February

2 007 • Vol. 15, No. 1

AWA

Crowsnest Mountain in the heart of winter (D. McIntyre)

NATURAL AREA STEWARDS UNITE PASSION AND VIGILANCE: PART 2 / 4

FORESTS OR FORESTRY IN THE EASTERN SLOPES / 12

CARIBOU RECOVERY PROCESS DESCENDS INTO CHAOS / 23

BURROWING OWL CONSERVATION MYSTERY / 26

Editorial Board: Shirley Bray, Ph.D. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CFEBONTENTSRUARY 2007 • VOL. 15, NO. 1 Andy Marshall Joyce Hildebrand 28 NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE OUT FRONT ADVICE IGNORES KEY ELEMENTS Printing by:

4 STEWARDS UNITE PASSION 29 WHATʼS IN YOUR GLASS OF Colour printing and process is DRINKING WATER? AND VIGILANCE IN CARE AND sponsored by Topline Printing PROTECTION OF NATURAL AREAS, PART 2: SACRED & SACRIFICED PROFILE 12 ALBERTA’S SOUTHERN EASTERN SLOPES: FORESTS OR FORESTRY? 30 DARREN HALEY: LIKE THOREAU AND FROST, ALBERTA ARTIST OLLOWS THE ATH ESS ALBERTA WILDERNESS WATCH F P L TRAVELLED 17 LOGGING THE LAND UNSTUDIED EVENTS 23 ALBERTAʼS CARIBOU RECOVERY Graphic Design: PROCESS DESCENDS INTO CHAOS 31 OPEN HOUSE PROGRAM Ball Creative 24 ROADLESS AREAS – AN IDEA 31 ILD ABOUT ILDERNESS WHOSE TIME HAS COME W W Wild Lands Advocate is published bimonthly, 6 times 25 SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS STUDY 31 MURAL COMPETITION MOVES FORWARD a year, by Alberta Wilderness 32 LIMB FOR ILDERNESS C W Association. The opinions 26 BIOLOGISTS DIG DEEP ON BURROWING OWL CONSERVATION expressed by the authors

MYSTERY © in this publication are not Darren Haley Darren necessarily those of AWA. The editors reserve the right to edit, reject or withdraw articles and letters submitted.

Please direct questions and comments to: Shirley Bray Phone: (403) 270-2736 Fax: (403) 270-2743 [email protected] Darren Haley ©

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EXPIRY DATE: A frosty Alberta morning NAME: In 1977 Alberta’s schoolchildren chose the ADDRESS: great horned owl (Bubo

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The dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) – the best-known Send payments to: species of junco, a genus of small American sparrows – is P.O. Box 6398, Station D a winter resident in the prairies and parklands of Alberta. Calgary, AB T2P 2E1 or donate online @ www.albertawilderness.ca 1-866-313-0713 Courtesy of Bertha Ford , Fall 2000 ACRIFICED

S AND

AND

ARE She frequently removes random Other challenges have come her C ACRED IN

rings of stones used for campfires. way. While most people are responsible While most people are responsible way. between them. One popular illegal campsite is at the conjunction of three main trails Survey White Rabbit, (Siffleur Falls, Hill) which lies over the two bridges that cross the North Saskatchewan and Siffleur Rivers. Ford describes how some users of this traditional equestrian hiking book, and took her out hiking. hiking book, and took her out hiking. Ford now uses a GPS and can pinpoint whether she is in the area or not. users of the area, she says, garbage and illegal camping are two major issues. The amount of garbage has diminished during her years as steward, a sign, she feels, that people are being more the When she first started, responsible. bag of garbage she collected was so heavy that she and a fellow volunteer had to carry it out on a stick slung 2: S From: Partners in Preservation ART IGILANCE , P V Bertha Ford in the Kootenay Plains Bertha Ford REAS AND

A Volunteer Steward for Yamnuska Natural Area Natural Yamnuska Steward for Volunteer Bowersock, Aaron - ASSION ATURAL P Ford successfully lobbied to get Her first challenge came when N NITE OF she received the stewardʼs manual manual she received the stewardʼs military-trained son came to her rescue with maps in hand and helped her identify the boundaries, showed her all the hikes that were in her area in a local as well, since tracks to the side have caused some damage to the sensitive number soil. She worries that the large of visitors to the falls is causing the trail to widen, sometimes up to 10 feet across. describing expected duties. “After they sent me the book I nearly died,” she says. “I thought, oh, what have I done? know where the boundaries I didnʼt Her This place was huge.” were. fencing installed at the deceptively dangerous Siffleur Falls and a boardwalk along the trail to Siffleur bridge in an erosion-prone area. She is requesting that a sign be erected telling mountain bikers to use the boardwalk

U Shirley Bray ROTECTION TEWARDS P By S “I thought, this is amazing,” says Volunteer stewards are well stewards are Volunteer Besides hiking, one of Fordʼs Besides hiking, one of Fordʼs Itʼs impossible to convey in words why Yamnuska is special. You must walk her paths, lay amongst her flowers, listen to her walk her paths, lay amongst her flowers, must You is special. why Yamnuska in words impossible to convey Itʼs come what may. I will stand with Yamnuska to know her – and to know why. and stand on her summit to begin song stream Ford enthusiastically. “I absolutely Ford enthusiastically. The love nature. I grew up on a farm.” known for their enthusiasm and concern and enthusiasm their for known and they look after, for the natural areas and Ford observed second clutches in 13 boxes. Harry helped repair them and built more boxes, for a total of 23. In 2005, the same year one of the boxes was stolen, there were 94 baby bluebirds a bluebird, and it was so beautiful,” she arrived, When the Fords first recalls. many of the boxes were falling apart. greatest pleasures is taking care of the bluebird boxes, a feature prescribed by the management plan and a great drive motivator to make the five-hour a “When I was many times a year. one day I saw child up at Peace River, an Ecological Reserve in 1987. of the Bighorn Dam and the creation Abraham Lake in 1974. It was of (NA) to Area upgraded from a Natural in the North Saskatchewan River The grassy meadows, subject valley. to chinook winds, are popular winter The area feeding grounds for ungulates. by the building was partially flooded Kootenay Plains, one of two montane Kootenay Plains, one of two montane lie Wildland, areas in the Bighorn available. many years in Ontario, they returned to many years in Ontario, they returned Red Deer and signed up to be volunteer stewards when they saw the area was earlier years spent in Rocky Mountain earlier years spent in Rocky Mountain House. She and her husband, Harry, attended First Nations sun dances in the After built. was 11 Highway before area she eagerly took on the stewardship of she eagerly took on the stewardship of Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve, an area she knew and loved from her Bertha Ford is no exception. In 1998 Bertha Ford is no exception. In 1998

OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 4 OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 5 The 1994 report by the SP2000 In 1994, Premier Klein went from Peter Lee, a former Parks But cracks in the governmentʼs But cracks in the governmentʼs employee and representative of WWF employee and representative of Producers supported no industrial activity in protected areas or buffer users, vehicle zones, but off-highway Alberta Cattle Commission, and the the Association were concerned about Coal losing more land. Advisory Committee was an honest (unpublished notes). commitment in 1992 to complete a system of representative protected areas by 2000 appeared early on. They centred around whether industrial activity should be allowed in protected areas. Existing legislation allowed industrial development by not specifically prohibiting it. Lee commented, “The intent of wilderness of is not to change the ʻheartʼ LAW BY in society but to restrain the ʻheartless,ʼ relation to the long-term preservation of our natural heritage” (unpublished notes). saying that implementation of SP2000 to it “certainly was a high priority, or desires satisfy the objective wouldnʼt and he told the of the oil industry,” Associations American Canadian and of Petroleum Landmen that he didnʼt The know if SP2000 was the solution. Association of Petroleum Canadian in 1999, wrote, “Special Places is about the wonderful wild geographies containing wild species that help define us as a province and as a people – it is our sense of place, a name reflecting our home, our ʻgeography of hope,ʼ Stegner” Wallace as articulated by , , The Steward A bluebird rests on one of the bluebird boxes. Environment Views Environment There was also the advent of Dave Chabillon, Assistant Deputy Assistant Deputy Dave Chabillon,

increasingly difficult to make contact increasingly difficult were reduced in many when field staff to be active stewards ( Spring 1994). Special Places program (SP2000), for which there was a good deal of early enthusiasm. Minister for Parks Services, thought volunteers should be active managers of sites. “Protected areas are supposed Albertans now and in the to benefit future, and along with the right to have a natural heritage should go the responsibility to take an interest in managing it” ( decisions. “roving stewards,” who help out as required – for example, doing extra in if a steward work at a site or filling were ill. Parks also said they were committed to a more protection- oriented focus and to moving away from building intensive facility developments and infrastructure. Stewards were still being encouraged to support and take an active part in the departments. It seemed to us that stewards, who were expected to do regular inspections and reports, were not welcomed by the divisions and committees that remained in control of the day-to-day management.” When the Public Lands Division was to moved, amidst much controversy, Agriculture in 1993, the Department of Dickson says it became even more difficult for stewards to get help or Summer 1993). The government The government Summer 1993). expected to invite the public, industry, and non-governmental organizations Bertha Ford Bertha “This division of authority The Volunteer Steward Program Volunteer The Ford won an Outstanding One of the most egregious Ford often talks to users of the Ford often talks to Individual Steward Award in 2005. Award Individual Steward was not helpful for the stewards,” says Dorothy Dickson, a long-time southeast steward of the Innisfail NA as it became “especially of Red Deer, be the initial contacts for stewards reporting problems or asking for assistance, were still in Public Lands and Forestry. became part of the broader program the field of protected areas. However, supervisors, who were supposed to Protection Department, transferring program from the Public Lands the NA Division to Parks Services, where it expanded to include other protected The government areas in 1994. Alberta Environmental the reorganized back.” Engaging in Special Places says, “but Iʼm the only one who has stuck it out. But I love the area, and I love the bluebirds, so I keep going “When I joined there were six people “When I joined there were six people signed up for stewardship there,” she the example the vandalism sets for the the example the vandalism sets for the many children who visit the falls. reports say it must be removed, but she reports say it must be removed, but she needs a strong person to do it and to take proper care with any chemicals in this sensitive area. She worries about who did it could be tracked down no because the message was signed, but one is going to do that. Her stewardship incidents Ford has observed is the red incidents Ford has observed is the red graffiti spray-painted on the rock wall at Siffleur Falls. She says the person them was from the area and should them was from the know better. horses in a hiking only area, instead of horses in a hiking only They professed Rabbit trail. White on noted that one of ignorance, but she personnel are. and two friends area. One time she beer and riding met four men drinking after green zone stewardship sites but zone stewardship after green laments stewards, other many like Ford, few the government how busy and how many of the logs, but people drag them logs, but people many of the the big year she rolled away back. Last looks for benches. Forestry logs used area – also used by mountain bikers – bikers by mountain – also used area big make and up lumber, pile cut trees, removed spot. Forestry has fires at this to , many of which NAs came under particular The review described three Lund also said that economic Lund also said that By June, 21 groups had fled the 21 groups had fled By June, oriented definition of “special places” places” of “special definition oriented any usual from different was very anywhere of protected areas definition scrutiny by the PCC. An October 1995 scrutiny by the PCC. designation; those designated by prior to 1981 under Order-in-Council Act the Public Lands were small and of variable conservation quality; and those designated after 1981 Ecological Areas, by the Wilderness Act Areas Reserves and Natural a mix of locally important (WAERNA), conservation and recreation areas as designated, but their relatively small size generated the nickname “Postage of the sites Twenty Stamps 2000.” were less than 1,000 ha in size, the internationally accepted minimum size required to ensure ecological integrity. review noted that “a lack of legislative clarity and little or no management policy or restrictions means that a range of activities has been allowed of which may Areas, some on Natural be inappropriate and environmentally The PCC recognized destructive.” that many sites had ecologically inappropriate boundaries or should be in other protected areas categories and recommended that those sites that made no contribution to the goals of SP2000 should be deleted (with public consultation). types of legal status for NAs at this point: those under reservation awaiting designation, many of which had conflicting land uses delaying else in the world. else in the and August FAN In SP2000 process. lured back to join the were CPAWS Committee Provincial Coordinating promise to use (PCC) by Lundʼs tool to legislation as the preferred amended the protect areas. Lund Act Park Wilderness Willmore development and preclude industrial for the promised similar protection areas Kakwa, Wild Elbow-Sheep and protection in which had been promised the 1970s. development referred only to ecotourism, but the issue of industrial development remained unresolved. The government said it would honour existing commitments and allow their new areas were Twenty-six renewal.

columnist Don columnist The 10-page document took When the government released When the government 1994 by Ty Lund, whose inaugural inaugural whose Lund, Ty by 1994 development was added to the tourism goal and the primacy of protection was replaced by a “balance among development- Albertaʼs objectives.” focus disappeared as the strategy permitted industrial development in protected areas. Site management plans could proscribe it, but plans could be easily altered by the minister without public input or an environmental assessment. three years to complete and addressed complex and controversial issues without much detail or sophistication, Kennett observed. Economic Institute of Resources Law wrote that Institute of Resources Law wrote that it “represents a conscious decision to entrench a business-as-usual approach public Albertaʼs to development on lands,” meaning multiple-use (CIRL The conservation No. 50). Newsletter, Martin (Nov. 5/94), were considered were considered 5/94), Martin (Nov. of the slip: “As minister a Freudian after I intend to look environment, official The he said. the government,” the last word Hansard record changed Lund told Martin, to “environment.” tracts large “Iʼm opposed to sterilized setting aside areas of land. I believe in minimal in size.” in March 1995, its SP2000 strategy the Canadian Steven Kennett from words in the legislature, wrote in the legislature, words Calgary Herald boardwalk on the way to Siffleur Falls. on the way to Siffleur boardwalk Damage from mountain bikes is evident beside the mountain bikes is evident beside Damage from Evans, considered a very Albertans, however, agreed Albertans, however,

weak environment minister by conservationists, was replaced in late procrastination, cautious phrases, and dithering over what cabinet would or would not approve in the end. only designate areas where there were “no discernable” industrial interests. Early enthusiasm was replaced by nominations, Environment Minister Brian Evans later said that in order to avoid conflicts, the government would to help people prepare SP2000 Group showed that 93 percent of Albertans favoured setting aside a representative network of protected Although areas with no industrial use. initiative he had supported the ENGOʼs that the main priority should be Fund- Wildlife World A protection. commissioned survey by Dunvegan what he thought the goal of protected what he thought the areas should be. activity in certain areas. Klein did activity in certain areas. as presented and not support the plan term “sustainable resorted to using the to describe development” frequently land and the completion of an inventory completion of an land and the Areas. Sensitive of Environmentally no industrial The report called for recommendations were the protection were the protection recommendations of the 3 to 5 percent of an additional attempt to be balanced. It had four It had four to be balanced. attempt areas: protected goals for main heritage outdoor recreation, protection, Among the and tourism. appreciation, Bertha Ford Bertha

OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 6 OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 7 Like many other stewards, the Education is a big part of many The stewards were busy during were busy The stewards Rainbow As president of the After much study and consultation With the recent spread of acreages the recent spread With stewardsʼ activities in their NAs. John stewardsʼ a long-time steward of Woitenko, Equitation Society, Richard De Equitation Society, to take on Smet got the organization NAs, including stewardship of five Riverlot 56, located within the City of Albert, says, “Being close to two St. concern. urban centres is a main large try to get the public to realize that We a public Area and not this is a Natural dumping ground, a party area for bush parties, [or] a dog-walking area.” Licence of Occupation to conduct a commercial trail riding venture at Halfmoon Lake. He felt that his regular presence provided more care and attention for the area and allowed the Society to keep a better eye on things. Society had to deal with the issue of damage. By 1986 there were ATV already 10 established and reserved problems, ATV NAs with significant including North of Bruderheim and The Society knew that Halfmoon Lake. some individuals would ignore requests not to use the site, so they chose instead to meet with users and explain why their actions were inappropriate. In response to this educational adjusted their ATVers approach, the and now activities, joined the Society, The De Smet help maintain the site. family was presented with the 2001 Outstanding Individual Steward award for their work in preserving Halfmoon Lake. Stewards Soldier On Soldier Stewards worked Places years. Some the Special persistently to monitor particularly find solutions to human- areas and of the Only a few caused problems. related stories can be many diverse here. of Edmonton. Halfmoon Lake north trails, By 1991 they had developed and had done fencing, and two bridges, Halfmoon Lake. a biological study at made was trying “The one mistake we said DeSmet in to take on too much,” realize (July 1991). “We The Steward imperative to open up now that it isnʼt the site and that protection should come first.” by Parks, De Smet was granted a , . WLA

showed Rationalizing at Siffleur Falls. at Siffleur Graffiti mars the rock face Graffiti mars the rock Lund also opened some NAs to The Fort Assiniboine Sandhills, Assiniboine The Fort Almost a year later, in October in October Almost a year later,

OHV users, saying they did not have OHV and many These, enough places to go. did not disappointing stories other, newsletter. appear in the stewardsʼ Albertaʼs Parks Program Albertaʼs But the stewards felt that serious conservation of protected areas would not be the result of SP2000. northwest of Barrhead in the Athabasca northwest of Barrhead in the heralded as one of was River valley, in The Steward treasures Albertaʼs Lund said the lease had been acquired before the park was designated, but it had expired the year before during negotiations to create the park and the government renewed it. Lund also allowed new lease sales in the newly in 1997 in spite designated Rumsey NA of strong public opposition (see Dec. 2004, Feb. 2005). $48,627,108 for 214 sites; in 1996/97 $48,627,108 for 214 sites; in 1996/97 it was $33,618,995 for 578 sites, with further declines projected in the future. Provincial Park in 1997, Lund assured Albertans that industrial development would be prohibited and then gave the go-ahead for a company to drill three exploratory wells and build a pipeline. future conservation initiatives. In the future conservation end, conservationists considered both strategies failures. 1996, the government passed a change in regulations allowing mineral extraction in Kakwa and Elbow-Sheep because, Lund said, the government back the mineral to buy afford couldnʼt Alberta Environmental The 1996 rights. Protection document the 1986/87 budget for parks to be strategies to protect biodiversity in strategies to protect guidelines for Alberta and provide When it was designated as a Wildland Wildland When it was designated as a Bertha Ford Bertha The did not list allowed did not list Stewards were encouraged to The PCC also noted that most The PCC noted the increasing The PCC noted the WAERNA endorsement of the Canadian SP2000 and Biodiversity Strategy. Alberta Forest Conservation the Strategy were held up as specific nominate sites, and positive articles about the program appeared in deterioration of sites and accelerating public confusion.” general lack of policy on how to deal is Area issues, a ʻclean upʼ with Natural critically necessary to avoid continued public consultation on the changes. clarity as the lack of legislative “With and a Area to exactly what is a Natural recommended a clean up and site category, of the NA clarification and regulations, better accountability, activities are approved.” NAs had local support but few were They essentially of value for SP2000. on decisions regarding sites and the seeming lack of commitment to protect a site, as industrial or commercial reported problems that no action is ever reported problems that no action is ever taken to resolve. Equally frustrating to stewards is the lack of accountability support for the volunteers: “The lack of support for the volunteers: “The lack regulations to address inappropriate site uses results in considerable frustration for volunteer stewards if they have “invaluable contribution” but noted the lack of support for their activities and recommended strengthening and groups for 197 sites at that time. The Committee recognized their were prohibited in the Beehive NA. were prohibited in dependence on volunteer stewards for management, with 261 individuals NA the incremental destruction of certain the incremental destruction only one regulation sites. By late 1995, passed – OHVs for one site had been lack of regulations, lack of action on lack of regulations, impacts, destructive uses, cumulative was resulting in and lack of monitoring to be applied to lessen the impact to lessen the impact to be applied and activity, of permitted industrial activities were sometimes certain but sites, not allowed in specific said it was not unusual for conditions not unusual for conditions said it was well as significant conservation sites. sites. conservation as significant well larger were of the sites 9 percent Only ha. than 1,000 and prohibited activities. The review activities. and prohibited , the governmentʼs newsletter newsletter , the governmentʼs Steward Winter The for the volunteer stewards. 1996 issue showcased the governmentʼs One of the first things stewards for Alison Dinwoodie co-stewards Access management planning the Cardinal Divide NA got involved in the Cardinal Divide NA Alpine the area on behalf of the Native Plant Alberta Club with the in those days) with participants from Alberta Naturalists, the Federation of the organizations, several OHV stewards, and government. It was damage was a ATV recognized that was seen as the AMP concern, and an solution and was to be implemented by a forest land use zone (FLUZ) so that it would be legally enforceable. Going Above and Beyond Above and Going was an access management plan (AMP) for motorized recreation, as stipulated by the Coal Branch Subregional Integrated Resource Plan in 1990. It was a main motivator for them to get to work on this scenic, fragile, and area. alpine Mountain Rocky biodiverse Council (ANPC), of which she is also became part When the NA a member. Park in Wildland Whitehorse of the 1999, the stewards expanded their domain and continued to work on the AMP. uncompleted began long before the Cheviot mine was on the horizon, says Dinwoodie, and early discussions never took it into multistakeholder committee A account. was convened (although participants stakeholders called be to not lucky were of the Kennedy Coulee Ecological been stewards have Volunteer Reserve. important participants in the monitoring program. A sweeping vista of the Kootenay Plains. A The Milk River Management Kristensenʼs advice for potential advice Kristensenʼs October 2001). The Milk WLA October 2001).

River Management Society, consisting River Management Society, most controversial site to be established because of conflicting land use interests, and advises on management responses challenging. Committee, established in 1990, is an example of group stewardship where participants with differing philosophies worked through some very contentious issues to successfully manage two important grassland areas (see of the non-governmental members, holds a lease on Milk AWA, including the Area, once called River Natural ACA. stewards is to become familiar with the area, feel comfortable with it, and figure out how much time they are able Although and willing to spend there. need to be an expert, he you donʼt says, you should probably know the between a duck and say, difference, stewards to an eagle. He also urges bring issues to the attention of Parks even though limited resources staff, time for and personnel make finding 100 acres right next to the site and to dedicate the land became the first to wildlife habitat conservation under They the ConservACTION Program. maintained ownership of the land but committed not to alter the land in a manner detrimental to wildlife renewable habitat, signing a five-year Wildlife agreement with the Buck for program. In 1998 that became a 10- Agreement with year Habitat Retention Bertha Ford Bertha

Alberta Naturalist Partners in , Fall 2002). The Riverlot , Fall 2002). In 1987 the family purchased Doris and Eric Hopkins were Doris and Eric Hopkins Kristensenʼs particular area Kristensenʼs John Kristensen, Assistant Deputy Assistant John Kristensen, Preservation and 135 acres of lowland. for development due to its proximity He worked to get the area to the city. designated in 1985 as a Buck for 60 acres of pond site – about Wildlife he wrote an article in detailing the biological richness of the area and warning of the potential parkland located in Strathcona County just outside of Edmonton, next door to In 1982 five-acre property. his familyʼs of interest was Bretona Pond, an important waterfowl site in the aspen It was eventually passed over to the Association. Alberta Conservation 1973 to conserve and improve wildlife 1973 to conserve and improve wildlife habitat on public and private land, the program was funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licences and donations from naturalist organizations. volunteer steward with the Buck for program for many years. Wildlife in Wildlife Introduced by Fish and Areas and a biologist, is one of the greatest government supporters of the stewardship program and has been a educational work. Minister for Parks and Protected 1994, and convinced neighbouring They landowners to do likewise. have been honoured many times for their tremendous stewardship and land to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which had purchased 320 acres on the southeast corner of the lake in bought adjacent land around the lake bought adjacent land around the lake in 1972 and aimed to preserve it as a They donated their nature sanctuary. to set aside a quarter section of Crown to set aside a quarter and Lake as a NA land around Coyote They had became its stewards in 1993. of stewardship. the government instrumental in getting unique experience” ( unique experience” a Steward Service 56 Society received 2003 for 20 years in Award Excellence go there in the evenings to experience the evenings to experience go there in says diversity, this island of natural is a very “Coming here Woitenko. to urban centres also allows people to also allows to urban centres beyond urban boundaries, eating up eating boundaries, urban beyond on nearby impinging and farmland problem a becoming also are dogs NAs, Lee and E. like Clifford in some areas proximity 56ʼs But Riverlot Wagner.

OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 8 OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 9 She wants to focus on the long She has more faith in mine “This gets really disheartening for She says the mine companies After eight km, the trail breaks km, the trail breaks After eight “I got involved in the stewardship reclamation than recovery from ATV ATV reclamation than recovery from ANPC, with damage. She says the the same as the original landscape, the wildlife will come back to those areas, but keeping motorized access out is gone, at least crucial. “When the mineʼs there will be some chance there will be something there for the future. But not vehicles.” if you have the off-highway term. “If we can at least get this access business controlled, it would solve an and land management. She received in Award an Outstanding Stewardship 1997. dozens of student volunteers, did seven years of hard revegetation work areas, planting ATV-damaged on individual seedlings carefully grown from seeds collected in the area. But just ran right through the ATVers reclaimed areas making more big ruts. any volunteers,” Dinwoodie points out. “If the government would just support they would ATVs, us on [the issue of] win so much support.” But people will not come out and say anything against theyʼre intimidated, she because ATVs says. spend a lot of money on reclamation and revegetation. She notes that even look though reclaimed mine sites donʼt to minimize the damage by gravelling by gravelling damage the to minimize and putting 13-km trail km of the eight culvert one After one year, in culverts. to be washed out and had had been repaired. the forest and continues out from alpine tundra. over five km of open well-marked trail is Dinwoodie says the There is nothing becoming ever wider. anywhere from going ATVers to stop and she is they want in the alpine, much damage there worried about how numbers of might be with increasing The up the trail. recreationists heading designated trail and FLUZ resulted in a proper use. “And better recognition of Except the ʻor you stay on it or else. she says. never happens,” elseʼ in a rather bigger way than I anticipated when I started,” says Dinwoodie, rewarding very a been has it that adding experience that has added much to her ecology, knowledge of natural history, Alison Dinwoodie

She once met the SRD contact The Panel recommended that the

into the Park or at least be given more into the Park or at least be given more was to create answer protection. SRDʼs trail that ended up having three- a large foot deep ruts. Instead of closing it to OHVs, they decided they would try person in the area when he was on his person in the area when he was on his surveying some of the Park. He ATV ATVs was beyond the limit of where should be, so she and her group went over and told him. Dinwoodie says it “was obvious from his comments that see what all the fuss was he couldnʼt about.” Cardinal headwaters, a blind valley filled with wildlife, be incorporated Alison Dinwoodie in the Cardinal Divide. the Cardinal Alison Dinwoodie in Lara Smandych Lara continues and revegetation struggles. continues and revegetation August WLA to ATV use. Here braiding occurs on either side of the trees as well as on the braiding occurs on either side of the trees use. Here ATV to main trail. Although ATVs do not currently use this trail as much, the erosion do not currently ATVs Although main trail. Dinwoodie credits the Cheviot Dinwoodie credits “Well, they didnʼt do that and that that and do didnʼt they “Well, The main trail from the parking lot to the Cardinal Divide ridge is braided due Divide ridge is the parking lot to the Cardinal The main trail from 2004). The alpine meadows above the 2004). Cheviot mine people on board, but says Cheviot mine people on board, but says Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) is “just dragging their feet.” and do not recover from it. Dinwoodie and do not recover from it. Dinwoodie and the currently has Parks staff damaging impacts (see forest line in the Cardinal Divide are damage too fragile to tolerate OHV including the mine site, and to establish including the mine site, and to establish prohibitions that will last after the This would create mine is reclaimed. zone protected from a needed buffer Although OHVs are not allowed in the Park, the stewards are trying to neighbouring land, keep them off the FLUZ because they were part of the FLUZ because 1997 recommendations. the Panelʼs without legislative backing. without legislative the establishment mine hearings with Park and Wildland Whitehorse of the education and voluntary compliance education and voluntary were These actions AMP. through an Dinwoodie, not successful, says enforceable wasnʼt AMP because the promises, ending with a decision not promises, ending with but to rely on to implement the FLUZ, then-Environment Minister Ralph Minister then-Environment a series of unfulfilled Klein elicited has been the problem ever since,” says since,” ever the problem has been was little public There Dinwoodie. process. AMP of the advertisement to barrage of letters Dinwoodieʼs , Fall Alberta Views What was remarkable about the When Peter Lee, the founder Lund, an enthusiastic supporter supporter an enthusiastic Lund, was a print The chosen award regional representative, it marked the end of an era. Commenting on the status of SP2000, Lee said, “The seeds of destruction were sown when the government put forward a policy vastly than its original commitment different advice from all the public and different it had been given” ( 1998). through several nominees before one through several nominees before one The first award went to was accepted.” the Hopkinses, who accepted on behalf it of all the stewards. Dickson received the following year. award was the subject of the print beautiful bison Olsonʼs Wes – one of prints called “Sacred and Sacrificed,” 1995 historical after Grant MacEwanʼs account of the bison, in which Olsonʼs drawings were featured. Given the tragic story of the bison – nearly exterminated, then saved, only for most to be enslaved to commercial interests intent on domestication, breeding out their wildness forever – the print provided an unintended, but poignant, statement on protected areas in the Special Places years. The Passing of an Era of the volunteer steward program, resigned from Parks in September 1997 Alberta the WWF Canada as and joined of the Campground Hosts, proposed proposed Hosts, Campground of the to them. He an annual award presenting Dickson, recalls was less enthusiastic, he should pointed out that when it was Volunteer one to the NA also give (now called the Protected Stewards Stewards) as it was Volunteer Areas It would be their tenth anniversary. the rewards system the from different years, in which stewards had had for such items as the volunteers received stools aid kits, or folding clothing, first years of service. for two, five, and 10 on to a winning that could be passed contributions steward for outstanding with a brass plaque bearing each year, his or her name added to the picture the first nominee frame. “Obviously, from the stewards was one of the longer serving, very active stewards,” recalls Dickson. “It was then that it became apparent that the Minister had black list, and they went an ʻactivistʼ

