Vol.33 No.4 | 2014 Published by the Wilderness Committee

FREE REPORT Wild

5 Natural Treasures at Risk

Preserving Manitoba’s Wilderness for Future Generations

Eric Reder areas the Manitoba government forest degradation are cost-effective Manitoba needed to preserve1 (you can read options for tackling the climate crisis.2 Campaign about the current state of these areas This is just one more reason why Director on the back of this publication). protecting more of Manitoba’s forests Maintaining healthy intact areas is in everyone’s best interest. protects biodiversity – the variety of Unfortunately, the Canadian life and natural processes that occur government has been slow to in the wild. All this contributes to respond to dire climate warnings; hen I was out on the Bird healthy ecosystems and a healthier instead it has drastically weakened WRiver one afternoon, a furry Manitoba. a number of environmental laws. In head popped above the water and In a functioning ecosystem, there 2012, federal policy-makers began a peered at our approaching canoe. are many naturally disturbing dismantling Photo top: Sunrise in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, above: Moose (Mike Grandmaison). In a moment, another head broke occurring processes that Our target: of protection for water, the surface, and a pair of curious help make a healthy To see 20% of starting with the river otters watched us paddle environment for us. Manitoba protected gutting of the Fisheries Read on to find out more past. Memories like this remind me These processes are by the year 2020. Act and the Navigable about the key areas we’ve how fortunate I am to be able to known as "ecosystem Waters Protection Act. selected in Manitoba, where experience wild Manitoba – and services." Manitobans The next five protection is urgently needed they’re memories that many of us in benefit from a variety of ecosystem hotspots we’ve chosen as priorities to safeguard forests, local the province share. services, including pollination, erosion for protection encompass waterways wildlife, community health It is easy for Manitobans to take for prevention, weather stabilization and that are at risk. With the loss of and a stable climate. granted that the lakes and rivers of protection against climate change. federal protection for these and the boreal – the destinations of our Lowland peat bogs absorb carbon other rivers and lakes across the summer weekend excursions – will and filter freshwater, and forests pull province, new provincial legislation always be there. But the reality is carbon dioxide and pollutants out of is essential in order to protect that even with vast sections of the the air while releasing oxygen – which waterways in Manitoba. province’s wild lands and waters helps maintain a stable climate. The Wilderness Committee is in public hands, development The latest report from the advocating for 20 per cent of Manitoba is eating away at wilderness, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate to be protected by the year 2020. So harming our wildlife, our fresh Change (IPCC), released in April 2014, far, just over 10 per cent of the province water and our forests. warns of grave consequences if we wait has been protected. A healthy future In 2009, the Wilderness Committee any longer to take action to reduce depends on preserving Manitoba’s launched our firstConservation climate-changing greenhouse gas natural heritage, and to reach our goal, Hotspots paper, and listed five key emissions. It also says activities that limit we’ll have to work together. Photo: Boreal oak (Eric Reder). 1 Lower Bird River Nunavut n a

w Hudson PROPOSED Protected Area e Churchill Bay c h t a k or more than a hundred corporation Tembec had plans to s a Fkilometres, the Bird River flows raze the forest along the river. Local S through protected lands – from its intervention stopped this plan. Wapusk Kaskatamagan Wildlife origins in Ontario’s Woodland Caribou Now, a new threat has emerged. National Management Area Park Provincial Park toward the Winnipeg Cabot Corporation, which operates River. Valued as a remote yet the nearby TANCO tantalum mine, accessible wilderness river, every year wants to drain part of Bernic Lake the Bird River introduces thousands – a lake already facing water quality Gillam Polar Bear of people to the joys of canoeing in impacts since the mine has been in Provincial Park 4 o the Boreal Shield. For nearly its entire operation – into the Bird River. Thompson ri ta length, the banks of the Bird River are The Wilderness Committee is Manitoba n O protected from development. proposing to safeguard the lower Flin Grass River Flon Provincial Park The lower Bird River, as it flows stretch of the river that remains 0 100 200 km into Lac du Bonnet and the unprotected, with additional Poplar/Nanowin Rivers Provincial Winnipeg River, is teeming with protection covering at least 1.5 Park Reserve cottage activity. Studies have shown kilometres on either side of the The Pas Legend that the the lower Bird River is so waterway. Protecting the Bird River Red Deer Lake Existing Provincial ParOk Bnotuanrdiaories popular that the river has reached its by establishing this new freshwater Wildlife Asatiwisipe Aki Conservation Hotspots - Proposed Protected Areas ecological carrying capacity, and that protected area, in addition to Management Area Protected Area Lake Lake Existing Protected Areas diminishing wildlife, fish stocks and new provincial water protection Winnipegosis Winnipeg Wildlife Management Areas 3 water quality are all on the horizon. legislation, will help preserve the Swan River Areas of Special Interest Between Nopiming Park and the quality of life and recreational Duck Mountain lower rapids, the Bird River meanders experiences on the Bird River. It will Atikaki Provincial Provincial Park for 17 kilometres. A decade ago this also help contribute to healthier n Park a stretch of river was the central feature water in the Winnipeg River and in w Dauphin e Nopiming - Owl Lake Riding Mountain c h

