Oil and gas development banned in Flathead

Proposed BC protection of Flathead and connecting wildlife corridor (map courtesy of Wildsignt)

On February 15, 2011, the BC government announced that legislation is now in place banning mining and oil and gas development in the Flathead.

For years, pressure has been on the British Columbia government to take urgent measures to prohibit logging, grizzly trophy hunting, quarrying and increased road access that threaten the Flathead valley, adjacent to the Waterton-Glacier World Heritage Site. Legislators have been slow to take action on the matter, saying that British Columbia has more protected green areas than other provinces.

Three major conservation groups, although pleased with the announcement, say that it is only an important first step –- just the beginning of a process to ensure that the Flathead River valley is protected permanently.

Wildsight’s Southern Rockies program manager, Casey Brennan, said “We’re happy to see the commitment to a legislated prohibition on mining and oil and gas development but it’s only one of three steps needed to protect the Flathead forever.”

Sierra Club BC, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Wildsight want the government to follow the lead of Alberta and Montana and

• first, create a national park in the southeastern BC third of the Flathead in order to fill in the missing piece of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park;
• second, create a wildlife management area in the remainder of the Flathead valley and adjoining habitat.

These would be in keeping with last year’s recommendations by a World Heritage Committee mission to this globally significant area.

“While today’s legislation is an important step, it does not equate to long-term conservation for the Flathead River Valley,” said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Sarah Cox. “It’s a complete stretch to say that the Flathead is forever protected.”

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) BC executive director, Chloe O’Loughlin, agrees. “The Flathead is a haven for grizzly bears and other large mammals,” she says. “It has some of the world’s purest water and contains almost 40 percent of all plant species found in B.C. This valley is precious on a global scale.”

How does British Columbia compare to the rest of Canada when it comes to protecting its ecologically vulnerable areas? According to a report issued by Environment Canada, “Based on internationally recognized definitions, protected areas are classified according to the level of protection they are given to maintain biological diversity and natural and associated cultural resources.” The report, based on 2009 data, says that British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Nunavut and Ontario have the greatest proportion of territory under some level of protection. BC tops the list at 15% compared with 12% in Alberta. The national average for protected land area is 9.4%.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/indicateurs-indicators/2102636F-9078-409F-8133-8775E51400BE/PA_may2010_indicator_eng.pdf

For further information, readers may contact:

• Chloe O’Loughlan – CPAWS (604-685-7445×23)
• Casey Brennan – Wildsight (250-423-2603
• Sarah Cox – Sierra Club BC (250-812-1762

For information regarding the Flathead, visit http://www.flathead.ca.