J. Kristensen Bretona Pond Bretona Buck for Wildlife area in 1985. area Buck for Wildlife Eared grebes began showing up on grebes Eared Bretona Pond on a regular basis in the Pond on a regular Bretona late 1980s, perhaps, says biologist and late 1980s, perhaps,

photographer John Kristensen, because the area received limited protection as a limited protection received the area

group, consisting of Peter Lee, Doug group, consisting of Peter Lee, Doug Pilkington and Marilyn Pshyk from Parks and volunteer steward Dorothy Dickson, was formed to discuss issues. In their recommendations to the Recreation and Protected Areas Management Committee, the group emphasized that coordination of responsibilities and clarification of authority between departments, divisions and branches was very much needed. cutbacks and the biologists from the program were moved to start the NA Alberta Natural History Information held Centre (ANHIC). Parks staff discussion sessions, to which some Things seemed volunteers were invited. and morale in generally disorganized focus A the department was very low. J. Kristensen J. In 1997 the government Dinwoodie observes that the Kristensen notes that motorized Kristensen notes that At the same time there were staff At the same time there were staff established a Volunteer Co-ordinating Volunteer established a governmentʼs public relations posters public governmentʼs use represents a whole different different use represents a whole started in 1984. backgrounder and issues statement for Besides the stewards, one the Minister. of the main volunteer groups for Parks was the Campground Hosts program, of representatives from various departments and divisions, but no volunteers, and was to prepare a by Doug Pilkington, Senior Parkland Region Conservation Officer consisted Wetaskiwin, based in volunteer programs, including the Steward Volunteer NAs and the The Committee, headed Programs. Committee to bring together all its supposed to be in these areas, but they supposed to be in these areas, but they come out and say so.” wonʼt and Sacrificed Sacred any of these [areas]. Just their very absence should say these things are not show pretty scenery and sedate pictures show pretty scenery and sedate pictures or of families picnicking, fishing, ever any never, cycling. But “thereʼs going through picture of an OHV areas where OHVs would be welcome. farther and faster than hikers, cross- country skiers and horseback riders, he more of a challenge becoming says itʼs in to figure out how to get enough trails is not willing to share the trails with us, because weʼre willing to share all It really the trails with everyone else.ʼ starting points shows the different OHVs able to go With youʼre at.” experience that makes sorting out experience that makes users conflicts with non-motorized almost sort of two a challenge. “Itʼs thoughtfully. solitudes,” he says “ʻI he says, tend to say, OHVers, understand why everyone else donʼt any sort of easy access to these places, any sort of easy access likely to be the death of them.” thatʼs them and those areas should be given them and those areas protection some support,” especially “If thereʼs from motorized recreation. would like to see stewards get better to see stewards get would like scattered NAs. the smaller, support for of valuable little relics “They are People should recognize left. whatʼs awful lot of problems.” She recognizes She recognizes lot of problems.” awful for her support gets more that she and Park Wildland it is a area because

OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 10 OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 11 Courtesy of S. Myers The third part of our series on the The third Corrections: The Steward was as not 1995 published until 1997, reported Marilyn in Part 1. Pshyk’s last name was incorrectly spelled in the caption on page 8. association for volunteer stewards to exchange expertise and advocate for protected areas, they created the Areas Protected Albertaʼs Stewards of shepherded the Association. SAPAA stewards through their most difficult is years, which were yet to come, and it to their credit that they never gave up hope. will stewards volunteer Areas Natural appear in our next issue.

, July 1992). Area, accepted the award on behalf of all the stewards. The Steward After several years of talking When Lund brought forward the In 1992 the government acquired Edgar T. Jones, a world-renowned T. Edgar In recognition of the program’s 10th anniversary, recognitionIn 10th of the program’s Environment Lund Minister Ty presented the Stewards Volunteer with a beautiful buffalo print Olson called by Wes “Sacred and Sacrificed.” Doris and Eric Hopkins, stewards for Coyote Lake Natural wildlife photographer and filmmaker, wildlife photographer and filmmaker, of all reserved NAs and even some designated ones. about forming an independent he said. “If each individual considers the environment and the country when making decisions, we can protect the resources we have.” Act now notorious Natural Heritage (Bill 15) in 1998, it recommended enshrining the right of industry activity in protected areas regardless of their ecological importance and also proposed eliminating the category of This raised the ire of volunteer NAs. stewards who saw the potential loss conservation had to be an optimist: do what you can to save what you “You And if you can convince believe in. one more person along the way that what you are concerned about is worth their concern, youʼve made your efforts worthwhile” ( property that Jones had owned on the east shore of Hastings Lake in the County of Strathcona and designated in his name. “One of the best it a NA things people can do is get involved,” Stewards Unite declared that anyone involved in to , Fall 1998). Lund axed Edmonton Journal Edmonton Ray Rasmussen, who sat on SP2000 was losing credibility SP2000 was losing In 1998 FAN and CPAWS, CPAWS, and FAN In 1998 extraordinary failure.” proof that the whole project had been a fiasco and called the program “an was just another commercial interest (Alberta Views the PCC in January of 1999, although the Committee was led to believe it it was Lee said would go another year. the original SP2000 committee, said be trusted to government couldnʼt defend the public interest anymore; it companies wishing to avoid activity in companies wishing to avoid activity in sensitive places. easily swayed by companies wanting easily swayed by companies wanting to develop in nominated areas and by refused to consider land/lease swaps committees to ignore the science-based committees to ignore the science-based recommendations of the PCC and veto nominated areas. Government was recommendations on nominated sites recommendations on nominated sites in their area with vested economic interests and rejecting environmental They also encouraged these interests. accused of stacking local committees accused of stacking local committees that were responsible for making led to economic development led to economic development interests winning over environmental The government was protection. paid better dividends than resource paid better dividends campaign from use, the disinformation spearheaded within the government, and Forestry, Alberta Energy by and lack of development. government fast. In spite of a 1996 that conservation study which found readers of the readers of had to go there to suggest that Klein with wildlife find wilderness teeming motorized recreation, quit the PCC. recreation, quit the motorized a B.C. friends purchased Klein and fishing lodge, prompting west coast realizing that protected areas would areas would that protected realizing or of industrial activities not be free Nigel Douglas This certainly seems to be supported by the findings of the Associationʼs Alberta Forest Products Alberta Forest Usage Survey. 2006 Of 2881 people surveyed, 90 percent were “concerned” or “very concerned” Albertaʼs about management of 83.58 percent forests. Significantly, agreed with the statement “Access and use of forests should be based firstly on preserving and protecting the environment and sustaining wild life habitat at the expense of sustained and jobs.” economic benefits produce a sustained supply of timber? produce a sustained supply of timber? Albertans seems that it Increasingly, do not think so. David Swann, Alberta environment critic for the Liberals, received more calls and emails about plans to log in Kananaskis Country than on any other subject, including health care, so presumably this is an issue that resonates with Albertans.

: LOPES S ASTERN ? E So is it appropriate that the forests At the same time, the regionʼs At the same time, the regionʼs and the prairie. The forested slopes of the mountains and foothills clean and store of the mountains and foothills clean and store slopes and the prairie. The forested The forests of the southern Eastern Slopes lie in a thin strip between the mountains of the southern Eastern Slopes lie The forests ORESTRY becomes even more crucial as the glaciers dwindle and the grasslands become drier. and the grasslands become drier. crucial as the glaciers dwindle becomes even more water, and release it slowly into rivers, like the Oldman River pictured here, a role that a role here, it slowly into rivers, like the Oldman River pictured and release water, OUTHERN of Kananaskis Country or the Castle, which mean so much to so many Albertans, are managed principally to areas. natural values are crucially important of the The forested slopes to people. mountains and foothills clean and becomes even a role that store water, more crucial as the glaciers dwindle They and the grasslands become drier. are also the playground for a growing offering Alberta, population in southern a range of recreation opportunities, including hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing and motorized recreation. habitat. Bull trout and cutthroat trout spawn in the rivers and streams. Plant life includes everything from the limber pines of the thousand-year-old Montane Subregion to the fragile and specialized alpine plants and wetland specialists growing in the riparian F S S OR ʼ

LBERTA ORESTS By Nigel Douglas, AWA Conservation Specialist Conservation AWA Douglas, By Nigel A F The forests, rivers and mountains Forestry is just one important use What do you think of when you What do you think More and more, Albertans are Albertans More and more, The forests of Albertaʼs southern Albertaʼs The forests of of Albertaʼs southern Eastern Slopes Albertaʼs of hear the word “forest?” Do you think of think you Do “forest?” word the hear entirely reliant on this disappearing remaining fragments of old-growth forest support specialized species such as northern flying squirrel and three- are almost which toed woodpecker, are home to a diverse array of wildlife. Grizzly bears, cougars, wolves and The moose call the region home. Multiple Values Multiple landscapes. Forestry operations need to be managed within the context of all of these other values. manifestation as “all things at all times in all places” does not do justice to these spectacular and sensitive “multiple use” management of its public lands and its present is the production of a clean abundant is the production of a clean abundant Alberta, water supply across southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Albertaʼs coming to appreciate that gas development, so are agriculture, And so recreation and wildlife habitat. of natural resources in the Southern So is oil and Alberta. Eastern Slopes of Eastern Slopes are at a turning point. Eastern Slopes are at a turning point. the SES forests are being Currently, managed principally to provide a sustained yield of timber for the forestry industry. you think of a bunch of trees: “vertical you think of a bunch of trees: “vertical lumber” as some would have it? home; as well as the soil, the water your and the clean fresh air that fills very soul on a spring morning? Or do and dead wood? Do you think of the and dead wood? Do and soil micro- mammals, birds, insects that make a forest their organisms a rich and complex system of trees and a rich and complex and lichens; a shrubs; flowers, mosses mature trees matrix of young saplings,

OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 12 OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 13 Both the C5 FMU and the SLS The SES forests are managed A by-product of Albertaʼs Albertaʼs by-product of A Other cities across North America, America, North cities across Other FMA are administered by Albertaʼs Albertaʼs are administered by FMA under two different systems. systems. under two different Ministry of Sustainable Resource Development (SRD). Forestry companies operate according to the rules that SRD determines. Both areas management are currently undergoing draft A planning processes. management plan for the C5 area was made available for public comment in sedimentation, roads are increasingly sedimentation, roads are increasingly in being recognized as the major factor the declining grizzly bear population Servheen, Chris in the region. Dr. Service Grizzly Wildlife U.S. Fish and to points Bear Recovery Coordinator, habitat security as the most important factor in the successful grizzly recovery “Motorized access Yellowstone: in compromises habitat security.” Management Kananaskis Country and the Ghost- region fall under Spray Waiparous covering an area FMA Lake Sawmillsʼ The remaining of 337,448 hectares. forests, from the southern border of Waterton Kananaskis Country south to National Park, are managed as the Management Forest C5 hectare 352,200 Unit (FMU). SLS owns 86 percent of the quota for the C5 region. approaches. But while some cities But while some approaches. in 2001 in this direction, were moving of management Alberta transferred of water forests, supplier its southern to a Calgary, to half of the City of a SLS, under private logging company, Since then, the City twenty-year FMA. consulted which was not of Calgary, the original FMA by the province in in interest a firm decision, has taken recently its watershed, commenting events as a result of clear- that “runoff in degraded water cutting could result Alternative quality and flooding. be considered.” harvest methods should But it is the province, not the City which ultimately makes the decisions. predilection for clearcut forestry practices is a further contribution to the enormous network of roads and trails public which pervade the provinceʼs and runoff As well as increasing lands. including Vancouver, Seattle and Seattle Vancouver, including since taken similar have Victoria,

NASA World Wind

to the south. A whitebark pine stump whitebark A The City of New York led the York The City of New River showing the patchwork of cutblocks. The cutblocks contrast the protected Beehive Natural Area dramatically with the uncut areas of A satellite photoA satellite of the Upper Oldman

Spray Lake Sawmillsʼ (SLS) 2005 Spray Lake Sawmillsʼ have spent $140 million per year buying up land in their watershed and coming to management agreements to protect the source of their water. sideways look at the issue, and asked whether it would in fact be cheaper to spend money on protecting the source of their water supply rather than just they Since then, treating dirty water. way in addressing urban water supply way in addressing urban water supply in the 1990s. Faced with projected costs of $6-8 billion to build new water treatment facilities, with annual operating costs of $500 million, city administrators decided to take a that clearcutting can increase the total that clearcutting can increase the total quantity of water in rivers. But the study did not look at the implications of increased flow during wet periods and reduced flow during dry summers, when the water is needed most. In its comments on the draft plan, the City of Calgary pointed this out: “It is well documented that forestry practices can Although result in accelerated runoffs. this may not impact the annual water this could result in water supply, shortages by late summer.” draft management plan for their Forest draft management Agreement (FMA), found Management Nigel Douglas Nigel wetland species. Forested watersheds are Forested watersheds The South Saskatchewan River Saskatchewan The South A study by the University of study by the University A a nurse log. The southern Eastern This spruce seedling is growing from from This spruce seedling is growing Slopes forests harbour a diverse array Slopes forests pines of the Montane Sub-region to the pines of the Montane Sub-region of plant life from 1,000-year-old limber 1,000-year-old of plant life from

fragile and specialized alpine plants and Calgaryʼs Uldis Silins, reported in Uldis Silins, Calgaryʼs preferred forestry practice, prevents much absorption into the soil; water meets little resistance as it rushes down to the rivers, taking topsoil with it. months before it reaches the rivers. Albertaʼs Extensive clearcutting, the water into rivers and streams during the water into rivers and streams during falling as rain After the dry summers. water can take days, even or snow, communities across western Canada. communities across as a giant sponge: Healthy forests act they soak up water during wet periods, filter out pollutants, and slowly release crucial for supplying clean water for crucial for supplying that supply drinking water to southern that supply drinking Calgary, Alberta cities including The Hat. Lethbridge and Medicine which flows out of Elbow River, nearly a provides Kananaskis Country, drinking water. half of Calgaryʼs water comes from the 12 percent of its from the 12 percent water comes mountains Albertaʼs that is landbase These are the forests and foothills. Forests and Watersheds and Forests a huge area across basin covers and Saskatchewan, Alberta southern the basinʼs than 85 percent of but more AWA Files AWA It is to be hoped that current The Board was dissolved in 1973 The Board was dissolved The governments of Alberta and Alberta of The governments and Alberta began the development and which of its Eastern Slopes Policy, downstream users. Even after the government changed the policy in 1984, without public consultation, it still stressed that “the management of renewable resources is the long-term priority of resource management in the Eastern Slopes. Non-renewable resource development will be encouraged in areas where this priority can be maintained.” government initiatives such as Integrated Land Management and the Land-Use Framework will do a better job of translating this policy priority into real action. Saskatchewan jointly established the jointly established Saskatchewan Forest Conservation Eastern Rockies Board operated The 1947. Board in use, with of multiple on the principle protection and improvement watershed which meant conserving as priorities, “When and managing the forests. watershed conflicts arise between the resource values and other values, of conflicts there are sometimes lumbering interests, such as between should interests and recreation. Selfish decision made be avoided and the good to the should yield the greatest greatest number.” was completed in 1977 after extensive The Policy gave public consultation. the “highest priority” to watershed management for a reliable supply of clean water for aquatic habitat and

