Waterton-Glacier as the Climate Changes
Oct0
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and the greater Crown of the Continent Ecosystem will become an “ark” as the climate warms and plants and animals species are forced to move farther north and to higher elevations.
This post is part of the global blog action day for Climate Change – www.blogactionday.org
Media Stories on the UNESCO Decision-
Jun0
Some news clips from across North America on the UNESCO decision:
In Canada, Kelly Cryderman at the Calgary Herarld has a smart piece on the role science will play in the UNESCO mission. Colleen Kimmett at the BC-based online news source thetyree.ca has a nice piece with quotes from Ryland and Chloe Loughlin at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Larry Pynn of the Vancouver Sun has a short piece here.
In Montana, Dan Testa at the Flathead Beacon got ahold of me on Friday via Skype. We had a good chat and the Beacon may have been the first media to break the story in either country. I also chatted with Missoulian city editor Gwen Florio (covering for Michael Jamison who along with Mark Hume at the Globe & Mail is one the reporters of record on this issue). Gwen’s story is here.
The Associated and Canadian Press both ran a very similar story across the wire in both the United States and Canada. It is concise piece that provides an accurate summary the UN action.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS – 1 day ago
HELENA, Mont. — UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has voted to send representatives to Canada to investigate threats to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park posed by energy and mining proposals in southeastern British Columbia.
The 21-member committee, meeting in Seville, Spain, unanimously adopted a resolution Friday expressing concern about potential coal and coal-bed methane extraction the headwaters of the Flathead and asking the governments of the United States and Canada to work together to prepare a report on the development threats by Feb. 1, 2010.
“This is an important step forward,” said Will Hammerquist of the National Parks Conservation Association, who attended the meeting. “Today the United Nations recognized that both Canada and the United States have a global responsibility to protect Waterton-Glacier, the world’s first international peace park.”
The committee’s decision was in response to a petition written by Earthjustice on behalf of 11 environmental groups in the U.S. and Canada, asking that the peace park be declared a World Heritage site in Danger.
The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization declared Waterton-Glacier a World Heritage site in 1995, a designation bestowed on 878 places worldwide that recognizes extraordinary cultural or natural resources. An endangered designation can heighten sensitivity about a locale and raise its profile. About 30 sites have been so recognized.
An unsuccessful petition for endangered status a few years ago presented concern about climate change and its effects on the parks, which feature stunning alpine scenery and extraordinary wildlife habitat. The new petition is tied to potential coal and coal-bed methane extraction.
The NPCA and Wildsight, one of the 11 petitioning groups, say water pollution in Waterton-Glacier is among the risks from potential coal mining and coal-bed methane work in southeastern British Columbia. The Flathead River system spans the international border and the North Fork of the Flathead forms Glacier’s western boundary.
“There are world class national parks on both sides of the border that would be polluted by industrial development in the Canadian Flathead,” said Jessica Lawrence of Earthjustice.
Officials in the provincial government have said no projects will be permitted without meeting rigorous environmental requirements.
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Amazing Photos of The Canadian Flathead!
Jun1
We just found this great online photo gallery and blog post by the world renowned wildlife photographer Florian Schulz. His photos of the Flathead River Valley and Waterton-Glacier truly exemplify the Outstanding Universal Values of the Flathead Valley and the Peace Park.
Thank you for your support Florian!
UNESCO Votes to Send Mission to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
Jun4
Proposed Coal Mine in BC’s Flathead River Valley Triggers World Heritage Investigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2009
Seville, Spain–UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee voted today to send a fact-finding mission to Canada to investigate threats to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park posed by energy and mining proposals in BC’s adjacent Flathead River Valley.
The 21-member committee voted unanimously for a 2009 World Heritage Centre mission that will “evaluate and provide recommendations on the requirements for ensuring the protection” of Waterton-Glacier, citing concern about the threats that potential mining and energy development within the Flathead Valley would have on water and ecosystem connectivity. It asked Canada and the US to work together to prepare a report–by February 1, 2010– that examines all Flathead River Valley energy and mining proposals and their cumulative impacts.
“We applaud the committee’s decision and encourage Canada and British Columbia to take swift action to ensure that Waterton-Glacier does not become North America’s only World Heritage Site in Danger,” said Ryland Nelson of the East Kootenay conservation group Wildsight. Nelson attended the Seville session on behalf of 11 US and Canadian environmental groups that petitioned the World Heritage Committee to declare Waterton-Glacier a “World Heritage Site in Danger” because of a proposed coal strip mine and other energy and mining threats in the unprotected Flathead River Valley.
The committee noted that “The integrity of the property is inextricably linked with the quality of stewardship of the adjacent areas within the international Crown of the Continent ecosystem” and said “the protection of the property must be managed within the context of this greater ecosystem.” It also recognized the “high level of public concern” about a proposed coal strip mine and other energy and mining development in BC’s Flathead River Valley, which forms an integral part of the same ecosystem and provides critical habitat for rare and endangered species migrating to and from Waterton-Glacier.
“This is an important step forward,” said Will Hammerquist of the National Parks Conservation Association, who also attended the Seville session. “Today the United Nations recognized that both Canada and the United States have a global responsibility to protect Waterton-Glacier, the world’s first international peace park.”
“We are very pleased that the World Heritage Committee agreed with our concerns about mineral development in the Canadian portion of the Flathead River watershed,” said Jessica Lawrence of Earthjustice. “These concerns are shared by more than 50,000 people who wrote recent letters to the BC, Canadian and US governments asking for immediate action to protect Waterton-Glacier.”