in a fight over logging, as timber Lake Winnipeg. t Caribou Protected Area National Park Lake a Gimli

k Manitoba Pine Falls s

a Nopiming S Provincial Brandon Whiteshell Park Ontario Winnipeg Provincial Park Lower Bird River Protected Area United States

Photo left: Lower Bird River, right: Red fox (Eric Reder). 2 Red Deer Lake 3 Duck Mountain

Photo: Rose-breasted PROPOSED Wildlife Management Area PRovincial park logging ban grosbeak (Mike Grandmaison).

he proposed Red Deer Lake Wildlife operations in these wetlands would olling rugged hills and pristine with the fact that at least eight out TManagement Area (WMA) is a seriously compromise the health of the Rlakes make up the Duck Mountains of ten people thought logging wonderfully wild piece of Manitoba’s region. region of western Manitoba. Moose needed to be banned in provincial natural heritage. Situated on the There are many problems with meander through the mixed aspen parks. The Minister replied that he western edge of Manitoba between mining coal in Manitoba. Accessing the and evergreen forests, and trout thought the number of people who the River Delta and the coal deposit located next to the Red can be found in the clear waters. wanted logging out of parks was Porcupine Hills, the area is a combination Deer WMA would require strip mining Duck Mountain Provincial Park is probably even higher. Unfortunately, of forested ridges and extensive – an extraction method that destroys one of Manitoba's first provincial the Manitoba government has lowlands entwined in winding rivers. landscapes, forests and wildlife habitat parks – a testament to the special just instilled logging in the Ducks The Manitoba government has already by stripping away plants, soil and trees place the Ducks have in the hearts of until 2019 by quietly giving timber identified this area for future protection, from the mining Manitobans. company Louisiana-Pacific Corp. an but the Wilderness Committee hopes area. In addition, Duck unprecedented six-year extension on to see much more land incorporated strip mining poses Mountain its existing environmental licence.9 into the plan. The area we’re proposing serious risks to water, Provincial There is a clear path forward for stretches nearly 80 kilometres in length, such as chemical Park also has Manitobans and for Duck Mountain and covers an area bigger than Duck contamination of the shameful Provincial Park, and that is to enact Mountain Provincial Park! both surface and distinction new legislation that ends logging Providing a home for endangered groundwater.6 These of being the in Duck Mountain Park once and species like woodland caribou and coal deposits are all last park in for all. It’s time for logging interests the piping plover, these mostly just a short distance Manitoba that to adjust their business models and undisturbed and intact ecosystems upstream of the still allows operate elsewhere, so Manitobans are important additions to Manitoba’s Red Deer WMA and Photo: Duck Mountain Provincial Park (Mike Grandmaison). logging. In fact, will get the real park protection they protected areas.5 There has been Manitoba's large lakes. along with Algonquin Park in Ontario, expect and deserve. very little invasive development in Furthermore, the eventual burning of it is one of only two parks in Canada this area over the years, which has so this coal will have an even more harmful that still allow logging. The Manitoba far allowed the rivers and waters to impact on our planet by contributing to government banned timber harvesting remain healthy. Unfortunately, climate change. in all parks – except Duck Mountain – in coal mining, diamond mining, and Preserving the Red Deer Lake area 2009.8 The federal government ended oil shale mining proposals have will safeguard its tremendous natural logging in national parks back in 1992. all been recently explored for this values while ensuring that freshwater is During the battle to end logging region, with many mining exploration filtered through the wetlands to supply in parks in 2008, Manitoba’s companies staking claims. Mining Manitoba’s great lakes.7 Conservation Minister was presented Photo: Ferns, MB (Mike Grandmaison). 4 Polar Bear proposed provincial Park