Cliff Wallis Timber production has always Timber Logging along the Forestry Trunk Road in the Livingstone area, October 2006. Road in the Livingstone area, Trunk Logging along the Forestry

beetle. This fire suppression also comes beetle. Alberta at a considerable cost to the $197 million in SRD spent taxpayer. The 2004/05 for wildfire management. cost of fighting the 2003 Lost Creek fire alone has been estimated at $38 been important in the SES. A 1927 A been important in the SES. brochure from the federal Department brochure from the federal Department of the Interior stated, “It has been said that one of the primary aims of all National Forests is the production, in In supply of timber. of a perpetuity, mountainous regions the use of the be subservient by necessity, forest may, to another use—that of watershed protection.” million, though the actual cost may have been much higher. Past and Present Forests S. Bray S. What is doubly ironic is that it Since both draft plans were AWA has serious concerns with has serious concerns AWA Fishermen test their prowess in the Oldman River. The southern Eastern Slopes are the Slopes are The southern Eastern in the Oldman River. prowess Fishermen test their have set the table for mountain pine is past forest management practices which have made the forests so susceptible to beetle attack. Decades of fire suppression and management pine single-age stands of for large million, and is only likely to increase as the pine beetle situation develops. control in 2006/07 was more than $22 beetles, forest practices are now focusing on cutting down even more pine trees, at the expense of all of the other myriad roles which forests play. projected budget for pine beetle SRDʼs produced, “Beetlemania” has gripped the province. In reaction to the perceived threat of mountain pine “maintain or increase the net forest (commercial timber harvesting) land base in the C5 FMU.” will be managed “in a manner that supports opportunities to sustain or enhance forest productivity” and to the draft C5 plan states that the forest the draft C5 plan states that the forest principally to maintain a supply of plan The draft Spray lake FMA timber. states that the primary use of the forest management area is “to establish, grow, Similarly, harvest and remove timber.” both plans, mainly with the continuing both plans, mainly with the continuing emphasis on managing these forests 2005. Both plans received a good deal 2005. Both plans received a good deal of opposition and neither has yet been ratified. December 2004; Spray Lake Sawmillsʼ December 2004; Spray Lake Sawmillsʼ draft Detailed Forest Management Plan was published in October for its FMA playground for a growing population in southern Alberta, offering a range of recreation range of recreation Alberta, offering a in southern population for a growing playground opportunities, including hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, and motorized recreation. and motorized recreation. hunting, fishing, opportunities, including hiking, backpacking,

OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 14 OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 15 There are alternatives to the In December 2006, Limited The Forest Stewardship Don Roberts, managing director At a recent Alberta conference Alberta conference At a recent become more mechanized. Ironically, Ironically, mechanized. more become and industrialized efficient the more Brands, parent company of Victoriaʼs Victoriaʼs Brands, parent company of scheme Council (FSC) certification of CIBC World Markets, recently Markets, recently World of CIBC Council of told a group of Canadaʼs – such as the Canadian Standards Sustainable Forest Associationʼs Management (CSA-SFM) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)— do not. FSC standards state that “forest management shall conserve biological diversity and its associated values, water resources, soils, and unique and fragile ecosystems and landscapes, and, Forest Ministers, “The current model Forest Ministers, “The current model is broken. Fine tuning is not enough – dramatic changes are required... for the forest sector to get back in the game.” current industrial forestry practices. the first Al-Pac became In 2005, to achieve Alberta company in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for the management of its certification Alberta. forests in northern Secret catalogues, announced that it would no longer source its paper from the Rocky Mountain foothills and stated a strong preference for by the fibre from forests certified Forest Stewardship Council, which it described as the “only credible for sustainable logging.” certification has the independent, international respectability which other industry Alberta schemes in use in certification forestry operations become, the fewer become, forestry operations provide to those communities jobs they on forestry. which rely Douglas pine beetles, about mountain of Forest Routledge of the Council Alberta would that Industries stressed and plan for be wise to prepare forestry-dependent ensuring that these now, diversified communities become to do so after a or at least have a plan businesses beetle onslaught. “Workers, to] participate and communities [need the existing in planning to protect engine as best as forestry economic to re-trench possible while preparing and diversify where possible.” Alternatives Promising This is part of an ongoing process Whenever discussions begin about Whenever discussions within the Canadian forestry sector, within the Canadian forestry sector, where production has concentrated on This has also fewer and bigger mills. led to a steady reduction in jobs in operations have as the forestry sector, Lumber in Blairmore was taken over by SLS in 2005, with operations being shifted to Cochrane. In a bitter reaction chairperson Ed Fraser, to the takeover, of the local union, United Steelworkers not good 1-207, commented, “Itʼs government to allow a company to get rid of 40 good paying jobs just so another company can increase their Those trees should be bottom line. processed where theyʼre cut down.” included Cowley and Blairmore in the Crowsnest Pass, and Cochrane, home of SLS. Since then, the Johnson Brothers mill in Cowley has closed Atlas down in November 2002, and study of the economics of forestry in economics of forestry study of the the province. Healthy Healthy Forests, Communities to forestry environmental changes of jobs comes to the practices, the issue are Albertans An estimated 54,000 fore. 1999 In industry. forest the in employed Association Alberta Forest Products the Alberta communities listed 32 (AFPA) “primary industry where forestry is a including 12 or the only industry,” These which are “forestry dependent.” services that healthy forests provide, provide, forests that healthy services air and clean water, clean including is believes there AWA wildlife habitat. a full independent need for an urgent A recent clearcut in Hidden Creek in the Upper Oldman. in Hidden Creek clearcut recent A This sounds like a considerable But delving into forestry But delving into forestry According to the Alberta Forest Alberta to the According These figures obviously donʼt These figures obviously donʼt

sum of money, but how does it sum of money, A compare to other jurisdictions? Alberta Environment 1995 study by Products Association, in Calgary and in Calgary Association, Products the revenue from Alberta, southern include the economic value of other cubic metre in 2006, still less than 1 percent of the B.C. figure. cubic metre in “holding and forest paid by Spray protection charges” Lake Sawmills when it signed its Alberta agreement with the 2001 FMA $0.20 per This fee rose to government. stumpage rate in British Columbia of This 12-year-old $25 per cubic metre. figure compares with the $0.15 per Network compared an average million. whole were $71.4 million in 2001. for The stumpage/protection charges Alberta were $6.1 Calgary and southern proprietary nature of much of the proprietary nature Alberta Forest Products The data. Association reported that stumpage/ Alberta as a in protection charges economics leads to a tangled web of economics leads to subsidies, all incredibly and charges due in part to the difficult to unravel, that year accounted for $130 million that year accounted Alberta as a whole, in revenue in Alberta SRD. from according to figures and induced”) was $3.2 billion in 2004. was $3.2 billion and induced”) was $215.9 in 2004 GDP Albertaʼs and fees royalties Timber billion. forestry industry (“direct” and “indirect (“direct” and forestry industry Unraveling the Costs and Benefits Costs and the Unraveling of Use Forest Nigel Douglas Nigel Current government initiatives There is also considerable is also considerable There of There is clearly a range multiple uses of this land base, and should be allowed only in a way that does not negatively impact the many other values. to improve land-use planning cannot The last such process, come too soon. stated the 1984 Eastern Slopes Policy, that “the highest priority in the overall management of the Eastern Slopes is placed on watershed management.” But this did little to change on-the- ground operations. Now it is time for to catch up Alberta government the Albertans, 83.58 with the parade of Forest Alberta percent of whom told the Association that “Access Products and use of forests should be based firstly on preserving and protecting the environment and sustaining wild life habitat at the expense of sustained and jobs.” Surely economic benefits these forests deserve nothing less. potential for forests to supply what are what to supply for forests potential Forest Product Non-Timber known as edible These include wild (NTFPs). as berries and honey; foods, such and and garden products; landscape such products even non-consumptive The biodiversity. as carbon credits and of Forest Ministers Canadian Council nationally the estimated in 2006 that industry contributes as much NTFP to the Canadian as $1 billion annually economy. management alternatives to current Albertaʼs of practices in the forests which focus southern Eastern Slopes, forestry so myopically on industrial practices to provide a sustainable believes that AWA supply of timber. some forestry and resource extraction can occur in these forests without but this compromising their quality, must be recognized as just one of the A brief web search for web search brief A Berry refers to the villages of 2005-06 beetle control, 2006-07 and fees, 2004 Management Core Wildfire the Business, 2004-05 Forest management expenditure, 2004-05 practice of managing and using managing and using practice of associated trees, forests and their benefit.” resources for human California Forest Products Commission to produce of managing forests benefits various products and wildlife habitat, including timber, biodiversity and clean water, Carolina recreation.” North Association Forestry definitions of the word “forestry” of the word “forestry” definitions view: science, art and “The Forestry. • What is Forestry? What of contrasting points reveals two science “The art and Forestry. • • $22 million – Projected pine • $197 million - Expenditures for • Alberta SRD $30.9 million – • $10 million – Pine beetle control, (Sources: Alberta Sustainable Resource (Sources: Alberta) Development, Government of Benefits/Costs to the Alberta Benefits/Costs to the taxpayer royalties • Timber million - $116 made to use ecosystem-based forestry techniques and to process forest products locally.” Harrop and Procter in southeastern British Columbia as a good example Agreement. of a Community Forest “In 1999 Harrop-Procter received a Agreement Community Forest Pilot controlling some 27,000 acres of Crown forests and formed a co-op to take over forest operations and The co-opʼs economic development. first priority in forest management is drinking protection of the communityʼs Because Harrop-Procter does water... not intend to maximize returns from ways to it looks for other timber, generate revenue from the forestland. It is the only timber tenure holder in British Columbia that is actively marketing non-timber forest products and one of the few that sell ʻvalue- is wood products. Every effort addedʼ , suggested magazine, editor Wall Street Journal Street Wall Another possible model for What distinguishes both the both the What distinguishes Heaps also talks about Albertaʼs Albertaʼs Heaps also talks about Albertaʼs SES forests could be the Albertaʼs and indigenous groups.” manage forests for a variety of goals. Although the majority of tenures industrial forest are held by large, companies, a growing number of them are held by community organizations in 2006 that “Canadian timber tenures allow companies, nonprofit to and communities organizations operated successfully in British Berry, Alison years. many for Columbia in the Community Forests which have the value-added wood product manufacturing sector grew by 53,600 jobs to 185,800. and 2004, the low value-added paper and 2004, the low value-added paper manufacturing sector lost 18,100 jobs in Canada; logging operations lost 19,700. In the same time period, the economy in terms of jobs and income than the logging and paper- manufacturing sectors. Between 1995 increasing the value-added wood which manufacturing industry, contributes considerably more to products—what he describes as He points out game.” a “paupersʼ that there is considerable scope for be ways to use the sensitive nature of be ways to use the sensitive nature of these forests to its advantage. role as an exporter of raw wood company will see which way the wind company will see which way the wind is blowing and recognize that there may Home Depot however is afraid to even advertise its Forest Stewardship product line, Council (FSC) certified wise A because the supply is not there.” procurement preferences for products procurement preferences custody leading that have a chain of forests. back to sustainably certified forest products... have stated public forest products... have activities. Clearly there is a growing activities. Clearly there products from appetite for timber forests. In sustainably managed Corporate Knights strong grassroots movements— strong grassroots to reduce consumers with a desire impacts of their the environmental Al-Pac and Limited Brands initiatives Limited Brands Al-Pac and to were in response is that they by so doing, maintain the ecological ecological the doing, maintain by so of the the integrity and functions forest.” Toby Heaps wrote in 2005, “The Toby major retailers of bulk of the globeʼs

OUT FRONT WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 16 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 17 What do an ancient tree, an Amid the rain and waves, I Amid the rain and My hand closed around an Within this picturesque region this picturesque Within pounded cliffs of Sentry Mountain, of Sentry cliffs pounded archaeology and geology than it is to flora and Albertaʼs know and value society does know fauna. Interestingly, that the Crowsnest Pass harbours the greatest concentration and number of prehistoric archaeological sites in What society the Canadian Rockies. value – is seem to know – or to doesnʼt that this same landscape is also home to and rarest, most diverse, the provinceʼs mineral-stained bone was an instant reminder that this shoreline also held fishing the remains of a 9,000-year-old camp that belonged to the ancestors of the Kʼtunaxa. eagle nest, colossal springs, caving of complexes, and an astonishing array archaeological sites have in common? They all exist in the land unstudied. Oh, we know a little, but here in the greater Crowsnest Pass, societal knowledge tends to be concentrated rather than underground on whatʼs Thereʼs living above the ground. whatʼs also an overwhelming tendency to devalue cultural and natural treasures that elsewhere would receive instant acclaim and protection. I live in this lost expanse. I refer to it as “the land between studied landscapes.” society of tumultuous topography, has worked with the premise that more important to understand itʼs high above these rumbling cascades, a these rumbling cascades, high above strata defined void in the sedimentary one of North the Glittering Ice Palace, most visually stunning cave Americaʼs Ice Palace entrances. (The Glittering caving largest is part of Canadaʼs of karst features complex – an expanse names such as that includes storied Pots.) Yorkshire and Cleft, Gargantua, in the lake, an glimpsed something feet – that looked object – almost at my my Timing strangely out of place. of breaking advance between surges I stepped forward and reached water, into the icy water. unexpected link with the past – a bone, The heavy, right metacarpal. a bisonʼs Behind me, another spectacular Standing on the lakeʼs rocky Standing on the lakeʼs and crashing waves. waterfall tumbled into the waters of the rain- And there on Emerald Lake. on that cold Paleozoic wall – a rampart – was the nest of Tecumseh of Mount the cliff At the base of a golden eagle. was a pictograph-decorated cave, and from its mouth, a cascading waterfall springs representing one of the largest in the province thundered out of the The mountain and entered the lake. throaty roar of falling water was muted by the wind, the expanse of open water, defining the Palliser Formation. High for a program (“Trees of Renown”) (“Trees for a program The honour unusual trees. created to was just a day planned media launch my pilgrimage to away when I made Crowsnest Lake. Treasure Landscape Filled with A and Intrigue the scheduled shoreline the day before a I looked out through media frenzy, and granular snow mix of stinging rain face cliff toward the cloud-shrouded NSTUDIED U that, AND ), a tree that L THE