Chloe O’Loughlin, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (BC), said UNESCO’s decision is not a surprise, due to the longstanding scientific concerns over the area. “BC’s Flathead River Valley is the long-recognized missing piece of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. We urge the BC and Canadian governments to take immediate steps to grant permanent protection to this special place.”
“The Flathead River Valley has the highest density of grizzly bears in North America’s interior, and some of the purest water in the world,” said Sarah Cox of Sierra Club BC. “Declaration of an immediate no-staking reserve in the Flathead Valley would send a strong message to the international community that BC takes this UNESCO decision very seriously, and is committed to land-use solutions in the Flathead that do not convert world-class wildlife habitat into a coal mine.”
Sierra Club BC, CPAWS and Wildsight are calling for a National Park in the lower one-third of the Flathead Valley and for a Wildlife Management Area to be established in the rest of the valley and adjoining habitat.
Contact:
Ryland Nelson, Wildsight: 011- 44-79-244-74932, ryland@wildsight.ca
Chloe O’Loughlin, CPAWS: (604) 685-7445, ext. 23
Will Hammerquist: 011-44-79-244-74932, whammerquist@npca.org
Jessica Lawrence, Earthjustice: (510) 550-6751
Sarah Cox, Sierra Club BC (250) 386-5255 x257, c. 250-812-1762
BREAKING NEWS: UN World Heritage Committee adopts reccomendations for Waterton-Glacier
Jun2
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee just adopted a decision that will provide guidance for the ongoing protection of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Including sending a mission to the site to evaluate the potential risks from resource development outside its borders!
When the committee reached Waterton-Glacier on the agenda, Australia offered forth a completely new draft resolution! Both Canada and the United States supported the new document, which included some major improvements.
Canada, Barbados, the United States, and Kenya all spoke on the agenda item.
Barbados asked Canada and the US to speak to the issue. Canada confirmed that they recognize the impacts that resource development in the Flathead River Valley could have on the Waterton Glacier World Heritage Site. They also noted that no mining or gas extraction is occurring in the Canadian Flathead. The United States noted their concerns as well. They also noted the excellent cooperation that they have with Canada in managing the peace park.
The Canadian Flathead Valley: One the Most Special Places on Earth
Both Canada and the US stated support for a UNESCO mission to the property, which is a positive step forward to resolving this issue.
Kenya then provided its perspective, recognizing that even the developed world is not immune to mining issues. They also expressed support for a mission to ensure this heritage is protected on behalf of humanity. Kenya also noted that in time of economic hardship there is the temptation for governments to disregard protection.
The recommendations were adopted unanimously!
We are working on an actual release and obtaining an electronic copy of the final decision.
Waterton-Glacier up for discussion at UN meetings in Spain shortly
Jun0
Stay tuned for a live update as the Waterton-Glacier World Heritage Site’s state of conservation should be discussed at the UNESCO World Heritage Meetings in Spain.
It may however not be discussed till tomorrow evening.
Live Update from UNESCO Feed
Jun0
Damage to Chilean heritage sites evaluated after earthquake
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre expresses its condolences for the victims of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Chile on 27 February. While providing humanitarian relief remains the absolute priority for the Chilean Government, recent information has been received on the state of certain heritage sites: Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso and Sewell Mining Town, properties inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003 and 2006, respectively, and the Juan …
2009-2010 World Heritage map now available
The latest version of the World Heritage map, produced by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and National Geographic Maps with support from the United Nations Foundation, can now be ordered for a modest fee from the World Heritage Centre website. All proceeds from sales of the maps will go toward the preservation and promotion of World Heritage sites.
The map is an extremely valuable learning and awareness-raising tool that gives a rich and initial contact with the World Heritage concept, …
Growing World Heritage: Committee Considers New Inscriptions
Jun0
A big part of the World Heritage Committee annual meeting agenda is to add sites proposed sites to the World Heritage list. Today the Committee began this process. This year twenty-seven sights are up for consideration.
One of the first to be inscribed this year was the Mount Wutai site in China. A link to the full Committee Press Release can be found here.
http://images.china.cn/
From Wikipedia:
It takes its name from its unusual topography, consisting of five rounded peaks (North, South, East, West, Central), of which the North peak, called Beitai Ding or Yedou Feng, is the highest, and indeed the highest point in northern China.
The main Buddhist temple grounds.
Wutai was the first of the four mountains to be identified and is often referred to as “first among the four great mountains.” Mount Wutai is home to some of the oldest existent wooden buildings in China that have survived since the era of the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
Four other sites were inscribed this morning: The Walden Sea (bi-national site between Netherlands and Germany) Italy’s Dolomites, which are truly amazing, and Philippines’s Tubbataha Reefs.
You can keep updated on each inscription has it happens by going to the official World Heritage Committee homepage at http://whc.unesco.org/
Canada Expands a World Heritage site.
Jun0
Canada just announced to the World Heritage Committee the expansion of Nahanni National Park. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper first announced Canada’s intent to make this expansion in August of 2007. The expansion was formalized by parliament earlier this month. CBC reported that the enlarged park will be slightly smaller than Vancouver Island, making Nahanni the third-largest national park in Canada.
Perhaps one day a similar announcement can be made about the world’s first international peace park, Waterton-Glacier.
CBC Canada