anitobans don’t always think of fuels in Canada is in federal jurisdiction. Done right, the new protection Mpolar bears and beluga whales The Manitoba government is initiatives for beluga and polar bear when they think of their province. working on two major initiatives for the habitat could put a stop to the shaky But for visitors from around the north, designed to preserve the habitat oil-by-rail plan. Banning the movement world, polar bears and belugas are of belugas and polar bears. One of of trains carrying crude oil through these major attractions in Manitoba's north. these involves the creation of a Polar protected lands and waters will keep Churchill is the pre-eminent place for Bear Provincial Park encompassing the control of these lands and waters within tourists to watch belugas and bears, Manitoba. Protecting and take in the tundra and subarctic these areas will also conditions. help combat climate The shores of Hudson Bay change by reducing are home to one of the greatest ground disturbances concentrations of polar bears in the in the Hudson Bay world. Polar bears rely on sea ice to Lowlands – an area catch seals – which make up the rich in peat, which bulk of their diet – but now because helps to offset climate- of climate change, the shrinking changing greenhouse sea ice is putting pressure on these gas emissions by majestic bears. Any added stressors sequestering large Photos above: Snowshoe hare (Robert while the bears are on shore in Photo: Polar bear family near Churchill, MB (Mike Grandmaison). amounts of carbon. McCaw), Caribou tracks (Eric Reder). summer will contribute to an already whole Hudson Bay coastal region from slimming population. Churchill right through to Ontario10, Right now, Manitoba’s polar and the other involves a marine Water Protection bears – and ecological tourism protected area in beluga habitat.11 in Churchill – are facing a crude Hard work will be required to ensure threat. Omnitrax, the company that these initiatives succeed. Legislation Needed owns the rail line to Churchill as well as First Nations in the north still rely the seaport, is planning to ship rail cars on Hudson Bay and its surrounding ater isn’t just the most There are currently NO marine of crude oil up unstable tracks through lands and waters, and the province’s Wprecious resource – water or inland water protected areas in polar bear habitat, and then by tanker protection initiatives overlap many is life. Manitoba is fortunate to Manitoba.13 Both Poplar River First through beluga whale habitat. The traditional territories. Responsible, have more freshwater than most Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation Manitoba government has stated that meaningful consultation and jurisdictions around the world, recently protected their territory, and it doesn’t support this plan, but the accommodation will need to be including thousands of rivers, lakes, designated their traditional use areas licensing for railways carrying oil and completed with the First Nations. creeks and wetlands. Unfortunately, on Lake Winnipeg as “protected,” yet there is very little protection afforded there is no provincial regulation that to our valuable water bodies. actually protects the water. Until 2012, federal legislation In 2011, after extensive public provided protection for waterways. consultation, a wetlands consultation 5 Nopiming - Owl Lake But with the gutting of the document was released by the Fisheries Act, the curtailing of the Manitoba Water Council, which proposed caribou Protected Area Navigable Waters Protection Act and specifically recommended a provincial the weakening of the Canadian Wetlands Policy.14 However, no policy ost Manitobans will never see a In northern Nopiming Provincial Environmental Assessment Act, the has been forthcoming. Mwoodland caribou in the wild, Park, just south of the Manigotagan federal government sent a clear Manitoba needs marine and yet this iconic creature occupies a River Provincial Park, a caribou message that it will no longer inland water protected areas. very special place in the history of this population known as the Owl- protect water from devastation and These new protected areas could land. Known as the “grey ghosts of Flintstone Range has persisted. Well- exploitation by industry. also help save two of the hotspots the forest,” woodland caribou roam studied over the past few decades, The provincial government mentioned above from industrial in small groups through lowland this band of caribou has remained now has an opportunity and a damage. Making the lower Bird River bogs, rocky jackpine ridges and aging near stable. In 2011, the Manitoba responsibility to build a water a protected waterway would keep groves throughout the boreal. They government released a draft action law that protects our waterways. Cabot Corp. from damaging Bernic are elusive and very plan for the Owl- Right now there is a hodgepodge Creek and the Bird River by draining sensitive to human Flintstone caribou, of legislation that covers water, Bernic Lake for its TANCO mine. In activity. and recommended including an existing Water Protection the north, making the mouth of the According to the a new protected Act that is merely a guideline with no Churchill River a marine protected federal recovery area for caribou.12 requirement for real action to protect area that bans crude oil shipments strategy for woodland Nearly three years water. There is no comprehensive and would put an end to Omnitrax’s caribou, these animals later, however, there clear management system for the irresponsible plan to ship crude oil may move up to 60 is silence from the protection of this resource. through the port of Churchill. kilometres away to government escape a disturbance on this in their home range. necessary And as more boreal action. In habitat is lost to development, addition, these disturbances are there is becoming increasingly word prevalent. Many caribou ranges that new across Canada are facing Photos above: Woodland caribou (Mike logging quickly declining populations Grandmaison), Black River (Eric Reder). licences and predicted local extinction. As a could be issued for the region. result, woodland caribou are afforded More industrial activity cannot protection under the federal Species be allowed until a new protected At Risk Act as well as the Manitoba area is established for the Owl- Endangered Species Act. Flintstone woodland caribou. Photo left: Horned grebe (Rebecca and Glen Grambo) right: Canada violet (Mike Grandmaison). Wilderness Conservation in Original Conservation Manitoba: An Ongoing effort Hotspots: Five years later…

