active in Ontario, British Columbia, and that includes industry, aboriginal, tracked under the FSC system from the First Nations groups, labour and church the Maritimes. While not without conservation and social organizations. forest to the store, and a label is applied groups, and scientists to an FSC Forest c o n t ro v e r s y, the FSC certification “We ’ r e initiating FSC fore s t for easy consumer recognition. Certification information meeting on initiative is considered to require the certification because in addition to “If Alberta’s forest industry wants January 31, 2000 in Edmonton. The highest standards of forest management economic values, it re q u i res that all to remain competitive and continue to meeting was well attended by both the with the goal of achieving sustainable societal, cultural, spiritual, and sell its products to high quality markets major Alberta forest industries and the forestry. ecological values of forests be i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y, forest certification is major Alberta conservation gro u p s . “Sustainable forestry is achieved sustained,” said Sam Gunsch, executive what they will need,” says Peter Lee, M a rcello Levy from FSC Canada when the forest re s o u rce and all its d i rector of the Edmonton Chapter, regional director of Alberta, Wo r l d p rovided information on the FSC values—timber supply for industry, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Wildlife Fund Canada. “We do not want process and the groups agreed to meet habitat for all wildlife, areas for “This includes protecting some the Alberta environment to suff e r again in a couple of months to discuss re c reation, securement of wilderness representative forests large enough to be because our province’s forest industry the development of regional standards areas—are not only available today, but ecological benchmarks for the forestry falls behind in meeting high for FSC certification for Alberta if both also long into the future. FSC forest industry, which is something Albertans e n v i ronmental standards. Fore s t industry and conservationists are certification provides incentive for good a re not getting with the pro v i n c i a l certification will become an increasingly willing to engage in the process. forest practices necessary for sustaina- government’s Special Places 2000 important issue for the future.”

Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 2 April 2000 5 Cheviot Mine Public Hearings Re-open EUB Asked to Federal Court Dismisses Company’s Appeal of Cheviot Ruling Conduct Cheviot- Alberta Wilderness Association, alternatives and of the cumulative effe c t s ments of the CEAA and the Migratory Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, of the development. Bi r ds Convention Ac t — r emains intact. I Sierra Legal Defence Fund The Court also agreed with the hope the federal government sees it as a style Hearings on he Federal Court of Appeal has dis- conservation organizations’ arg u m e n t call to improve environmental decision- missed Cardinal River Coals Ltd.’s that issuing authorizations for the mine making, rather than as an excuse to T (CRC) appeal of a 1999 Federal would be contrary to the Migratory Birds change the law so as to insulate bad Caw Ridge Mine Court ruling which struck down the fed- Convention Act. The open-pit mine decisions from judicial scrut i n y ,” said eral authorization for its pro p o s e d would result in millions of tonnes of Sierra Legal Defence Fund staff lawyer Cheviot mine in Alberta, adjacent to wa s t e - r ock being excavated and dumped Jerry DeMarco . Expansion Jasper National Park. The appeal was dis- into stream valleys at a rate of 30 million “When the industry finally sees it missed because CRC did not submit its tonnes a year over 20 years. The valleys can’t easily evade environmental laws, AWAand CPAWS Press Release a rguments or evidence within the time include habitat for harlequin ducks and they start lobbying to downgrade them.” t the start of a new coal mining periods set by the Court. A new public thousands of migratory song birds. The said Sam Gunsch, Edmonton spokes- inquiry held in Edmonton hearing on the mine began on March 1. colourful harlequin duck is listed by person for CPAWS. “Given industry’s AJanuary 21, conservation grou p s CRC is the joint-venture company of Alberta as a species potentially at risk of rhetoric about protecting the environ - told the Energy Utilities Board it must Consolidated Coal, the largest coal com- extirpation (extinct in a local area ) . ment, it’s appalling behaviour. The conduct extensive environmental assess- pany in the U.S., and A l b e r t a - b a s e d “The province and industry cannot mining industry is attempting to use the ments of additional mining planned for a Luscar Ltd., chaired by former A l b e r t a block Albertans from access to the mandatory five-year review of CEAA to rich wildlife area near Grande Cache. pr emier Peter Lougheed. en v i r onmental protection provided by ‘harmonize’ it down to the weaker They say that before any more mining is Conservation organizations