Canadian WILDERNESS A publication of • Spring/Summer 2008 GO WILD THIS SEASON CPAWS and MEC launch The Big WildTM DISPLAY UNTIL OCTOBER 2008 Publication Mail Agreement 40033545 Toute Cher membre, • Spring/Summer 2008 NATUREA publication of Nous sommes heureux de HORIZONSGES vous offrir notre magazine SAUVA en français. Pour recevoir une copie, s’il vous plaît, contactez-nous. [email protected] 1-800-333-WILD CONTACT US CPAWS SNAP (CPAWS) Quebec CPAWS Ottawa Valley 613-569-7226 or 1-800-333-WILD 514-278-7627 613-232-7297 www.cpaws.org www.snapqc.org www.cpaws-ov-vo.org CPAWS British Columbia CPAWS New Brunswick CPAWS Saskatchewan 604-685-7445 506-452-9902 306-955-6197 www.cpawsbc.org www.cpawsnb.org www.cpaws-sask.org CPAWS Calgary/Banff CPAWS Newfoundland CPAWS Wildlands League 403-232-6686 709-726-5800 416-971-9453 or 1-866-570-WILD www.cpawscalgary.org www.cpawsnl.org www.wildlandsleague.org CPAWS Northern Alberta CPAWS Nova Scotia CPAWS Yukon 780-432-0967 902-446-4155 867-393-8080 www.cpawsnab.org www.cpawsns.org www.cpawsyukon.org CPAWS Manitoba CPAWS Northwest Territories 204-949-0782 867-873-9893 www.cpawsmb.org www.cpawsnwt.org THERESA GULLIVER IN THIS ISSUE Protecting Canada’s Big Wild places FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Canada’s Big Wild places • 3 2 • PresiDENT’S DesK CPAWS is working coast to coast to protect Canada’s wilderness. Taking a Big step for Eastern woodlands • 4 wilderness Remarkable wilderness jewels within a day’s drive from 70 million people 10 • TraCKS ACROss CaNADA Parks forever • 5 Conservation gains from Spectacular wilderness parks that deserve protection forever coast to coast Yellowstone to Yukon • 6 The world’s best chance to conserve a fully-functioning mountain ecosystem 13 • CPAWS PEOple Oceans and great freshwater lakes • 7 Meet Jon Lien and learn about Fragile marine ecosystems off the longest coastline in the world Georgia Leroux’s legacy Boreal Forest • 8 The world’s largest remaining forest, and a buffer against climate change Cover: Little Limestone Lake, Manitoba, by Roger Turenne. “The photo was taken on a cool morning before the sun had a chance to seriously stir up the calcite de- posits and change its colour. We had paddled around the Lake to identify the most scenic spots because I knew that a week and a half later I would be bringing Manitoba’s Minister of Conservation on a tour of the Lake. I wanted to make sure he was duly impressed. He was. “ Above: The Peel river is part of Yukon’s Three Rivers wilderness. Read more about the Three Rivers on page 10. Photo by Theresa Gulliver. Canadian PResiDent’S DesK WILDERNESS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 Take a Big step for wilderness by Sherri Watson CPAWS is Canada’s voice for wilderness. Since 1963, we’ve played a lead role in creating over two-thirds of Canada’s Have you ever noticed how many commercials on TV and in the protected areas. glossy magazines use a backdrop of wilderness to sell a product, National Office like an SUV? It isn’t by accident that marketers do this. In our 506-250 City Centre Avenue society, values and spiritual things tend to be used subliminally. Ottawa, ON K1R 6K7 Telephone: 613-569-7226 Fax: 613-569-7098 rowth, measurement, acquisitions E-mail: [email protected] to show off our success—these Web: www.cpaws.org G are the stuff of modernity. Marketers, NAtiONAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES however, know that most people value Sherri Watson, President and long for nature—Henry Thoreau’s Oliver Kent, Treasuer tonic for happiness. David Wright, Secretary Tim Gray, Chair, Conservation Committee But Canada’s wilderness, and the Susan Ellis wonderful species and cultures that Mary Granskou depend on it—ultimately all living David Lang Colleen Mooney things—could disappear if we don’t Brooks Pilgrim protect it from the cumulative effects of Clare Robinson piecemeal development and the ravages Wayne Sawchuk of climate change. CPAWS’ goal is to Evan Sorestad do just that. We have a vision of keep- Tracy Williams Joshua Wolfe ing at least half of Canada’s lands and Peter Zimmerman waters wild forever. TRUSTEES EmEritUS And now we’ve joined forces with an at the very simple level of signing on to Phil Dearden important partner to help us to realize the website to indicate that they sup- Gordon Nelson our vision. Mountain Equipment Co- port our vision. They can pick up a pair Al Davidson op—Canada’s leading outdoor retailer of green laces at a MEC store to wear Bob Peart and a progressive, socially responsible their Big Wild support. Or they can go further, by sharing their wilderness EDitOriAL TEAM business—has joined with CPAWS to Anne Levesque: National Executive Director create The Big Wild, an opportunity for experiences with others through stories Ellen Adelberg: Director of Communications those who care about our wild places to and