Amazing Photos of The Canadian Flathead!
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
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
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
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
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Growing World Heritage: Committee Considers New Inscriptions
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.
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
Cultural Sites in Danger-The Debate over Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley
UPDATE 8:40 AM Mountain Standard Time: The Committee just voted 14-5 with 2 votes abstaining to remove the Dresden Elbe Valley from the World Heritage List, making the Elbe the first ever cultural property to be delisted. It was apparent that no member of the committee took joy in the decision as the Madam Chair stated after the vote that each member of the committee shares the pain with the state party of Germany and that the decision is a collective failure by all parties to the Convention.
The meeting is running about a day behind schedule. The committee Chair from Spain is taking the time to ensure that each issue has proper consideration. Currently, the committee is discussing cultural World Heritage sites that are on the "In Danger" list.
The cultural site "In Danger" under discussion right now is the Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany. Debate is rigorous and fascinating because World Heritage Center staff have provided the Committee the unprecedented recommendation to remove the valley from the World Heritage list.
The threat to the property is the ongoing construction of a new bridge that has been deemed to irreversibly harm the outstanding universal value of this cultural site, which is the amazing river landscape qualities that have been well preserved for centuries. The New York Times published an opinion piece from the Friends of Dresden on the issue last month. From that contribution:
This will be the first time that Unesco will be deleting a site from its list of several hundred World Cultural Heritage sites. The loss will severely tarnish Dresden’s status as a cultural icon. It will also greatly diminish the impact of Dresden’s message for reconciliation.
The bridge will be completed in a few months years. The Germany delegation just spoke along with the Mayor of Dresden. They both oppose the delisting of the site and have asked for an additional year of consultation before a decision is made. A delegate just weighed in saying that a failure to delist the site will set the precedent that countries are free to ignore the concerns and recommendations of the World Heritage Committee.
Public Concern over the Future of Waterton-Glacier is Real
Why is the World Heritage Committee even discussing Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park this week in Seville, Spain? Well, the simple answer is because over half a million Canadians and Americans asked them to. The twelve conservation organizations that petitioned the World Heritage Committee represent over 500,000 citizens in both countries. That's a lot of people.
People who care about national parks, wildlife, and ensuring that the next generation of humanity will have the privilege---and responsibility that comes with it---of experiencing the outstanding universal values of the world's first international peace park, Waterton-Glacier.
This month over 51,016 people took action and sent emails to officials in both Canada and the United States who have the power to protect Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park from mining. (See letter from 50,000 North Americans). Once again, that's a lot of people who believe that one of wildest and most pristine places in North America is an inappropriate place for strip-mining and coal-bed methane.
It is clear that the North American public wants protection for the Canadian Flathead. The support is local, as well. Over 70 percent of local British Columbians want protection for Canadian Flathead Valley, as well.
To the 50,016 people from across North America who have asked for the World Heritage Committee to help Canada and the United States reach a long-term solution for the Flathead Valley: Thank You. Your voice and support is why we are here.
African World Heritage sites in Danger
The Committee is reviewing the State of Conservation for the 30 World Heritage sites that are currently on the list of sites in Danger. The mood in the room is somber. These sites are at risk from a host of threats; including, armed conflict, poaching, and illegal mining and deforestation.
In the Democratic Rep. of Congo every World Heritage site is on the In Danger list. Committee staff just noted during the discussion on Kahuzi-Biega National Park the poaching of primates (Gorillas and Chimpanzees) continues to this day.
From Wikipedia:
The Second Congo War, beginning in 1998, devastated the country and involved seven foreign armies and is sometimes referred to as the "African World War".[3] Despite the signing of peace accords in 2003, fighting continues in the east of the country. In eastern Congo, the prevalence and intensity of rape and other sexual violence is described as the worst in the world.[4] The war is the world's deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people.[5][6]
Climate change and coal mining pose a real threat to Waterton-Glacier, but in many ways these threats pale in comparision to the challenges that exist across the world.