AWA Anual Report 2005

2005 -2006 ANNUAL REPORT Defending Wild Alberta through Awareness and Action Alberta Wilderness Association 1 ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION Annual Report 2005 - 2006 © Alberta Wilderness Association Box 6398, Station D, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 Provincial Office – Hillhurst Cottage School 455 – 12th St NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1Y9 Phone 403.283.2025 • Fax 403.270.2743 Email: [email protected] Web server: AlbertaWilderness.ca Contributions to the Annual Report by AWA board and staff members and final editing by J. Hildebrand are gratefully acknowledged. Table of Contents WILDERNESS FOR TOMORROW...........1 COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION ......................................................22 WHO WE ARE .............................................................2 PROTECTED AREAS PROGRESS .................22 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ..................................2 STRENGTH AND CAPACITY.....................23 ALBERTA WILDERNESS RESOURCE CENTRE .....................................................................26 MISSION, VISION, VALUES & OBJECTIVES ................................................................3 WILD LANDS ADVOCATE ...............................26 Vision............................................................3 Values............................................................3 WWW.ALBERTAWILDERNESS.CA ..............27 Objectives.....................................................4 I ILDERNESS ETWORK ...............26 Program Goals ............................................4 W N (W N ) COMMUNITY WORK PLACEMENTS........27 WILDERNESS CONSERVATION, STEWARDSHIP & EDUCATION ..............5 FINANCING WILDERNESS WILD SPACES, WILD LANDS..........................6 PROTECTION...........................................................28 AREAS OF CONCERN...........................................8 REVENUE..................................................................28 Primrose-Lakeland......................................8 EXPENDITURES....................................................29 Bighorn Wildland........................................9 Crown of the Continent Ecosystem......10 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL Alberta’s Southern Eastern Slopes.........11 POSITION ..................................................................30 Prairie Grasslands and Parkland Ecosystems................................11 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS....................31 Northwest Alberta ....................................13 Northeast Alberta .....................................15 ALBERTA WILDERNESS AND WILDLIFE TRUST.................................................32 ALBERTA’S WILDLIFE – Annual Guest Lecture ..............................32 SPECIES AT RISK ................................................ 16 Wilderness Defender Awards .................32 Bison ...........................................................16 Grizzly Bears..............................................16 Caribou .......................................................17 SARA ..........................................................18 PHOTO CREDITS Wildlife Economies ....................................1 Cover - Daniel Olson Page 5 - Cliff Wallis FORESTS ....................................................................19 Page 8 - Joyce Hildebrand Mountain Pine Beetle...............................19 Page 9 - David Samson Forest Fires ................................................20 Page 10 - Nigel Douglas Page 11 - Christyann Olson PUBLIC LANDS ......................................................21 Page 12 - Hyland Armstrong, C. Olson Page 16 - C. Olson WATERSHED PROTECTION .........................21 Page 17 - David Samson Special Areas Water Supply Project.......22 Page 18 - Cliff Wallis, C. Olson Page 20 - C. Olson Page 21 - Ray Blanchard Page 22 - C. Olson Page 23 - C. Wallis Page 32 - D. Olson ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION Wilderness for Tomorrow “Some say that hope lies in a nation; others in a man. I believe, rather, that it is awakened, revived, nourished by millions of solitary individuals, whose deeds and works every day negate frontiers…each and every man, on the foundations of his own sufferings and joys, builds for all.” – Albert Camus orty-one years ago our founders struggled as much as we do today with the reality of diminishing wilderness. They became champions of habitat for the wildlife they respected and relied on. They flew to Edmonton to speak with the politicians, they F held public meetings, they shared the stories of Wild Alberta – in person and in print – and they helped others learn. They knew what we know today: our very existence, our well- being and our own personal health depend on wilderness. The passion of our founders burns in each one of us at AWA as strongly as it ever did. This year we have challenged ourselves daily with the age old questions of how to prevent inevitable losses, how to achieve a wilderness legacy, how to secure the protection of wilderness and wildlife resources today. Many years later, as well as the traditional methods of confrontation and collaboration, commonplace in our day-to-day business, we seek out new paths to wilderness protection and wilderness for tomorrow. Above all, we strive to remain relevant in today’s society. To know our role and the mandate we have from our members and supporters; to have an impact and be an important part of present-day society and the far-reaching decisions being made about Wild Alberta. Our programs this year, perhaps more than ever, have addressed the inextricable links between water, wildlife, and wild lands. We have covered every corner of Alberta, sometimes on foot, in the air, in cars and buses, and on horseback. We have grown our membership to represent 167 communities throughout the province and we have learned more about our areas of concern and Wild Spaces. We have cooperated with other environmental groups and developed strategies together. We have invited our industry colleagues to discuss concerns and practices, collaborating where possible and confronting when necessary. We have represented the public interest. The work is as hard as it comes. The outcomes are not always significant in the measure of land conserved or wild species saved, but we know we are making a difference. The staff and Board of Directors are a formidable force and work as a team to strategically plan our direction and the use of our human and financial resources. Our vision for the future is clear. We are dependent on our members and supporters for their assistance financially and on the ground as advocates and community leaders. None of our accomplishments would have been possible without support from members and donors and others in the non-profit, foundation, corporate, and government sectors. This annual report underlines the importance of the work we have achieved and the promise of ongoing work to protect and enhance Alberta’s wilderness. Christyann Olson, Richard Secord, Executive Director President 1 Who We Are Alberta Wilderness Association was formed in 1965 in southwest Alberta by backcountry enthusiasts, ranchers, and outfitters. Since then AWA has grown to include a wide diversity of individual backgrounds and skills in its membership and its staff. More than 40 years of dedicated volunteerism, philanthropy, and belief in the vision of AWA have contributed to the rich culture that is the AWA. AWA remains Alberta’s frontline advocacy organization advancing the establishment of truly protected wilderness areas. For more than 40 years AWA has helped people to recognize these diverse and unique wilderness values in Alberta. Preserving wilderness may someday be seen through the eyes of our children, politicians, and historians as the most important contribution societies can make to the health of our global environment and planet. – Richard Secord, President Board of Directors President: Richard Secord, Edmonton Past-President: Cliff Wallis, Calgary First Vice-President: Heinz Unger, Cochrane Second Vice-President: Vivian Pharis, Calgary Secretary/Treasurer: Cliff Wallis, Calgary Directors: Hyland Armstrong, Elkwater Frank Calder, Edmonton James Campbell, Calgary Gerald Hall, Calgary Director Emeritus: Herbert G. Kariel, Calgary Board members take a break from meeting to pose on the steps of Hillhurst Cottage School, AWA’s Provincial Office. Missing are Hyland Armstrong, Herb Kariel, and Frank Calder. 2 Mission, Vision, Values & Objectives Defending Wild Alberta through Awareness an d Action lberta Wilderness Association (AWA) is the oldest wilderness conservation group in Alberta dedicated to the completion of a protected areas network and the conservation of wilderness throughout the province. Founded in 1965 in A rural southwest Alberta by backcountry enthusiasts, ranchers, and outfitters, AWA has grown into a province-wide organization. With more than four decades of success, it is known for its tenacity, corporate memory, and integrity. AWA is a non- profit, federally registered, charitable society. It has a provincial office and resource centre in Calgary and active members and volunteers throughout Alberta. The staff of the Association includes professionals and specialists in management, conservation biology, economics, education, outreach, communications, and accounting. V ISION There will be a comprehensive system of protected wild areas. There will be a society with decision-making processes, policies, and laws that recognize the value of nature for its own sake. AWA will be an effective and credible advocate that fosters awareness and

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