Calgary Herald Pinus flexilus OGGING This same tree – a single tree Iʼd come to spend time with one A bitter west wind ripped across wind ripped across bitter west A By David McIntyre By David L pines. Why? The cone scales remain almost completely closed (indehiscent) after ripening, thus exposing – without ever releasing – the huge, pea-like seeds. These

selecting the old pine as a poster child to the attention of the outside world. – fell under the watchful eye of forest workers employed by the Government They acted quickly, Alberta. of it was its much more recent front-page coverage in the overnight, brought this picturesque tree was more than one thousand years old. Iʼd discovered the tenacious wind- sculpted bonsai in the early 1990s, but of these trees, an ancient, Ent-like limber pine ( trees stood resolute, silhouetted against trees stood resolute, winter sky. the gray wrath of a Unrelenting, the wind slashed at the Unrelenting, the wind this Weathering land in frenzied gusts. of stunted pine vicious beating, a wall attack, braced against its knockdown attack, braced against against the rocky crashed Water force. surges, shoreline. It hit in rhythmic discordant gale. driven by a tearing, Crowsnest Lake, churning its surface Lake, churning its Crowsnest waves. into an assault of white-capped of this ice-water I stood in the teeth nutritious seeds are roughly one-fifth protein, one-fifth carbohydrate, and one-half fat. Maturing at two years of age, whitebark pine cones are unique among North American D. McIntyre D. Throughout this priceless When forest managers attempted Within this matchstick forest, this matchstick Within why have other land values been squandered? landscape, forest reasoning has been scraped out of a never-been-proved Here weʼve been hunch from yesterday. content to sing a song of recklessness, out of and a song delivered off-key tempo, but with no shortage of volume. The bridge of thought is shaky; itʼs degradation, and resource abuse. Here, beneath barren peaks, aging little lodgepoles cling precariously to This pygmy forest survives existence. in a veritable desert, high on the cold, thirsty side of the Rocky Mountains. Here trees grow more slowly than The only exceptions you can imagine. to this rule are the forests carpeting the lowest river valleys. Iʼve cored relatively small limber and whitebark pines from this landscape that were more than 600 years old! Most lodgepole pines, on the other hand, than a live to be much more donʼt hundred. beneath the spectacularly beautiful peaks of the Flathead, High Rock, and Livingstone ranges, the most pressing question might simply be: Why has society chosen logging as the core value for this unstudied land? Why has this Additional questions: And vision never been questioned? society will continue to pick up the tab. society will continue to apply the concept of sustainable and economically viable forestry to the wind-whipped mountains of they created Alberta, southwestern a benchmark for up-against-the- landscape wall economic adversity, and most diverse and threatened forest. threatened and most diverse and The thirsty little lodgepoles that While society might question How much is a 100-year-old, How much is a 100-year-old, Looking across the drive lanes of an ancient buffalo jump, Crowsnest Mountain of an ancient buffalo jump, Crowsnest the drive lanes Looking across commands the skyline along the upper Crowsnest River valley, home of Alberta’s rarest, rarest, Alberta’s home of valley, River along the upper Crowsnest commands the skyline grow in southwestern Alberta survive grow in southwestern trees would you save? How many millions of dollars would be enough? have to worry you donʼt Fortunately, about this, except in knowing that spindly little lodgepole really worth? dying? How much is it worth if itʼs And if you had to send out a crew to kill and remove one of these doomed trees – and a hungry dinner party of bark beetles living within it – in an adjacent (probably futile) to save effort lodgepoles, how much would you be willing to spend? How many dying might be asked: why log this landscape might be asked: why log this landscape but can be worth money, Trees at all? sole value lies suggesting that a forestʼs in its lumber is like saying that women are good for only one thing. in a high-altitude, high-elevation, and These low-precipitation environment. trees are plagued with unbelievable Theyʼre frozen, baked, adversity. Theyʼre starved, and deprived of water. whipped and beaten by hurricane-force they make it to market? Will winds. be killed Theyʼll probably Not likely! by insects or consumed by fire. and Castle Rivers in close proximity and Castle Rivers in to a growing array of Shell Canada gas Another ponderosa wells and pipelines. pine growing on a heavily eroded stream bank farther west also appears to be naturally seeded, but its future seems to be in even greater jeopardy. Logging the Matchstick Forest the wisdom of ignoring, logging, or unknowingly killing rare-in-Alberta trees, an even more pointed question ) Pinus Pinus monticola ) and four (much rarer) Only one tree species appears to Pondering these thoughts, I turned On the day the old pine received the old pine received On the day This past summer, seven months This past summer, The vision of a quick-fix parking parking The vision of a quick-fix Thuja plicata its official (“Trees of Renown”) of Renown”) (“Trees its official appears to be naturally seeded) grows of the Carbondale near the confluence to a near dozen. be rarer: the ponderosa pine ( current population, augmented by trees discovered in 2006, raises the number of six trees that I had discovered (1977 or 1978) in Beauvais Lake Provincial Park, every single known western white The Alberta had been killed. pine in Most of these trees have been killed by subsequent forest operations. In fact, prior to 2006, and with the exception Iʼve found approximately 20 of these Alberta during the past 30 trees in years – the entire known population. western white pines ( growing in close proximity to the old white pine is one Western limber pine. of the rarest species in the province. after Iʼd made that statement, I discovered a dozen western redcedars ( protecting.” preserving even a tiny piece of land on preserving even a tiny piece of land on this landscape, youʼre likely to protect rarer than the 1,000- something thatʼs you thought you were tree year-old More Treasures Found Treasures More to the speaker and interjected: “By it made me think about the rarity of the it made me think about the rarity of the Crowsnest Pass forest. small land reserve, on the other hand, small land reserve, on the other hand, not much,” tangible worth. “Itʼs offered and something, but itʼs you might say, lot and trail struck me as a thoughtless lot and trail struck the kiss of death. I envisioned inevitable trampling of tree roots and A other acts of needless desecration. hectare (7.5-acre) reserve would be hectare (7.5-acre) reserve established. that a parking lot and trail were being that a parking lot and from the planned to draw travelers and that a three- highway to the tree, As the crowd walked back along the As the crowd walked a conversation lakeshore, I overheard I learned staff. between government designation, dozens of people crowded dozens of people designation, Pictures were taken, around it. over. made, and then it was speeches most threatened forest. Weʼre logging logging Weʼre forest. threatened most this forest. ). A single ponderosa pine (it A ). ponderosa

WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 18 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 19 ), and by ). The former ). Grizzly bears and other wildlife The whitebark pine – represented During past decades, Iʼve looked decades, Iʼve looked During past The harvest of whitebark pine Much more recently, additional Much more recently, by some Alberta trees that are more Alberta trees by some its seed, also disseminated by the wingless, and pea- is large, nutcracker, like. species depend on the whitebark crop, known to be instrumental in and itʼs occupation determining the grizzlyʼs of the landscape within the greater There, a strong region. Yellowstone and pivotal relationship exists between an introduced (from Europe) forest pathogen, white pine blister rust ribicola (Cronartium only kills all pine trees; the latter, five-needle pines – in Americaʼs North Alberta that translates as limber pine, whitebark pine, and western white pine. going and itʼs pretty, The picture isnʼt to get worse. than 1,000 years old – is a “stone pine,” one of five species (world-wide) with These a huge, pea-sized wingless seed. seeds feed a host of wildlife species, nutcracker including the Clarkʼs The nutcracker is and the grizzly. the disseminator of the whitebark seed crop, caching thousands upon thousands of these seeds, often far The co- from their point of harvest. and nutcracker evolution of the Clarkʼs the whitebark pine is a story in itself. The limber pine, a close relative of the whitebark, is not considered a stone pine by most taxonomists, although Burnt Offerings—The Sacrifice of Sacrifice Offerings—The Burnt Treasure Ancient in “worthless” forests on as the Alberta were bulldozed southwestern the sacred to make way for and burned Iʼve watched as thousands lodgepole. went up in smoke. of whitebark pines of them many whitebark pines – some – were harvested hundreds of years old word) and turned (“mined” is a better tongue-in- into cheap (but beautiful) Most of this wood, groove lumber. board feet, an estimated one million of southwestern moved from the forests walls of new Alberta to the interior homes in Fernie, B.C. has since stopped, but two new threats the whitebark pines Today replace it. are being Alberta of southwestern killed by the mountain pine beetle ponderosae (Dendroctonus Paving the way for this forest Scientists, including foresters and Scientists, including extreme fuel loads and extreme insect extreme fuel loads and extreme insect vulnerability. put all our money on the revered put all our money on They might better have gone lodgepole. Vegas. to Las foolishness, we sat and watched as unwanted trees were bulldozed into oblivion. Entire forests were leveled in order to expand the lodgepoleʼs were We footprint across the land. even smiled as our forest We content. managers created a vast lodgepole monoculture, a strategy rooted in the creation and perpetuation of managers seek more money in a vain seek more money managers paid were they process the stop to effort to orchestrate. have long predicted forest pathologists, Why? One this devastating outcome. forest management of the first rules of put all your donʼt is to ensure that you Instead of eggs in a one-tree basket. fundamental logic, subscribing to this managers of weʼve watched as the southwestern forests – trying Albertaʼs into feast – have to turn forest famine focus is no longer on the living forest. living forest. on the is no longer focus a Society, on death! focus is Their wrings to this sorry scene, spectator as these and sits motionless its hands the broken ends of whitebark cone scales. the broken These forest managers have Time has run out. Reassuring has run out. Reassuring Time Today, as we march toward a Today, The Clark’s nutcracker, built to tackle the toughest whitebark pine cone, uses its built to tackle the toughest nutcracker, The Clark’s body strength to drive their bill into the chosen target. This bird’s throat and breast and breast throat This bird’s to drive their bill into the chosen target. body strength feathers are stained red from contact with anthocyanins (red pigments) released from from pigments) released contact with anthocyanins (red from stained red feathers are powerful bill to sever the cone from the tree and then rip off the scales. The hard cones The hard and then rip off the scales. the tree powerful bill to sever the cone from

require considerable effort, and the birds – using their feet as anchors – use their entire use their entire – using their feet as anchors – considerable effort, and the birds require

become directors of decline. Their become directors of decline. lies no longer resonate. When we lies no longer resonate. one tree at a time. forest managers as they cover their eyes and throw up their hands in futile We expressions of grief and sorrow. notice that they are managing the forest that has value (such as a trophy home). forest apocalypse, we also observe to be valuable; it simply has to be seen to be valuable; it simply has to be seen to have value, or to threaten something that exceeds the threat that would have that exceeds the threat done nothing occurred if weʼd simply at all. Here weʼve also learned that the have product (lodgepole pine) doesnʼt dearly to achieve a frightening outcome dearly to achieve a examine the legacy generated by examine the legacy this land, we decades of managing grown increasingly see a forest thatʼs and for fire – incrementally – ripe weʼve paid see that We insect attack. Managers of Death and Decline Managers of Death of reassuring and well-rehearsed lies. and well-rehearsed of reassuring of scene rises a tsunami Behind this truth. inconvenient covered with ice and the guardrails guardrails and the with ice covered lines up still society Yet are missing. litany melodic, resonating to hear its D. McIntyre D.

After a few seconds of silence, Graphs and charts were pulled “I know what to do,” said a whispered a chilling message: “You whispered a chilling message: “You going to get much worse. itʼs know, smiles began to emerge around the smiles began to emerge out to dramatize the obvious: an ever- growing glut of forests ripe for fire. shockwave went through the room. A snake feces,” someone “Sufferinʼ could be held responsible gasped. “We for a firebomb!” launch a Fire calming voice. “Weʼll Smart program as a smokescreen. It really change anything, but itʼll wonʼt create the illusion that weʼre in the its hidden seat. Its real value – driverʼs value – will be to serve as a shield. Itʼll show that we did something. Itʼll take us us, while protecting the pressure off inevitable litigation.” from tomorrowʼs That was only the beginning!” water feature on the right (west). water feature drainages visible in the lower right foreground. picture, terminating just below (north of) the Frank Slide. terminating just below (north of) the picture, The Elk River valley and the Bull River valley are the primary valley are The Elk River valley and the Bull River “lowland” forests of B.C.’s Elk River and Kootenay River valleys. of B.C.’s “lowland” forests Whitefish Lake (north of Kalispell) appears, left of centre, at the top, appears, left of centre, Lake (north of Kalispell) Whitefish while Lake Koocanusa (the impounded Kootenay River) is the linear while Lake Koocanusa (the impounded

passes (Tent Mountain Pass, Crowsnest Pass, and Deadman Pass) that Pass, and Deadman Pass) Mountain Pass, Crowsnest passes (Tent William Bowen William trans-Rocky Mountain passes between lowest (by far) constitute the three Slide appears to its right (west). Also visible is The Gap (with the Oldman Also Slide appears to its right (west). Oldman Rivers) appears near the extreme left of this image, and the Frank Oldman Rivers) appears near the extreme of the Livingstone Range extends south from The Gap toward the top of the The Gap toward from of the Livingstone Range extends south northern Montana, Alberta’s Crowsnest River valley appears just below the Crowsnest Alberta’s northern Montana, Looking south along the Rocky Mountains of southern Alberta and B.C. into of southern Looking south along the Rocky Mountains The Oldman Reservoir (the impounded waters of the Castle, Crowsnest, and waters of the Castle, Crowsnest, The Oldman Reservoir (the impounded elevation, close-link corridor between southwestern Alberta and the adjacent elevation, close-link corridor between southwestern But who cares about education? New Mexico and Jasper National Park. These mountain passes provide a low These mountain passes provide New Mexico and Jasper National Park. picture’s midpoint. The river’s headwaters originate in a trio of low mountain midpoint. The river’s picture’s River flowing through it) near the extreme lower left corner. The southern end lower left corner. extreme it) near the through River flowing Basking in the afterglow of public Basking in the afterglow stage and bowed to a cheering was Their exuberance audience. to When they got back short-lived. experts their office retreats, wildfire dramatic social paradox: they saved society from the dragon they had the themselves unleashed. Ironically, greatest casualty of the Lost Creek Fire was a complete lack of relevant, meaningful, and appropriate public education. of a Forest Commanding Control Wreck support, forest managers took centre “winning” the war against the Lost Creek Fire, were recognized as saving the community of Crowsnest Pass from As a the approaching “red dragon.” result, the forest managers created a Looking at public perception Somehow the populace failed to Albertaʼs forest managers were forest managers Albertaʼs But most surprisingly, instead of But most surprisingly, Additionally, the whitebarkʼs the whitebarkʼs Additionally, another way, it was peopleʼs fear of it was peopleʼs another way, wildfire that led them to support, grasp the concept that a fire-dependent grasp the concept that a fire-dependent and lodgepole forest depends on fire, of Smokey-the-Bear drivel, forest managers, by fighting and presumably through costly manipulation of the environment, a reality that exceeded societyʼs Within their original fear. twisted logic, spawned by decades that the elimination of rain produces a more readily observed outcome. Remove either and youʼll see the difference The primary consequences! and rain is between the removal of fire that the longer you delay the inevitable, the worse it will be when it comes. as essential as rain. Fire happens! Itʼs committed than ever to suppress all fires. resolve to entrench the precise practices resolve to entrench the precise practices that had delivered the incendiary bombshell: society appeared to be more enlightening the populace and causing enlightening the populace and causing society to realize that it had spent decades paying for an era of extreme and danger, fuel loads, extreme fire extreme insect abundance, the fire appeared to garner support for societyʼs footprint, the vision of a foreseeable future harvest. Fire (2003) sent shockwaves through Fire (2003) sent shockwaves through It scared the Crowsnest River valley. people; it cost tens of millions of dollars to fight; and it killed, within its on cruise control – watching their expanding crop of little lodgepoles The Lost Creek – when fire broke out. Embracing Twisted Logic Twisted Embracing Kamchatka may be more important Kamchatka may be showy regionʼs to its bears than the salmon runs. species of stone pine seeds prior to species of stone pine surprisingly, hibernation. Perhaps pines of the the silent, stunted stone even farther from home for another from home for even farther grizzly bears connecting link, the Kamchatka inhabiting Siberiaʼs on as many as three Peninsula gorge energy-rich seeds are also almost seeds are energy-rich the bearsʼ influence certain to success. Looking reproductive the size of the crop and grizzly bear grizzly bear crop and of the the size survival. and movement

WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 20 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 21 The forest managers knew they The message was delivered to a The forest managers went The forest Park staff working in Albertaʼs Albertaʼs working in Park staff Thatʼs when a tiny insect Thatʼs had something. They smiled, winked had something. action. and lurched into at each other, and pointed toward British Columbia. B.C. forest workers backed up, spun, and pointed toward global warming. the problem Everyone asked to define pointed at something other than the billions of dollars that society – under the guise of forest management – had glut of spent to create an ever-growing food for hungry little mountain pine them that a demonic beast of immense them that a demonic beast of immense proportions lives in their backyard.” They rose from their collective seats, called the media, and pointed toward the forest. “The culprit,” they said in choreographed unison, “is a wicked and need millions Weʼll malevolent beetle. to fight it.” throng of reporters. Forest managers, buoyed by the media response, were able to add a cunning diversionary They tactic to their declared campaign. distanced themselves from the problem Jasper, by pointing toward Banff, Lakes National Parks. Waterton and where a lethal army of little “Thatʼs tree assassins is camped,” they said. “The national parks are full of ʼem.” Jaws dropped. Reporters checked their compasses and looked west. having like mountainous west didnʼt They turned a finger in their faces. forest-harvesting programs were part of were programs forest-harvesting concerned public A plan. the Fire Smart and fist and pointed a long raised its finger. accusatory Cornered and publicly into retreat. for a new criticized, they opted “If only we could strategy: reticence. one of them whined find a scapegoat,” over his morning coffee. It was showed up on the horizon. beetle, the very the mountain pine millions to feed creature theyʼd spent Someone took a picture and foster. it. enlarged of the little beetle and big and threatening. Suddenly it looked one of the managers said, “Hey,” All we have to do is “look at that! get people to look through the forest see, to see something they canʼt show Weʼll something theyʼll fear. show Weʼll them an insidious villain. discovered that massive, off-the-chart off-the-chart massive, that discovered Trench Trench . American

Once again, the world seemed peaceful. A few months passed, A peaceful. in and then – dang it, another fly ointment – someone the managersʼ the cash register and, as always, picked up the tab. But that wasnʼt enough. We stopped at We enough. But that wasnʼt in size), the veritable trunk of the mythical tree, is 2 At the core of the Crowsnest forest is the community of Crowsnest This landscape harbours tree species that are extremely rare in the tree species that are extremely This landscape harbours If you were to look at the Crowsnest River as the trunk of a giant trunk of a giant River as the to look at the Crowsnest If you were Mountain, Tent of tree – hugging the eastern flanks The canopy of this Just two hours from advancing Calgary, itʼs becoming a retreat for itʼs Just two hours from advancing Calgary, The Alberta presence of western redcedars (hundreds of these trees Alberta presence The Albertaʼs largest Douglas firs also live here. Some of these trees exceed also live here. Some of these trees exceed Douglas firs largest Albertaʼs numerous species that exist within this landscape include Tree Society bought the Fire Smart tree, and the riverʼs tributary streams (including York Creek, Star Creek, Creek, Star Creek, York streams (including tributary the riverʼs tree, and its branches, Ptolemy Creek) as Allison Creek, and Creek, McGillivray hugging the B.C. its canopy Alberta, roots in see a tree with its you would rarest, most Albertaʼs the core of tree represents This hypothetical border. forest community. diverse, and most threatened Mt. Phillipps Pass, Sentry Mountain, and Hill, Loop Loop Ridge, Trail called the core within the core, the – constitutes what might be Tecumseh diversity of this constantly compromised forest veritable “epicenter” toward a conservation ethic. currently caught in time, its roots embedded in its coal mining and timber harvesting past, its future shaped by accelerating land values and changing demographics. the changing land values and itʼs escape from city life. Ironically, Albertaʼs with luck, move society the land that may, respect for a newly emerging Pass. Its footprint – a linear corridor centered on the Crowsnest River valley Pass. Its footprint – a linear corridor centered on the Crowsnest River valley This same Lakes National Park. Waterton – is roughly two-thirds that of community (380 km (the Kootenay River valley). and the critical role these passes play in providing a corridor for mid-latitude and the critical role these passes play with seed stock originating within the (west-to-east) colonization by plants of the nearby Rocky Mountain relative “lowlands” (700 m elevation) mountain ash, Rocky Mountain maple, Douglas fir, western larch, subalpine Douglas fir, mountain ash, Rocky Mountain maple, Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, white spruce, larch, subalpine fir, pines, Allison Creek valley), western white pines, ponderosa exist in the within the greater Crowsnest Pass reveals the and other rare-in-Alberta flora trans-Rocky generated by a trio of low elevation, dramatic climatic influence and Deadman Pass), Mountain Pass, Crowsnest Pass, Mountain passes (Tent known presence in adjacent southeastern B.C., include the western hemlock, known presence in adjacent southeastern and western yew. grand fir, western white pine, limber pine, whitebark pine, ponderosa pine, Rocky western white pine, limber pine, whitebark trees) and western for 1,000-year-old Mountain juniper (another candidate due to their species that may also exist in this same area, Tree redcedar. two metres in diameter, and are at least several hundred years old. The at least several hundred years old. and are two metres in diameter, (limber pines and whitebark pines) grow within this oldest trees provinceʼs hundreds of years old; some exceed same region. Many of these trees are 1,000 years of age. narrowleaf trembling aspen, balsam poplar, river alder, willows, green alder, birch, river birch, bog birch, cottonwood, black cottonwood, paper the greater Crowsnest Pass. the greater Crowsnest province, as well as at least two naturally occurring species (the western at least two naturally occurring species province, as well as outside Alberta in exist to known not are that pine) ponderosa and pine white The Crowsnest Pass – Home of Albertaʼs Greatest Albertaʼs Home of Pass – Crowsnest The Tree Species Diversity Tree plan. We took it hook, line, and sinker. took it hook, line, and sinker. We plan. superintendent Les Blackwood, as he jumped to his feet and raised a burning expression of drip torch in a defiant forest management supremacy. boardroom. “Brilliant,” shouted forest At ); and Pinus Pinus Despite alluring marketing, the Faux cowboys ride this free range Faux cowboys ride Society, ever tolerant, tends Society, Thuja plicata the base of this tree stump is a picture stump is a picture the base of this tree here. that once grew of the living tree Crowsnest wilderness is an industrial lined and littered trash bag. Itʼs with smashed cans, broken bottles, old refrigerators, and yesterdayʼs up There are tire tracks oil change. And over in that valley the creek. wallowing in what your grandfather spring in the Rockies” called “the finest is a herd of cattle. Do you know how their abuse of the land is everywhere, their abuse of the land is everywhere, familiar in the way that a bad and itʼs okay. But thatʼs neighbour is familiar. how we like it. Thatʼs to sugarcoat this maltreatment by rounding up some billboards and a few 2x4s to prop up a false illusion: that the word “wild” still exists in the The message: Crowsnest wilderness. creek, camp wherever you like, set like, set you camp wherever creek, cut bank, on a stream toilet up your roads, create your own down trees, vegetation, and shoot dig up rare Here in the your heart desires. anything away you can simply throw Crowsnest your Itʼs and take charge. the rulebook destroy any way landscape, yours to you see fit. Evidence of on dirt bikes and quads. ); a western redcedar ( ) – one of a population estimated to exceed ) – one of a population estimated to exceed ), caught in the last fleeting days of autumn splendour. ), caught in the last fleeting Lewisia rediviva Here in the Crowsnest, our Come on down. The showʼs free, The showʼs Come on down. Standing in the spotlight, freedom- spotlight, the in Standing and itʼs playing daily. You can join us You playing daily. and itʼs all part of a deviant in this chaos. Itʼs upset worry; you canʼt Donʼt fantasy. (or she) wants on an anything-goes landscape. Here you can hike or ride your horse past screaming dirt bikes. can smash beer bottles in the You fighting mountain men (and women) who are paid to smile in the face of public ridicule and scorn. our little applecart. It has already been flipped and broken into a million splintered pieces. chanted demand is “Mountain each personʼs Freedom.” Itʼs undeniable right to do anything he write their own rules while pointing at the governmentʼs vindictive fingers pantywaist managers: men and women managers have taken a back seat, next have taken a back managers monitor the There they to the exit. watching as the situation by simply many users, all dissatisfied, forestʼs stage. wage war on centre rare trees, other plants, or the litany of or the litany plants, other rare trees, to afford They canʼt that occur. abuses over landscape degradation lose sleep to manage the off-the-chart or bother by an army of created strife thatʼs resource forest users. Our conflicting Cypripedium montanum Larix lyallii lodgepole lodgepole ); the exquisite bitterroot ( ) perched on thrust-faulted Mesozoic strata; a very rare western white pine ( ) perched on thrust-faulted Mesozoic The Crowsnest Pass harbours unexpected floral diversity. Clockwise, from upper left, a floral diversity. The Crowsnest Pass harbours unexpected

mountain ladyʼs slipper ( mountain ladyʼs a sunlit subalpine larch ( The Crowsnest Passʼs Threatened Flora Threatened Passʼs The Crowsnest monticola flexilis 200 individuals – found on the flanks of Mt. Tecumseh; a centuries-old limber pine ( Tecumseh; of Mt. 200 individuals – found on the flanks D. McIntyre D. .” Here in the Crowsnest, forest Itʼs time I made a confession: I time I made a confession: Itʼs Quietly and imperceptibly, the imperceptibly, Quietly and managers donʼt sweat the small stuff. stuff. sweat the small managers donʼt about have time to worry They donʼt work it out. Chaos Calls the Shots who,” you ask, “pays for this forest over lose sleep foolishness?” Donʼt a question for Thatʼs that little detail. grandchildren can Your another day. up the logging trucks, and hit the road for another 700-km (Crowsnest Pass to Cochrane) forest-to-mill round trip. all part of the new log-it-before-the- Itʼs “But insects-get-it welfare economy. about my tears. Society will simply throw my concern to the wind, load donʼt mourn the death of a 100-year- donʼt shed old lodgepole. I do, however, tears over the loss of a 1,000-year-old worry limber or whitebark pine. Donʼt forest managers finished their month- finished their forest managers we feed the hand proving one thing: that bites us. end reports and submitted an invoice and submitted an end reports It was a big dinner. for the insectsʼ ever gullible, paid again, one. Society, plague beetles. And no one raised a hand and a hand one raised And no beetles. pine a mountain have donʼt “We said, we have a beetle infestation;

WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 22 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 23

HAOS C INTO

Itʼs not only AFPAʼs duplicity AFPAʼs not only Itʼs ESCENDS for AFPA and a member of the ACC, and a member of the AFPA for no longer AFPA indicating that supports this recommendation. that is jeopardizing the future of ACCʼs After agreeing with the caribou. recommendation for Level 1 control only (intense monitoring and selective cutting and burning of beetle-affected eyed horses are bucking their way their way bucking horses are eyed combatants Diverse shadows. into the Hell. at the Crossroads from have met of and then the rule by, Seconds tick biggest rig prevails: the the backwoods goes first! describes himself as a professional David McIntyre and occasional hunter and wanderer, hugger, tree his root-mass-adorned from He writes gatherer. Livingstone Range. home in the shadow of the to individuals – including (This article is dedicated working are Alberta staff – who Government of sound landscape ethic, to foster an ecologically and positive heritage landscape preservation, social change.) D ROCESS P populations continue to decline across the province. ECOVERY R stakeholders are paramount to successfully recovering As the this species.” Iʼve brought you to the Crowsnest Iʼve brought you to Be careful! You can still get a can still You Be careful! In a second flip-flop, AFPA AFPA In a second flip-flop, commitment of government and industry to caribou recovery weakens, caribou is feasible, “commitment, collaboration and action by government and involved The Caribou Recovery states that (2005) Plan woodland while caribou recovery

ARIBOU for pine beetle control in caribou range. recently received correspondence AWA from Dave Kmet, director of forestry strategies, supported by all members including Team ACC Landscape of the called for no clearcut logging AFPA, the bite may itch. But if it gets too bad, itch. But if it gets the bite may to can get back You throttle. just hit the time. town in no for a noontime wilderness just in time at the off showdown. Facing cattle intersection are trailer-hauling workers, gas field ranchers, rig-hauling quad riders and an army of off-road The dust is thick, the and dirt bikers. and two wide- coyotes are nervous, connected with roads – lotsa roads. lotsa roads. roads – with connected and bite in this wilderness, mosquito reversed their support of another ACC reversed their support of another interim Central West The decision. of cows. And this heavenly expanse is expanse heavenly And this of cows. Cyndi Smith Cyndi C S