images, or dedicating a wilderness Sue Novotny: Editing and design get involved directly in their protection, trip to the cause of conservation—by Jaclyn Threadgill: Design share their passion with others, and get taking a Big Wild Challenge. in touch with nature first hand. I’m signing up to a ten-day wilderness We are inviting people who care hike in the Rockies next summer. I ISSN 1717-8894. Postmaster: send Canadian hope that you and your friends will address changes to CPAWS, 506-250 City Centre about Canada’s wilderness but have Ave, Ottawa ON K1R 6K7. never voiced their care before to start also get involved with The Big Wild. by “doing something small to save CPAWS and MEC share a big vision Canadian Wilderness is published twice per year something big”. The information and of Canada as a model for wilderness (Spring, Fall) by Canadian Parks and Wilderness Soci- action hub for the initiative is online protection—and if we all get involved, ety (charity #10686 5272 RR0001) Send comments we can make it happen. and suggestions to [email protected]. at thebigwild.org. This website is the place where people can learn more I invite you to add your voice to the © 2008 Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. No about the need to protect Canada’s movement! part of this publication may be reproduced without wilderness, share their own stories, express permission in writing from CPAWS. and show their support for the cause. The Big Wild will support conservation campaigns across Canada for our “big wild” places. People can get involved Sherri Watson is CPAWS’ National President. • CAD NA IAN WilDErnESS • Spring / Summer 008 www.cpaws.org CPAWS is protecting CPAWS’ vision is that Canada will keep at least half of our public land and water wild forever. Our work is focused on four geographic regions in Canada where Canada’s there’s still time to protect large, interconnected, fully functioning ecosystems. We’re also dedicated to ensure BIG WILD our parks are protected—forever. places BA O IT BOreal FOrest N The world’s largest remaining forest, Canada’s Boreal is also home to the threatened Woodland caribou. Where MA PAWS C the caribou still roam, the forest is healthy. That’s why we’re focused on protecting their habitat. N THIESSE EasterN ON R WOODlaNDS Throughout Canada’s east, vital wildlife corridors and refuges for millions of urbanites still thrive, but for how long? From Nova Scotia to Ontario, our vision is forever! PAWS C ELL/ YellOwstONE D E BEE K TO YUKON MI The “world’s best chance” to conserve a fully functioning mountain ecosystem, CPAWS is working to protect key wilderness sites from the Yukon and NWT down to southern BC and Alberta. PAWS C ELL/ D ParKS FOrever Our country’s parks are supposed to be sanctuaries not just E BEE K for people but for the wildlife within them. It’s not always the MI case, but we’re working to change that. ISH N R CO OCeaNS AND JIM FRESHWATER While under severe threat in many areas, our waters still shelter an amazing array of marine ecosystems and our goal is that Canada establishes a network of marine conservation areas. www.cpaws.org Spring / Summer 008 • DCANA IAN WilDErnESS • Canada’s Eastern Woodlands Time to save by Roberta Clowater the wilderness in our backyard SHIP HARBOUR LONG LAKE, NOVA SCOTIA. PHOTO: CHRIS MILLER Though increasingly threatened, wild Atlantic salmon and Dumoine, QC trout still swim in many of eastern Canada’s rivers, and CPAWS’ campaign to protect this whitewa- ter dream river – the last one to flow wild in birds seem to sing from every other tree. southern Quebec – surrounded by the larg- est, unprotected intact forest in the Eastern rom Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial CPAWS’ chapters in New Brunswick, Woodlands – has made ground. The Quebec Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario are FPark to the Atlantic shores of the government has identified it as a potential Maritime Provinces, Canada’s Eastern working together across provinces to protected area and local communities sup- Woodlands carpet the ancient ridges of transform our conservation vision for the port establishment of a new park reserve. the southern Canadian Shield and the Eastern Woodlands into reality. Appalachian Mountain range, and roll Our goal is to establish networks of Ship Harbour Long Lake, NS down onto the coastal plains of New protected areas that connect wilderness Last year, with encouragement from CPAWS, Brunswick and Nova Scotia. across the region—including across pro- Ecology Action Centre and Eastern Shore Within a day’s drive for over six million vincial and international borders, because Forest Watch, the province declared 14,000 Canadians, these woodlands and their that is the best way to enable ecosystems hectares of this area as a “candidate” site surrounding waters are vital for clean wa- and wildlife to recover and survive.