August 2000 Vol. 8 No. 4 World Petroleum Congress Aftershocks in Albert a Six New Special Places – Mar recognizes important values P&NG Sales Announced in Protected Areas Conservation Groups Take Action to Stop Leases lberta’s conservation org a n i z a t i o n s adjacent the U.S.-Canada border in southeast Development Department is not re q u i red to have learned the Alberta government is Alberta. Together with the tiny Kennedy notify the public and consider public concerns Ap reparing to sell industrial leases for oil Coulee Ecological Reserve, it was established to prior to putting an area of public land up for and gas activities within the Milk River Natural p rotect the spectacular Milk River Canyon and sale as a petroleum lease. A rea and the recently established Chinchaga the associated native, dry mixed-grass prairie. “The government claims Special Places Wildland Park. The Alberta Wi l d e r n e s s As part of the government’s Special Places 2000 sites, our parks and natural areas, are pro t e c t e d Association, Canadian Parks and Wi l d e r n e s s p rogram, Chinchaga Wildland Park was for future generations. They’re certainly not if Society – Edmonton Chapter, and Federation of established to protect a piece of the foothills the government keeps selling industrial leases Alberta Naturalists have written the and is located about 200 kms northwest of in them,” states Sam Gunsch at the Edmonton E n v i ronment and Resource Development min- Grand Prairie. Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wi l d e r n e s s isters asking them to abandon the pro p o s e d “These aff ronts by government and S o c i e t y. sale. They have also notified the Alberta Energ y industry to parks and other protected areas in The conservation groups point out that and Utilities Board that they will be re q u e s t i n g Alberta have to stop,” insists Cliff Wa l l i s , when the government brought it’s Special Places public hearings should their efforts to stop the p resident of the Alberta Wi l d e r n e s s policy into effect in 1995, all existing protected sale fail and companies purchasing the leases Association. “We take no comfort in the areas, such as Milk River, as well as future ones p roceed with applications to the Board for government’s potential stipulation that surface were put at risk of no longer being protected. drilling. They are initiating efforts to re a c h access will not be permitted with these The policy overview says Special Places, potential buyers to advise them not to purc h a s e p e t roleum leases.” including existing parks and Natural Areas, will the leases due to the protected area status of the The conservation groups say it is possible “allow for a considerable range of uses: livestock sites. Local conservation groups are also oppos- that in advertising or “posting” the leases for grazing, oil and gas development, recreation ing the sale of industrial leases. sale, the government will tell potential buyers and tourism development, and cultural and One or more petroleum companies have that surface access, such as roads, will not be heritage appreciation.” requested that the petroleum rights in the park permitted. They point out, however, that such a and natural area be put up for sale. The names restriction is not legally binding. Because G roups participating in this action include: of the companies are not publicly available. p rovincial park and natural area legislation in Albertans for a Wild Chinchaga, The sale is to occur this August or September. Alberta does not rule out the clearing of seismic Alberta Wilderness Association, The proposed sale covers approximately 16 lines, building of roads, and drilling, there is no Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society sections of the Milk River Natural A rea or 41 guarantee that the bureaucracy won’t change -Edmonton Chapter, k m2 of the 53 km2 natural area and about 34 the initial restriction. Furthermore, no public Federation of Alberta Naturalists, sections or 88 km2 of the 803 km2 C h i n c h a g a notification is re q u i red should they decide to Grassland Naturalists, Wildland Park. The Natural A rea is located change the restriction, just as the Resourc e Southern Alberta Environmental Gro u p EDITOR/PROJECT MANAGER CONTENTS Wendy Adams ASSISTANT EDITOR Joyce Hildebrand ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROVINCE ANNOUNCES P&NG LEASE Cliff Wallis, Vivian Pharis, SALES IN PROTECTED AREAS Peter Sherrington, 1 Conservation Groups Take Action to Stop Leases Stephen Legault in Milk River and Chinchaga DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Chuck Herr CONTRIBUTORS BEYOND CHEVIOT John Geary, Mike Nickerson, Alberta Conservation Groups Announce New David J. Parker, Wendy Adams, Ayal Dinner, Dianne Pachal, Campaign Focus 3 Cliff Wallis, Peter Lee 4 6 CANADIAN FORESTS IN GRAVE DANGER PRODUCTION AND GRAPHICS Onjo