’ thousands LBERTA A Specialist Conservation AWA By Joyce Hildebrand, In 2005 the Minister of It reads like a bad novel Donʼt worry. You can still hike can You worry. Donʼt Recovery Plan, including moratoria. before signing, he had received a clear to endorse the AFPA mandate from to the Plan, but when the Minister did an AFPA rejected the moratorium, about-face and agreed with him. Dr. biologist a wildlife Luigi Morgantini, who had signed Weyerhaeuser with was irate: AFPA, the Plan on behalf of Plan, with a crucial exception: he rejected the recommendation of a moratorium on further industrial caribou development on specific Alberta Forest Products ranges. was a signatory Association (AFPA) Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) adopted the Caribou Recovery and industry are hiding is the rice-sized and industry are hiding is the rice-sized eating its way through beetle thatʼs forests, but the real culprits Albertaʼs are only too human. Committee (ACC), which was set up Committee (ACC), which was set up The is in chaos. to plan their recovery, scapegoat behind which government – complete with duplicitous characters, – complete with duplicitous characters, backroom shenanigans, and innocent As not fiction. itʼs victims – but sadly, caribou herds continue the provinceʼs Alberta Caribou their steep decline, the deviants, family gatherings, Sunday deviants, family gatherings, and drivers, dirt bike rallies, simply share this managed forest simply share this managed Winnebagos, with logging trucks, drilling rigs, strip mines, gas wells, hunters, social equestrian operators, stunning mountains overlooking the mountains overlooking stunning The Cow Pie Reserve magnificence of Youʼll Park. and Pipeline Provincial through the heart of the anything-goes heart of the anything-goes through the climb the can You Pass. Crowsnest much water a single cow drinks in a drinks single cow water a much the isnʼt I, but that Neither do day? is it? problem, In its defence, the Alberta In its defence, the the pine time to stop blaming Itʼs environmental management – will be further strengthened by broadening its representation to include several more and representatives from the energy forestry sectors. were to adopt “best practices” for the forestry, sectors – energy, different agriculture, recreation/tourism, and residential – operating on the same the study The credibility of land base. – which Dave Coutts, the previous Minister of Sustainable Resource Development, cited as a good starting point for his own departmentʼs been established. AWA continues to continues AWA established. been meaningful public input; and genuine meaningful public input; and genuine concern and habitat protection for our increasingly threatened wildlife. be involved in the process for one for one the process in be involved the deputy ACC asked the reason: when the clearcut moratorium minister if the table, he responded was still on some saying that affirmatively, some have already deferred companies caribou range. harvesting to protect that it is trying government claims help caribou, such numerous tactics to to restore linear as requiring industry wolves to reduce disturbances, culling highways predation, and patrolling collisions. to reduce caribou-vehicle that these are Experts agree, however, burns. while Rome all simply fiddling protection for What is needed is habitat this sensitive species. wrong beetle for everything thatʼs forests and focus with this provinceʼs on real solutions: strong and decisive government leadership; transparent, ORWARD F OVES M TUDY S This sobering picture was an The first two phases of the study In the interest of getting the of getting the In the interest AWA is also asking for AWA OOTHILLS used the renowned ALCES (Alberta used the renowned Landscape Cumulative Effects we continue as we are. Phase 3 of the study will now compare this to what the landscape would look like if we Simulator) model to look at the many land uses of the region and predict where “business as usual” would time. Some of the lead us in 50 yearsʼ findings were startling, including an industry footprint increasing energy hectares, a from 4,092 to 11,460 roads network expanding from 7,136 to 16,224 km, and the extirpation of grizzly bears from the study area. indication of where we are headed if Wallis. “But everyone else has been else has everyone “But Wallis. is Nobody that responsibility. ducking process back on track, AWA is calling AWA on track, process back from the AFPA of for the removal not shown has Committee. “AFPA or openness, good faith, transparency, are “We Wallis. says accountability,” government to stop its Janus-faced to only a agreement dance. SRDʼs Level 1 cut and its contradictory directive to clearcut in caribou habitat are We sit uncomfortably side by side. asking for a clear directive and for a glacial speeding up of the processʼs pace: more than two years into the process, only one landscape team has saying to government that if you want saying to government you have to get this process to work, are standing in rid of the people who that in high- Rumour has it the way.” closed doors, level discussions behind is pushing for the removal of all AFPA the Committee. of the ENGOs from biting the bullet on long-term solutions. bullet on long-term biting the here.” long list of bad actors a Thereʼs F

OUTHERN S Conservation Specialist AWA By Nigel Douglas, The Southern Foothills The position of AWA and other AWA The position of According to Cliff Wallis, AWAʼs AWAʼs Wallis, According to Cliff Crowsnest Pass. fescue grassland, foothills, forest, and mountains stretching from the B.C. border east to Highway 2 and south to the Valley Turner from local landowners and government can The study area plan for the future. comprises 1.22 million hectares of current and future land-use trends and to provide a base upon which phase. SFS is a broad alliance of municipalities, landowners, industry, and environmentalists, including formed in 2005 to study AWA, Study (SFS), which is pushing the boundaries of land-use planning in Alberta, is now entering its third tried to do what weʼve been asked to do tried to do what weʼve been asked to – implement the Recovery Plan,” says environmental representatives has been environmental representatives has been have consistent from square one. “We to try to prevent pine beetle spread, without going near any caribou range, members know that.” AFPA and the director with the Canadian Parks and director with the Canadian concurs: “There Society, Wilderness are plenty of places for industry to log the madness and bring order to this the madness and bring boreal campaign Walsh, chaos.” Helene representative on the ACC, both representative on the say that so much SRD and industry need to donʼt forest is infested, they asked “Weʼve go into caribou range. he says, them to say this publicly,” Someone has to stop “but they wonʼt. control. this practice, since data from B.C. since data from this practice, use areas caribou do not indicate that beetle been logged for pine that have trees), SRD directed forestry companies companies forestry directed SRD trees), in clearcut logging to commence opposes AWA habitat. critical caribou

WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 24 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 25 In this time of unparalleled An Alberta Conservation Alberta Conservation An

growth, wealth, and opportunity lies the real danger of overexploiting and losing our natural areas forever. Roadless areas will preserve our lands in their pristine state for our children and for all time. It is an idea whose time has come. is a wildlife scientist who writes Horejsi Brian Dr. issues on land use, wildlife and public process Alberta Liberal Swann is the David and Dr. Critic. Environment provincial parks, there is a great need parks, there is a great provincial protection. For to expand ecosystem Alberta south example, in western corridor, of the Crowsnest Pass that at most, GIS analysis reveals land base 22 percent of the public The as roadless. may be classified Waterton of area immediately north being touted as Lakes National Park area is only Wilderness the Castle when rock and 35 percent roadless excluded. extreme slopes are Endowment Fund from provincial revenue is needed to expand this land Will base over the next three decades. the new premier have the vision and fortitude to commit to this?

Darren Haley Darren © OME C AS H IME T HOSE With about 4 percent of Albertaʼs Albertaʼs of about 4 percent With Roads have long been In addition to significant economic In addition to significant W [1000 acres] upwards). Inventory invasive plant species and sensitive species, and for populations dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land recreation scenic quality hunting and fishing ecological value communities water, and air water, 2 non-motorized and dispersed • reference landscapes • natural visual landscapes with high • traditional cultural values, including • and uncommon features of scientific • barriers to the spread of non-native • habitat for threatened, endangered, • managed public lands protected as compete with or displace native plants. compete with or displace native plants. and They increase the risk of forest fire and promote negative impacts on fish wildlife populations. value in tourism, ecological services, and saved road maintenance, roadless areas provide the following: soil, high quality or undisturbed • sources of public drinking water • diversity of plant and animal • this size may be so rare as to warrant a this size may be so rare as to warrant 4 lower size threshold (anywhere from km recognized as a source of soil and water disturbance; they contribute to landscape fragmentation, dividing landscapes into small patches and large converting interior forest habitat into They provide avenues edge habitat. for invasion by non-native plants that more in area that are free from any that are free from more in area including human-made development pipelines, and such things as roads, though this motorized trails. Even km, a distance is only 3.5 km by 3.5 across in an many people can walk enough to large hour or two, they are the minimum provide habitat beyond with 500-metre impact associated These activity. human and industrial uncommon in parts areas are relatively Alberta, and areas of south and central will be necessary. will be necessary. DEA I N – A – REAS A (5,000 acres) or 2 OADLESS Roadless areas are natural

In the U.S., 54 million acres of Fragmentation of ecosystems Albertans are increasingly Albertans Brian Horesji and David Swann Brian Horesji R Without a provincial land-use Without landscapes 20 km should follow suit and lead the way for the rest of Canada. Areas? Roadless Are What animal corridors, and to provide public access. Such policy on public land Alberta is progressive and intuitive. easements on, or to buy outright, more than 10,000 acres of land to protect fish and wildlife habitat, including reclamation of roads after industrial The State of Montana recently activity. spent about $30 million to purchase roadless area have been set aside under federal regulation, most development has occurred and some through policy of protecting particular areas like animal corridors and watersheds through roadless areas is common. wildland is to exist for our children, While it where must we draw the line? is not well established in Canada, the and human settlements. It is estimated and human settlements. It is estimated Alberta is already that 80 percent of If fragmented by human activity. occurs primarily through motorized as access, which follows activities such oil and gas, logging, seismic activity, protects our environment, on which all protects our environment, on which all other values depend. compelling governments to develop sound a publicly driven, scientifically land-use plan that respects all “capital” and (natural, manmade, and financial) owners and oil and gas development and logging. Reports are urgently protection and clean air). protection and clean plan, there are increasing land-use conflicts between the public and land- animal species and populations, animal species and and tourism, wildlands for recreation (like watershed and ecosystem services land beyond its carrying capacity land beyond its carrying of our natural and fragmented much This means areas and public lands. of animal habitat, the progressive loss anxious about the growing evidence anxious about the growing some of our that we have developed

WL One reason for the lack of Some suspect it is due to climate Some suspect it is O northernmost range limits. The limits. northernmost range province devoid of owls for the past five or six years. consensus on the plight of the burrowing owl in Canada is that this to monitor. species is very difficult Burrowing owls are a neotropical species is listed as Endangered by species is listed as Canada and as a the Government of throughout western Species of Concern America, with a small population North from Canada, the in Florida. Scientists struggling to find U.S., and Mexico are the cause for this decline. change, others think it is caused by pollutants or pesticides, and still others suggest it is land management argue practices. Some, however, that the population is rebounding with recent sightings in Manitoba, a URROWING B ON

EEP YSTERY D M IG D jewelry she’s wearing that will enable biologists to monitor owl populations. wearing jewelry she’s According to Operation What does strike me about the What does strike me An adult female owl, shortly after banding, voices her thoughts on the new ankle An adult female owl, shortly after banding, voices her thoughts on the new ankle

corresponding contraction in their extent of where a species is supposed to extent of where a species is supposed line I am standing on that Well, occur? for burrowing owls, somewhere south Alberta. If the trend of Drumheller, years, continues, within the next five this very spot will no longer be part that is, unless they range: of the owlʼs have already left. Burrowing Owl (OBO), owl sightings across Canada have declined precipitously in recent years, with a live in a hole in the ground is hard to live in a hole in the kilometre a half truck pickup a from see away. is that I am absence of owls today the limit of the literally standing at range in Canada. burrowing owlʼs map in your know that line on the You the geographic field guide that shows Adam Ford Adam IOLOGISTS ONSERVATION C By Adam Ford By B in each survey. Itʼs not Itʼs in each survey. 2 “Earlier in the season, before As Scobie looks for owls, “It doesnʼt take much of a change “It doesnʼt In a typical day, Scobie and In a typical day, a device shaped like a flashlight a device shaped like a flashlight called a “hooter” – affectionately over 50 km surprising that a bird that prefers to owl sightings. his field crew may conduct up to 20 surveys, representing an area of survey of the day for Scobie, and like most days, the search produces no new see something has a way of making it and today is the day magically appear, endangered that I hope to see my first This is the last species. It is not to be. Scobie. I agree, having seen several this description dozen owls that fit to Wanting through a spotting scope. it was not uncommon to spend a lot of time watching cactus owls, rock owls, and meadowlark owls,” jokes the image of a burrowing owl at 600 metres was burned into my memory, some pronghorn, who grunt at us with some pronghorn, who grunt at us with curiosity. to pick up a signal that our quarry is nearby through the cacophony of and Spragueʼs meadowlark, sparrow, the air at this time pipit song that fills back other than Nothing calls of year. – blares out a territorial owl call across – blares out a territorial owl call across trying listen intently, We the plain. the most elusive prairie raptor: the burrowing owl. binoculars, paying particularly close attention to the bare mounds that are the preferred perching habitat for the undulating tawny grass with his about watching your dog run away about watching your spare each other for a week, but we parched humour on this hot and dry Scobie, a field biologist with day. Service, scans Wildlife the Canadian on the back of his half-ton pickup on the back of his half-ton I hear someone truck. Inside my head prairie joke tell me that age-old in elevation to see a lot of prairie,” in elevation to see as he stands high says Corey Scobie,

WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 26 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 27 “What most people donʼt realize “What most people donʼt Laurie Griffith and her family, her family, Laurie Griffith and Burrowing Owl (now Operation organization an Community), Grassland that works with landowners to protect native prairie ecosystems. is that ranchers are environmentalists. People think we are out here tearing up the land, but if we did that we wouldnʼt This land is our bread and still be here. says Griffith. “Most people out butter,” here know that the native grass is gold, especially later in the season when the can We crested wheat grass is dried up. still get fat calves during a drought if we have native grass.” and profit margins in cropping are are in cropping margins and profit long So cattle market. than the weaker is more profitable as cattle ranching can or potato crops, we than grain will be assured that it be reasonably which usual on the prairie, business as good for owls; however, is probably factors such as a introduce external or a crop failure ban on beef exports in the world, and on grain elsewhere more willing our ranchers may be prairie into to convert their native owls at further cultivated land, putting risk of extinction. of Cessford, long-time residents subtleties of dry- Alberta, know the They balance a prairie economics. cattle and horse operation with oil and gas development throughout their most of which is still vast property, covered by native prairie. Despite the variety of income sources derived from than 10 pairs of more their property, owls have been monitored on Griffith The property over the past four years. Griffiths are also members of Operation