or more than two decades, Conservation Area (BCA) in the works n our original Conservation being considered. But as usual in FManitoba’s government has for Langford Community Pasture IHotspots educational report conservation work, the process is been promising protection for more region,16 and yet there is no such – published in 2009 – we secretive and the progress is slow. The of the province’s wild lands. In 1990, thing as a BCA in our protected areas introduced five regions of Manitoba Chitek Lake Park Reserve has interim the Manitoba government agreed legislation. The public has not been that needed protection: the protection until September 2014,19 to protect at least 12 per cent of the very well informed about this proposal Delta, the and it remains to be seen when the province from development by the by the government – another Whitemouth River Area, the Chitek government will initiate work towards year 2000, but right now, just 10 per recurring problem with protected Lake Park Reserve, the Fish Lake full permanent protection of the area. cent of the province is protected.15 areas work. Area, and the Gardenton and Pansy There was progress on the Large sections of Hecla / There are still over 100 areas being Pastures. Since then, over 6,000 Whitemouth River area in 2013, Grindstone considered letters have been delivered to the as Whiteshell Provincial Park Provincial Park for protection Manitoba government asking for was expanded to include the and Whiteshell right now,17 these five areas to be protected. Whitemouth River Area and connect Provincial Park including four Four out of the five have the Whitemouth Bog Ecological have recently million hectares taken significant strides towards Reserve and the nearby Wildlife been protected already protection, thanks to support Management Area.20 from industrial supported for from people like you. Much In 2013, control of Gardenton development, in protection by of the Saskatchewan River Delta and Pansy Pastures – previously large part due the mining remains temporarily off-limits to the jurisdiction of the federal to the outcry industry.18 logging, as protected status is still government – was transferred to Photo: Mining exploration in Manitoba's boreal region of Wilderness (Eric Reder). Protecting the provincial government. This sets Committee supporters. 20 per cent of the province from the stage for Manitoba to designate Just as there is progress, though, industrial development by 2020 is an more of this rare prairie into there are also setbacks. The achievable goal, but getting there protected lands. proposed Springer Lake Ecological will require timelines, resources and Reserve, inside Nopiming Provincial political will. By raising awareness Park, was again the site of mineral about the benefits of protecting references exploration work, with roads nature and reaching out to 1. Manitoba’s Conservation Hotspots. Wilderness Committee, May 2009. http://bit.ly/RfyEpq bulldozed in it in the spring of 2011. decision-makers for support, 2. Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change”. IPCC, A look at the Manitoba we can ensure that this vision Apr. 2014. http://mitigation2014.org/report 3. Lombard North Group. “Bird River Recreation Capacity Study”. government's protected areas website for a healthy and wild Manitoba Rural Municipality of Alexander, Oct. 2007. http://bit.ly/1kMmQVW in April 2014 finds a new Biodiversity becomes a reality. 