say the CEAA,” said Dianne Pachal, AWA pr ovincial process and to exclude anyone permitted on Caw Ridge, it first must be dismissal of the appeal means the conservation manager. “CEAA does not fr om using legal means of ensuring that assessed for cumulative effects with log- national precedents set by the 1999 rul i n g duplicate provincial legislation; rather it industry and review panels actually ging, oil and gas development, and rec r e- now stand. The initial lawsuit was covers the gaping holes with a check list follow the law.” ational use in this wildlife rich area, as is launched in October 1997 by local, of what constitutes a thorough and Last August, the same Review Panel being done for the Cheviot mine prop o s a l . p rovincial, and national conservation pr oper rev i e w. ” for the first hearing began the process of a The conservation groups argue the o rganizations. It challenged the first Mining industry rep r esentatives are supplementary hearing to address the EUB has let the mining company evade Canadian development application to go c u r rently lobbying the federal shortcomings the Court identified with pr oper assessments in the past three years th r ough a joint federal–provincial hearing government to significantly weaken the first hearing. A pr e-hearing meeting by permitting expansions of open pit p rocess. The hearing process was a CEAA. They want to use the federal– was held at Hinton in September. The mining onto the alpine ridge by Smoky req u i r ement under the federal govern- pr ovincial harmonization agreement to new public hearing will begin on March 1 River Coal Ltd. without compreh e n s i v e ment’s new “harmonization” program of req u i r e the federal government to defer to in Hinton. assessments and public hearings. The downloading responibilities to the p rovincial environmental assessments The organizations which launched EUB has turned down the groups’ formal pro v i n c e s . without doing the more thorough federal the original legal action are the Al b e r t a appeals for hearings last fall, as well as a The 1999 ruling of Justice Douglas R. rev i e w . They also want a “privative” Wilderness Association, Canadian Parks local trapper’s. SCRLis a major employer Campbell is of national significance from clause to prevent citizens fro m and Wilderness Society, Canadian Nature in Grande Cache and it has been in severe th r ee diffe r ent perspectives. The Court challenging questionable reviews and Federation, Pembina Institute for financial difficulties for several years. found that adherence to all of Al b e r t a ’ s potentially winning court decisions Ap p r opriate Development, and Jasper The Alberta Wilderness As s o c i a t i o n regulatory steps was not enough, and which req u i r e compliance with CEAA, as E n v i ronmental Association. They are and the Edmonton Chapter of Canadian that following the more stringent has happened with the successful Cheviot rep r esented by lawyers with the Sierra Parks and Wilderness Society say Caw re q u i rements of the 1995 Canadian mine and Sunpine logging cases launched Legal Defence Fund, a Canadian non- Ridge should be preserved because it is a En v i r onmental Assessment Act (CEAA) by Alberta organizations with re p re - pr ofit law firm. With the exception of the “S e r engeti” of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains was essential. It found that the federal sentation from Sierra Legal Defence Fund Sierra Legal Defence Fund, all are with diverse and large wildlife government failed to comply with two lawyers. participating in the March 2000 hearing populations. The ridge is home to the key environmental assessment req u i re - “ We are happy that this key and have provided the Panel with their pr ovince’s largest herd of mountain goats, ments of CEAA: assessment of pr ecedent—upholding the legal req u i re - written submissions. contains key migration corridors for a he r d of 300 endangered caribou, and has mine, increased risk of indire c t The report was not all bad news for grizzly bear, wolverines, and a host of m o r t a l i t y...facilitated by an extensive C a rdinal River Coal. While Natural other wildlife. One pre l i m i n a r y Parks Canada network of roads associated with Resources Canada raises doubts about assessment reports that a total of 250 bird, expanded oil and gas, fore s t r y, and the company’s proposal to transplant 59 mammal, and 10 herptile species likely disruption of bear movement patterns rare species that may be displaced by the inhabit Caw Ridge and surrounding area . Wary of Cheviot that may be vital to the ecosystem mine, it agrees that an undergro u n d It is a provincial Watchable Wildlife area . integrity of Jasper National Park.” mine is not a viable alternative to the “S C R L ’s mine expansions should not “Parks Canada concludes the effects open-pit proposal. It also dismisses have been allowed with any less study of the proposed Cheviot mine, coupled concerns that blasting at the mine will than [the Cheviot proposal at Cardi n a l Mine with ongoing mining, oil and gas pollute local streams. Divide],” said