Design State of Canadian Forests Much Worse Than Previously Thought LITHOGRAPHY AND PRINTING Ca l g a r y Colorpress on recycled paper with vegetable oil based, biodegradable inks. COUNTER CONFERENCE DECLARES Writers and editors appreciate your comments and feedback. Please refer to PRESENT LIFESTYLE UNSUSTAINABLE the Wild Lands Advocate in the subject 4 “Widening Peoples’ Choices: For a Just and line of your email message. Sustainable Future” Sign-on Declaration Email: [email protected] TO ADVERTISE in our next issue, CONSERVATION GROUPS LOBBY CEO’S contact (403) 283-5839. FOR WILDERNESS PROTECTION SUBSCRIPTIONS Petroleum Industry Urged to Sign on To subscribe to the Wild Lands Advocate, send $25 to: Alberta Wilderness Association, P.O. Box 6398, Station D, 76 LETTERS Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 Spray Lakes Park Proposal Praised WILD LANDS ADVOCATE MISSION 5 To provide readers with accurate, current and insightful coverage of wilderness and conservation issues SIX NEW SPECIAL PLACES SITES related to Alberta's wild places and public lands, which will stimulate RECOGNIZE IMPORTANT VALUES personal action on behalf of Alberta's 6 “Still lots of work to be done” wildlands, wild rivers and wildlife. SUBMISSIONS Although most of our articles are ASSOCIATION NEWS assigned, unsolicited contributions (manuscripts, photos, artwork) are Wilderness Resource Centre Open for Business welcomed, with the understanding that 7 the AWA cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. Enclose a self- addressed stamped envelope to ensure DECISION MAKING AS IF SOCIETY AND the return of unsolicited material. Guidelines for contributors available ENVIRONMENT MATTERED upon request. 7 8 The “Canada Well-Being Measurement Act” DEADLINE September 6, 2000 A L B E R TA WILDERNESS ASSOCIAT I O N EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER albertawilderness.ab.ca The opinions expressed by the various authors throughout this publication are DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE CALGARY/PROVINCIAL OFFICE SOUTHERN ALBERTA not necessarily those of the editors or of Bob Campbell - Lethbridge PRESIDENT Phone: (403) 283-2025 CHAPTER the Alberta Wilderness Association. The Vivian Pharis - Cochrane Cliff Wallis - Calgary Fax: (403) 270-2743 Phone: (403) 627-4106 editors reserve the right to edit, reject or Christyann Sloan - Calgary Email: [email protected] Box 2631 withdraw articles submitted. 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Clint Docken - Calgary Alberta Wilderness Resource Centre Pincher Creek, AB T0K 1W0 Stephen Legault - Harvey Heights Jane Kennedy - Calgary 455 - 12 Street N.W. Richard Secord - Edmonton 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Calgary, Alberta, Canada EDMONTON/NORTHERN Wendy Adams - Calgary Mailing Address ALBERTA CHAPTER PAST PRESIDENT P.O. Box 6398, Stn. D Phone: (780) 988-5487 Peter Sherrington - Cochrane Calgary, AB T2P 2E1 Box 52194 Garneau Postal Outlet The Alberta Wilderness Association has five scheduled Edmonton, AB T6G 2T5 meetings of its provincial Executive and Board of Directors per ye a r . Policies, issues, concerns, programs and strategies are discussed and decided at these meetings. Any interested AWA members are welcome to attend as guests. Please contact the provincial office, at 283-2025, to get confirmation of the date and location of the meetings, as well as to carpool. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 485535 • ISSN# 1192 6287 2 Wild Lands Advocate Vol.8 No. 4 August 2000 B eyond Chev i ot Alberta Conservation G roups Announce New Campaign Focus AWA Press Release onservation organizations an- Legal Defence Fund, their successful nounced a new focus in their lawsuit against the first federal approval Cf o u r-year campaign to stop the for the mine brought about the p roposed Cheviot mine. They say new supplemental hearing. evidence presented in March and April T h rough a slideshow and pre - to the Review Panel assessing Cheviot sentation, Ben Gadd, naturalist and shows that the open-pit mine pro p o s a l author of the Handbook of the Canadian should be abandoned for a more envi- Rockies, gave the public a first-hand look ronmentally sustainable development at the focus of the new campaign. s t r a t e g y. The AWA Coalition is asking Recommendations of the Ecological that existing and imminent federal and Integrity Panel have been endorsed by p rovincial programs be used to help Heritage Minister Sheila Copps and will Hinton and area plan a more enviro n- play a significant role in the Coalition’s mentally sustainable future. Their goal is campaign. to protect the integrity of Jasper National The Review Panel heard three new Park by establishing a pro v i n c i a l sets of key evidence and re c o m - Wildland Park encompassing the critical mendations about the mine’s ecological wildlife habitat of the Mountain Park area .