4. “Notice of Alteration #20: TANCO Mine Crown Pillar Mitigation”. Photo left: Great grey owl, Cabot Corporation, Aug. 2013. http://bit.ly/1g1vb3H / http://bit.ly/1nX21KI right: Fringed gentian (Mike Grandmaison). 5. “Saskatchewan River Delta Planning Area: Proposed Protected Areas”. Manitoba’s Protected Areas Initiative, 2010. http://bit.ly/1kABkFy 6. “Mining Impacts”. Greenpeace International, Apr. 2010. http://bit.ly/1nhqKHa 7. See citation 5. 8. “Bill 3 - Forest Amendment Act”. Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, 2009. http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/39-3/b003e.php 9. “Environment Act Licence No. 2191E”. Manitoba Conservation, TAKE ACTION! Dec. 30, 2013. http://bit.ly/1kAC2Cx 10. “Manitoba eyes new rules for polar bear tourism near Hudson Your voice is needed to help gain protection for these five natural treasures before they’re Bay”. CBC News (CP), Apr. 1, 2014. http://bit.ly/QE1O1D damaged by further industrial development. The time to act is now! 11. Puxley, Chinta. “Manitoba eyes better beluga whale protection”. CBC News (CP), Mar. 2, 2014. http://bit.ly/1q5o1W2 Please write to the Premier of Manitoba, and let him know how much you support efforts to 12. “Action Plans for Boreal Woodland Caribou Ranges in Manitoba”. Manitoba Conservation, Nov. 2011. protect the province’s wilderness. Urge the provincial government to fully protect these five http://bit.ly/1unZyuI threatened wilderness areas: the lower Bird River, Red 13. “Protected Waters”. Manitoba Wildlands, 2013. http://bit.ly/1nX6qNN Deer Lake, Duck Mountain Provincial Park, Churchill 14. “Seeking Manitobans’ Perspectives on Wetlands”. Manitoba and Hudson Bay polar bear habitat and Nopiming – Water Council, Jan. 2011. http://bit.ly/1mtpNi5 15. “Manitoba’s Network of Protected Areas”. Manitoba Owl Lake caribou habitat. Conservation, 2014. http://bit.ly/1nhucBP 16. “Proposed Langford Biodiversity Conservation Area”. Manitoba Protected Areas Initiative, 2014. http://bit.ly/RjvzEC 17. “Areas of Special Interest”. Manitoba Protected Areas Initiative, Contact information: Jan. 2014. http://bit.ly/1rTxU4F 18. “Areas of Special Interest Map - Mining Sector, Area 5c”. Premier of Manitoba Manitoba Protected Areas Initiative, May 2005. 204 Legislative Building, 450 Broadway Ave. http://bit.ly/1iTeMhO 19. "Chitek Lake, Poplar/Nanowin Rivers Renewed Third Time". Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0V8 Manitoba Wildlands, 2009. http://bit.ly/1mwpQoW 20. “Camp Morton, Whiteshell Provincial Parks to expand”. 204-945-3714 250-387-0087 Manitoba Conservation, Mar. 8, 2013. http://bit.ly/1rTygrO @ [email protected] Photo: Inukshuk, Hudson Bay (Mike Grandmaison). WildernessCommittee.org/Manitoba • 1-800-661-WILD (9453) credits Writing: Eric Reder. Editing: Alexis Stoymenoff. Graphic Design and Layout: Perry Sky Jack. I Want to help keep Mapping: Geoff Senichenko. Wilderness Committee, Vol. 33, No.4, 2014. Canadian Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 0900567. Posted ! manitoba wild in Vancouver for free distribution. Printed in Canada on YES recycled newsprint with vegetable-based inks. Press Run 20,000 © Wilderness Committee 2014. Enclosed is: $25 $50 $100 Other $ ______All rights reserved. Written material may be used without clip Fed. reg. charity #11929-3009-RR0001 permission when credit is given. Published by Return to the: I want to become a member! 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