Sam Gunsch, spokesperson Jasper’s ecosystem activity, recreation, and forestry planned However, Natural Resources paints for CPAWS. “Unfortunately, the EUB has for the next 25 years are cumulatively a grim future for the coal mining looked the other way when we’ve at risk if Cheviot significant. The risk to regional grizzly industry in Alberta and across Canada. pointed out what’s at stake. More mining project proceeds bear populations, including those It notes that coal prices are falling and on Caw Ridge could be a catastrophe for frequenting Jasper National Park, are that with the exception of the Cheviot the caribou, combined with gas well By Ed Struzik highly uncertain.” p roject, new Canadian export mines exploration and logging that’s hitting arks Canada believes the future of Parks Canada has focused on the won’t be able to compete with low-cost their winter range. And like Cheviot there grizzly bears and the integrity of grizzly because the animal’s presence is suppliers such as Australia, Colombia, ar e alternative coal supplies.” PJasper National Park’s eastern a key indicator of the health of the and Indonesia. While the groups are calling for ecosystem is highly uncertain if the $250 environment. The situation does not look good on Cheviot-style assessment and hearings, million Cheviot coal mine gets the green Environment Canada also expresses the domestic front either, the federal the EUB set up the January meeting as the light. The federal agency’s concerns concerns about Cardinal River’s plans, department states. “No new mines will first step in a public inquiry. No about the Cardinal River Coal project are noting that four of the bird species the be developed as the outlook for new information was released on how contained in Ottawa’s submission to an company plans to monitor to measure Canadian supplies of both thermal and r i g o rous a public inquiry would be e n v i ronmental review panel which the cumulative effects of the mine and m e t a l l u rgical coal is very poor,” the co m p a r ed to assessments like the Cheviot reconvened public hearings on the mine other activities are not normally found department predicts. rev i e w . CPAWS and AWA st r ess that oil in Hinton last March. in the study area. It challenges the Cheviot manager Bill Hume, more and gas developments in the area must The report also contains a grim company’s contention that harlequin optimistic about the future of coal says also be evaluated for contraventions of assessment by Natural Resourc e s ducks will be only minimally affected by “Consider the fact that we have here in pr ovincial guidelines intended to prot e c t Canada that falling coal prices and the mine. Alberta just 10 years supply of natural caribou habitat. rising concern over the production of E n v i ronment Canada notes that gas and 900 years supply of coal. There’s A c c o rding to Gunsch, “The EUB greenhouse gases will kill future selling river and stream habitats like those a tremendous long-term future in this should put a moratorium on SCRL’s plans opportunities in Alberta and possibly found in the mine-site area constitute province for this resource.” Hume said for major expansions until the result in some mine closures. less than one per cent of western North C a rdinal River will address the e n v i ronmental impacts have had full Parks Canada says Cardinal River American landscapes, yet harbour a environmental concerns at the hearings. review and hearings. Otherwise this Coals has “underused available data” d i s p roportionately large number of Parks Canada also said it would not inquiry is just a smokescreen. To begin and failed to produce the necessary wildlife species. Harlequin ducks are comment on the report until the with at least a year is necessary for information re q u i red to assess the just one component of this rich hearings are reconvened. wildlife assessments to get a baseline p roposed mine’s impact on grizzlies. ecosystem, and the panel should th r ough all seasons. As of 1997 there “The key concerns are long-term habitat therefore give greater consideration to This article first appeared in the we r en’t even any published bear studies alterations from the proposed Cheviot these habitats. Edmonton Journal. for the area . ”

6 Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 2 April 2000 OUTREACH

FAX OR WRITE THAT LETTER! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Ad d r esses are correct as of January, 2000 Editor’s Note: Last month we asked you if you thought the AWA is too radical. Government of Alberta Chris Empson replies: www.gov.ab.ca/env Premier Dear Editor, 307, 10800 – 97 Avenue The Chinchaga is a very unique treasure Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B7 that deserves our careful preservation to Fax: (780) 427-1349 avoid the pitfalls of losing biodiversity. Phone: (780) 427-2251 H o w e v e r, the government does not Hon. Gary G. Mar QC seem interested in making any Minister of Environmental consideration for this protection no Protection matter how many scientists, ecologists 323, 10800 – 97 Avenue say it is needed. Simple letter writing, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 Fax: (780) 427-6259 meetings with the premier and scant Phone: (780) 427-2391 newspaper articles at the back of the email: [email protected] classifieds seem inadequate to convince this government of the importance of Hon. Minister of Resource preserving large areas. Although I do Development not believe in violence, I think it is time 408, 10800 – 97 Avenue to take more action in a physical sense. Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 For example, maybe the AWA and the Fax: (780) 422-0195 other conservation groups in A l b e r t a Hon. (like the CPAWS, Federation of Alberta Minister of Agriculture, Food Naturalists, etc.) should unify into a and Rural Development single, powerful coalition which would 208, 10800 – 97 Avenue consolidate the membership into a Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 A River Runs Through Us single group with a common goal plus Phone: (780) 427-3740 pool resources together. After all a larger Fax (780) 422-6035 An illustrated talk g roup is more potent than smaller Hon. Whether you use them for canoeing, explores the magic of rivers and what groups. Emergency situations like the Associate Minister of Forestry 402, 10800 - 97 Avenue irrigation, fishing, livestock watering, they mean to him, and others. Spray Lakes development may warrant more on-site protests. It would at the Edmonton, AB golfing beside them, walking or jogging Br uce believes rivers need strong and T5K 2B6 along their banks, or just plain staring united champions to protect them from the very least make more people aware and Phone: (780) 415-4815 down at them from a downtown high- many challenges they face from various bring the issue to the front lines. Fax: (780) 415-4818 rise, rivers are an integral part of uses. Along this line, environmental and P e rhaps the conservation gro u p s email: [email protected] should purchase a full page of the people’s lives. They evoke awe, respect, conservation groups need to join forces in Debby Carlson MLA and a sense of wonder. Some people defence of rivers. While rivers divide newspaper and educate people on the Environmental Protection Critic fight for rivers when they are regions geographically, they can be a importance of areas like the Chinchaga 1091AKnottwood Road E. threatened; too many others take them uniting force for the various orga n i z a t i o n s and the need for protection plus the Edmonton, AB for granted. fighting to protect them—if those grou p s dangers of over-allocating forests and T6K 3N5 B ruce Masterman, an award - ar e prep a r ed to enter the relationship with the impacts of another pulp mill in Phone: (780) 414-2000 Fax: (780) 414-6383 winning outdoor writer and author of an open mind. Alberta. Overall, yes I think the AWA should email: Heading Out: A Celebration of the Great Tuesday, April 18, 7:30 pm Ed m o n t o n _ E l l e r s l i e @ a s s e m b l y. a b . c a Outdoors in Calgary and Southern Alberta, AWA Provincial Office become more radical by staging more will present a slide show and talk that 455 – 12 Street N.W., Calgary public rallies, protests, and gre a t e r Dr. Raj Pannu, MLA e x p o s u re through the media. A v a s t New Democrat Opposition majority of the people I know and talk to 213, 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB have never even heard of places like the T5K 2B6 Bighorn, the Castle, or the Chinchaga. email: [email protected] We need to make our environmental crisis known to the people of Alberta The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien and beyond. Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Chris Empson, AWA member Ottawa, ON K1A0A6 Hon. Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage 15 Eddy Street, 11th Floor FOREST PRODUCT Continued from page 4 Hull, Quebec K1A0M5 have been established by large industry Fax (819) 953-8594 Phone (819) 997-7788 players to show suppliers and consumers they are serious about using prod u c t s Hon. David Anderson certified under the FSC scheme. Major Minister of the Environment fo r est companies in Canada and the U.S. House of Commons Parliament Building ar e currently seeking FSC certification Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6 including the former MacMillan Bloedel. Phone: (819) 997-1441 When Home Depot talks about Fax: (819) 953-3457 pu r chasing certified forest products it is talking about FSC certification. Ve r y recently even the pro-industry Fore s t ... and remember to put postage Alliance of B.C. has applied for on your mail to the Provincial membership in the FSC. The FSC is the Legislature. Only the Federal Declining Amphibians,Disappearing Reptiles certification body to be reckoned with Government accepts postage- to d a y , and it is having a very positive free mail! Send us copies of your Local examples of global phenomena result in raising forest industry correspondence and we may a w a reness, public awareness, and reproduce it in the Advocate. ver the past thirty years global found at the northern limits of their changing forestry practices. Thanks! declines of amphibian species species’ ranges and thus may be particu- Ohave become an indicator of larly sensitive to disruption. Join profes- Some of the information for this article potentially significant enviro n m e n t a l sor Tony Russell as he discusses local was taken from Investing in Tom o r ro w ’ s changes. Data accumulated from indi- case histories and places them in a global Fo re s t s by Crossly and Points, sections 4 vidual studies have yielded information context. and 5. that points to a number of possible caus- Tuesday, May 16, 7:30 pm w w w. p a n d a . o rg / f o re s t s 4 l i f e / n e w s / es. Amphibians in Alberta are often AWA Provincial Office rep o r t . p d f

Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 2 April 2000 7 Alberta Author and Scholar will be Missed r. Chester Broomell Beaty passed away on January 11, 2000. “Chip” was born in MChicago, Illinois on May 10, 1925. He grew up in Fairhope, Alabama and served as a naval officer in the South Pacific during World War II. He married Jeanne, his lifelong love, in New York City on December 28, 1947. Chip’s career as a geographer took them many places: California, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Canada, and memorably, the Atacama Desert in Chile. He received his B.A. in 1948 and his M.A. in 1950 from the Louisiana State University where he met Jeanne. In 1960, he received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkley. In 1969, his family moved to Alberta where Chip joined the fledgling University of Lethbridge as a faculty member in the Department of Geography. For twenty years the U of L was the headquarters for his Entry forms available at: p roductive scholarship, including many inter- nationally recognized journal articles and his bestseller Landscapes of Southern Alberta. Chip retired as a Professor Emeritus and a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. During those years, Lethbridge was the base from which Chip and Jeanne travelled throughout the world, “life on the road together” being their greatest happiness. Upon his retirement in 1990, Chip and Jeanne moved to the Crowsnest Pass (another much cherished base along with the cabin in Montana) from which they continued to travel and where visitors were always warmly welcomed. Check out our website In the Pass Chip’s interest in geography and a l b e rt a w i l d e rn e s s . a b . c a geology were expressed by his volunteer work at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. He was a featured and f requent speaker and a regular behind-the-scenes visitor, a man who made countless contributions of time, energy, and knowledge. To the Centre’s staff he was a welcome friend and supporter who contributed to both professional and public understanding of the famous 1903 rockslide. Chip’s passing leaves an enormous void, but we, his family, are filled with love for him and are tremendously grateful for the 74 years he gave us. Chip’s ashes will be scattered at the Little Big Horn National Battlefield in Montana.

We’ve set a goal of 2000 Name (please print) ______me m bers in the year 2000. Our membership base gives Address ______us added clout for protecting Alberta’s wilderness. City/Prov ______Postal Code ______Encourage your friends, Phone (______)______ne i g h bours, or co-workers to add their voice to the AWA. LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP (includes a 1-year subcription to the Wild Lands Advocate) The AWA remains Alberta’s frontline advocacy Single $25. Family $30. organization advancing the WILD LANDS ADVOCATE SUBSCRIPTIONS establishment of protected 1 Year $25. 2 Year $48. Student/Senior $15. Institution $100. areas, all done through the YOUR DONATION HELPS coordination of grassroots Enclosed is a tax-deductible donation of $ ______work with that done at the I wish to donate monthly by automatic withdrawal from my bank account, Visa or Masterca r d . Calgary Community provincial and national Please send me the donation form. levels. It has tenaciously Lottery Board striven for better public PAYMENT Cheque/Money Order Visa Mastercard policy for the conservation, Presentation management, and Card #______Expiry ______ecologically sustainable use On February 24, Greg Matwichuk, representing the of all public lands, waters, Signature ______Calgary Community Lottery Board, presented Cliff and wildlife in Alberta. Wallis, AWA president with a cheque for $25,000. Virtually all of Alberta’s These funds will make a significant difference to our waters, all of its wildlife, ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP and 73 per cent of the land Box 6398, Station D, Calgary, Alberta Canada T2P 2E1 Phone: (403) 283-2025 offices, providing enhanced technology and increased are public. Join your voice efficiency for our staff and volunteers. We would like to ours as we work toward We do not sell or trade our membership list. to express our sincere appreciation to the Calgary legislated protection. Sign Community Lottery Board for their support and up today! recognition.

8 Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 2 April 2000