Adam Ford Alberta ♥ odour of juvenile owls to nearby predators. “Burrowing Owls “Burrowing

and line them with manure to attract prey insects to the nest and to mask the insects to the nest and to attract prey and line them with manure However, as the international However, Today cattle grazing is the major Today An active burrowing owl nest. Owls reoccupy old badger or ground squirrel holes holes squirrel old badger or ground owl nest. Owls reoccupy An active burrowing

market fluctuates, the profitability of the profitability market fluctuates, native grass short: fire and massive native grass short: fire eventually pack up and go somewhere eventually pack up and go somewhere This is why Operation Burrowing else. Owl gave out bumper stickers telling that people Cows.” Canadian agricultural products – such as cereal grains, potatoes, or cattle – Alberta, cattle changes. In southeastern is king (oil and gas notwithstanding), as it is too dry for reliable crop harvests herds of grazing bison, two elements of the prairie that have virtually disappeared from the landscape. disturbance that keeps native grass in a state suitable for burrowing owls; if the grass gets too tall or dense in the absence of grazing, the owls will C. Olson C. burrowing owl biologists were shy! owl biologists were burrowing This search consumes modest A link between owl habitat and A Pick up any undergraduate Pick up any undergraduate Corey Scobie “peeps” an owl nest with an infrared camera attached to a stiff camera owl nest with an infrared Scobie “peeps” an Corey sun forces Corey to wear a pillowcase over his head to cut the glare. Who said to cut the glare. to wear a pillowcase over his head Corey sun forces hose. The picture from the camera is transmitted to a headset, but the high prairie the camera is transmitted to from hose. The picture research budgets quickly, while research budgets quickly, Owls evolved in a landscape dominated by regular disturbances that kept the owl may end up depending precisely on economic prosperity. prairie economics is coming into focus. decline of the burrowing owl. In fact, unlike most wildlife conservation scenarios, the survival of the burrowing but annihilation, it may surprise some to hear that habitat loss does not seem to be the main reason for the current textbook on conservation biology and you will read that in most cases, species endangerment is caused by habitat that While no one can argue loss. across habitat loss and modification prairie has been anything Canadaʼs decline is hard to pinpoint. critters that are few and far between. Considering the myriad potential issues these owls encounter during a lifetime America to Latin Alberta journey from the no wonder and back again, itʼs biologists can acquire. Combine a migratory species with naturally low population densities and you have decreasing the overall quality of data decreasing the overall quality of data of nests are reoccupied in subsequent of nests are reoccupied in subsequent years, biologists have to search continually for new occupied nests each field season. Canada from late spring until early fall Canada from late spring until early fall and then head south to Mexico for the 20 percent Since only about winter. migrant: owls raise their young in The other fundamental area Models being developed by the Hopefully, such harsh talk from talk from such harsh Hopefully, Ultimately, effective conservation effective Ultimately, NRTEE are based on growth in Canada NRTEE we can reduce carbon output by the proposed 60 percent while increasing our population by half again, as well as When maintaining or exceeding GDP. I asked the question, I was told that debate about growth was beyond the present mandate. committeeʼs that was not being factored into climate change scenarios is NRTEE ability to show stakeholders that of burrowing owl protection can be part This an economically viable enterprise. may seem ironic, outside the box, and unconventional to some, but then again, we are talking about a bird that lives underground. we continue with our present rate of growth and at the same time achieve or consumption reduction energy much less production sustainability, slow climate change to sustainable levels? toward a population of 46 million by difficult to imagine how 2050. Itʼs landowners will turn out to be similar to be similar turn out will landowners bark than bite. itself – more to SARA state, paper-dragon in its Even now, suspicious has many landowners SARA Scobie and biologists. of governments did that several landowners mentions crew on of his field not want members even just to get a closer their property, owl mound. Rather look at a potential tough hand of the than turning to the perhaps we law to solve this problem, on helping should focus our efforts OBO, and AWA groups, such as with individual build relationships unnecessary landowners to reduce of conflict and the proliferation misunderstandings. of burrowing owl populations in Canada will come down to our ability to address the cause of their decline, Alberta whether that cause is located in or in the southern wintering ranges. It will also depend on conservationistsʼ Unfortunately, the premise of Unfortunately, A few anonymous ranchers I few anonymous ranchers A A juvenile owl, shortly after banding. juvenile owl, shortly after banding. A

emphasis on energy production production emphasis on energy the meeting was seriously flawed: the the meeting was seriously flawed: to participate talked AWA letter inviting new technology to deal with increased appear These goals greenhouse gases. to be mutually incompatible. How can expressed concern that if weʼre not pioneers here, our advantage could be for There was talk of incentives lost. industries in order to help them in the development of such new technologies. about establishing a sustainable climate efficiency scenario change and energy based on maintaining steady population and economic growth. Oil sands development could continue apace, being mitigated through its effects (especially oil sands), should be at the forefront of developing. Participants spoke with mentioned that they are very suspicious of any government involvement on their land. In fact, if the government were going to interfere with their land management practices over owl habitat protection, we could all be assured that government biologists like Scobie would receive from landowners help little, if any, and some in their monitoring efforts, burrowing owls may even be shot instead of being reported to officials. Adam Ford Adam DITOR E THE or the federal

TO

ETTERS L One of the topics covered was The National Round Table on the Table The National Round While an economic perspective is While an economic The upshot of Griffithʼs comments comments Griffithʼs of The upshot how to derive economic benefit how to derive economic benefit from cashing in on climate change technology that Canada, with its representation at the meeting, but I also noticed crucial gaps in the discussion. one of the issues and areas of concern agenda. Not only was AWAʼs on there a paucity of environmental Environment and Energy (NRTEE) (NRTEE) Environment and Energy visited Calgary during its cross- Canada tour in November 2006 to discuss advisory material for a national change. and climate strategy on energy representative, AWAʼs I attended as every since climate change affects Dear Editor: Dear National Climate Change Advice National Climate Change Key Elements Ignores

on owl conservation if ranchers realize on owl conservation if ranchers realize this legislation is. just how ineffective irony of burrowing owl conservation is irony of burrowing owl conservation its greatest effect may have that SARA often criticized by conservationists as a often criticized by conservationists as because it typically only paper-dragon The protects habitat on federal land. get the attention of any law protecting get the attention of any law protecting endangered species in Canada, such Act Wildlife Albertaʼs as is how well our legislation protects is how well our legislation After all, burrowing this species. owls are listed as endangered, both This should provincially and federally. one way to address endangered species one way to address consideration conservation, another grassland ecosystem. It takes only grassland ecosystem. sod, of a field one day to turn over to get it back to but it takes a century native prairie. something resembling This means encouraging both the use encouraging both This means and ensuring of land for cattle grazing remains a native that the land itself young, people need to ensure that the need to ensure young, people grass-fed of people running livelihoods are also protected. cattle operations is that if burrowing owls are going are going owls if burrowing is that their place to live and raise to have a (SARA). SARA is (SARA). SARA Act At Risk Species

WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 28 ETTERS L WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 29 Crowsnest Pass Crowsnest David McIntyre, — If you want to know more about I know that I was accurate in I know that I was accurate biphenyls (PCBs), other solvents (and biphenyls (PCBs), other solvents (and other chemicals), hydrocarbons, fuels, salts, aluminum, barium, bicarbonate, lead, magnesium, calcium, copper, nickel, selenium and zinc. mercury, the named elements and compounds, or if you simply share my concerns, please contact the Crowsnest Pass your MLA, your MP, Municipal office, any provincial cabinet ministers and/or the premier. from CPR) that it can be picked up picked it can be CPR) that from eastern the lakeʼs along in chunks maintains I know that CPR shoreline. site thatʼs and messy lube a disgusting I know over the lake. located directly that CPR, in more than likely that itʼs of tons the ongoing spilling addition to foods along its right- of grain and other responsible is also likely to be of-way, and/or for the spilling of hazardous toxic chemicals. (by me) all respects of the reported spill. I know Devon Canada chemical Natal Forest that the soil around proximity to a Products (within close is contaminated municipal water well) (PCP) and with pentachlorophenol cromated copper arsenate. I know that the decommissioned Luscar plant (in close proximity to this same water well) is home to a host of potential concerns, including polycyclic aromatic polychlorinated hydrocarbons (PAHs),

do Backing up a bit, perhaps I Backing up I donʼt know much about the I donʼt You, too, may wish to be apprised You,

Crowsnest aquifer. Hereʼs what I Hereʼs Crowsnest aquifer. generated is disturbing. It has elevated generated is disturbing. It has elevated my worst fears. know that concerns me: I know that so the much sulphur has been released into waters of Crowsnest Lake (presumably of the quality of this communityʼs of the quality of this communityʼs may wish to know You drinking water. the names of the “little extras” that desire and you may are in our aquifer, to know the concentrations of these an accurate report Would freebies. alleviate your concerns, or would it know the exacerbate them? I donʼt know answer to that question. I donʼt exactly what weʼre dealing with. I do know that the silence this matter has should report that last summer (June that last summer should report chemical exact), I delivered 26, to be Lake to the samples from Crowsnest that same time, I At municipality. concern to our also wrote letters of and several provincial MLA, our MP did this in an effort cabinet ministers. I of my to apprise these individuals water quality specific concerns with and the entire in Crowsnest Lake My primary worry: Crowsnest aquifer. water in this the quality of drinking community. of Crowsnest Lake and I expressed I expressed Lake and of Crowsnest additional were that there concern groundwater contamination sources of Crowsnest aquifer. within the Darren Haley Darren © AWA Director , AWA Vivian Pharis Vivian — I reported that Devon Canada Through the day-long meeting, Through the day-long Last year, I wrote a letter to the I wrote a letter Last year, The NRTEE climate change The NRTEE (presumably belonging to CPR) were in the water along the eastern shore Corp. had spilled sulfaline and in the diisopropanolamine (DIPA) I also reported that Crowsnest aquifer. hundreds of creosote-laden railway ties my worries down the toilet. dialogue and insight. I hoped to initiate or discourse without generating fear, undue concern. In retrospect, it would appear that I might as well have flushed to downplay my articulated concerns in order to stimulate meaningful Dear Editor: Dear editor expressing concerns about this I tried drinking water. communityʼs glass of drinking in your Whatʼs water? be limited for experimenting with that the NRTEE technological fixes seems so reliant upon. of one small planet. Our increasingly of one small planet. Our increasingly unruly climate is already telling us we have overburdened it, and time may natural systems, and some will see the natural systems, and some will see the contradiction between constant growth and the limitations of the biosphere process is only one of many that will process is only one of many that will advise our governments. Undoubtedly others will thoroughly factor in climate change advice while leaving out biology? had been raised at other meetings too, had been raised at other meetings too, to was under advisement and NRTEE How factor these into their strategy. and can we come up with valid energy Finally I asked the question, only to Finally I asked the of plant systems be told that the role and other natural carbon sequesters the importance of plant systems, natural the importance of plant of the overall and cultivated, as part scenario. climate change fighting peat ecosystems, and oceans. peat ecosystems, and in either the there was no mention provided of discussion or the literature contributions of agricultural crops in of agricultural contributions much less the sequestering carbon, plant systems, contribution of native consideration was given to the positive was given to the consideration natural systems. While a fair amount a fair amount While systems. natural gaining on focused of discussion building efficiencies, transportation and developing efficiencies, energy no sources, almost energy alternative Keeping fresh is important for That certainly makes sense. After After That certainly makes sense. To help stem that tide, Haley To art happens to be one of Wildlife

things change really quickly, wildlife is quickly, things change really Thereʼll not have. something we might keep practising.” Like any successful it comes down professional in any field, to practise-practise-practise. all, if youʼre going to march to the have to drum, you beat of a different practise that rhythm as often as you can. working primarily in acrylics but also working primarily in acrylics but also in oils, paints many other subjects: horses and other domestic animals, copies of old masters, even motor vehicles. He currently has several commissioned works on his palette. “I to like to do the wildlife, but I also like switch up every now and then; it keeps me fresh.” any artist. But there is one rule, one an even that perhaps plays factor, greater role in the success of an artist, a rule that Haley abides by almost “Learn the limitations of religiously. your medium,” he says. “The most limiting factor to art is the medium use a medium to its To that you use.” fullest extent, you have to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them, or as Haley says, just “do it, day in and and day out, a sketch or two a day, be fewer species of wildlife when our be fewer species of grandchildren are around.” organizations, works with conservation Unlimited Canada particularly Ducks artworks have (DU). Several of his portfolios and been included in DU have won him awards. He was the in 1999 Year Artist of the Alberta DU and earned the same honour for all of Canada in 2000. He also exhibited at the Calgary Stampede art exhibition for five consecutive years, where he won and the once Award the Best of Show times. three Award Choice Collectorʼs the most marketable genres, but Haley, THE

OLLOWS F RTIST A Darren Haley Darren While Haley says wildlife is one In painting wildlife, Haley is When the energy sector took an When the energy LBERTA , A , slumped and he no longer had a job. At slumped and he no longer had a job. of his favourite subjects, he doesnʼt of his favourite subjects, he doesnʼt also capturing a subject that is not guaranteed to be around for future generations to see in the wild. “All that is shrinking for us. Unless a lot of life – and Iʼve already had three, so I figure this is a good place to stop.” limit himself to that. “I started out painting wildlife, because it was at the top of the list of my interests,” he says. “The first criterion of art is to buy side of what you like, and on the flip the coin, you have to paint what you like. Otherwise youʼre not giving it all, youʼre not fully involved with it.” economic upturn several years later, economic upturn several years later, Haley decided to continue painting full-time rather than go back to his old occupation. “I really like working Although for myself,” he says. tempts occasionally the money offered him to go back to his old job, just for short-term contracts, he always talks himself out of it. “This [painting] is my last job,” he says. “They say everyone has two-and-a-half careers during their that point, he decided to put more time that point, he decided to put more time into painting. He took some and energy works to a gallery and the rest, as they is history. say,

© Darren Haley ROST F AND

RAVELLED T ESS HOREAU L T IKE ATH But Haley did not go straight Those gifts helped develop his Grandmothers generally give Grandmothers generally By John Geary By John L P after spending eight months there, he When he got decided to return early. industry back to Canada, the energy from high school into the world of professional art. Instead, he went to university and studied piping design, which led to a career in the continued and petrochemical industry, In 1990 he worked to paint as a hobby. but Africa, on a project in South to eventually take up professional painting full-time. drum” – probably helped inspire him drum” – probably helped inspire him to do some of his own projects without to do some of his own projects without having to follow the class curriculum That desire to follow his too strictly. Thoreau, to paraphrase own path – or, “to march to the beat of a different little discouraged in high school as his little discouraged in high school as his art teachers tried to impose unwelcome conventions upon him, he was allowed or charcoal pencils.” passion for art, which followed him for While he became a the rest of his life. and sheʼd always check up on my progress,” he says. “Sheʼd give me a sketch book and some coloured pencils back to his annual childhood Christmas back to his annual used to presents. “My grandmother give me art materials for Christmas, prove to be the case with Calgary artist prove to be the case who traces however, Darren Haley, and painting his passion for drawing great presents at Christmas, but their great presents at Christmas, end up influencing gifts do not always That did careers. their grandchildrenʼs

PROFILE WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 30 EVENTS WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 31

© Darren Haley

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11160 River Valley Road Valley River 11160 Time: Cocktails & appetizers – 6:00 p.m. Dinner to follow Dress: Cost: Members $85 The purchase of this ticket includes two passes to the Devonian Botanic Non-members $100 Garden. Contact: http://shop.albertawilderness.ca/ Thursday, March 22, 2006 Thursday, Celebration Wilderness Spring 2007 Spring Gala AWAʼs Join us for food, fine – an evening of great and wine, live auction, raffles entertainment. Location: Royal Glenora Club, Edmonton

© Darren Haley Nigel Douglas Cost: Members $20 per person (403) 283-2025 Contact: person per $25 Non-members Saturday, February 24, 2007 Saturday, Hike Winter Valley Sheep River With http://shop.albertawilderness.ca/ Create a lasting wilderness mural at Tower. the Calgary For more information and to register: (403) 283-2025 or http://climbforwilderness.ca Saturday, March 24, 2007 Saturday, Mural Competition VENTS E Cheryl Bradley Saturday, May 26, 2007 Saturday, Trip Grasslands & Prairie Bus Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Tuesday, Wildland: Rumsey Natural History and Conservation Challenges With Tuesday, March 6, 2007 Tuesday, Animation Project Youth Pre-registration is advised for all talks Pre-registration is Open House Program Open House Calgary 455 – 12th St NW Location:AWA, 7:00 p.m. Time: $5.00 per person Cost: (403) 283-2025 Contact: $1.00 for children

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EVENTS WLA February 2007 • Vol. 15, No. 1 32