Oct
18
2012
News & Announcements
Sep
27
2012
Sep
11
2012
Sixteen Years after Being “Protected,” Rumsey Natural Area Sees a Halt to New Oil and Gas Access
Sixteen years after it was officially “protected,” Rumsey Natural Area may finally be able to look forward to a future free of industrial development. Alberta Energy has made changes so that all new petroleum and natural gas agreements within the Rumsey Natural Area will now come with the condition: “Surface Access is Not Permitted.” Read More
Aug
22
2012
Lower Athabasca Plan: Significant Progress, but Wildlife Await Land Disturbance Plan Inside Oil Sands Area
The Lower Athabasca regional plan for northeast Alberta released today is a significant step forward in managing cumulative development effects, but regrettably misses many important and promised pieces for wildlife. Read More
Aug
22
2012
Pembina Reacts to tabling of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan
CALGARY — Simon Dyer, policy director at the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the release of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan:
“Today’s announcement is an important milestone in the improved environmental management of the oilsands. Identifying over 1.2 million hectares of new protected conservation areas that will remain free of industrial activity is progress that should be applauded. Through the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, Premier Redford and Minister McQueen have made progress on Alberta’s commitment to responsible oilsands development.
“While a promising start, today’s announcement is just the beginning of the environmental improvements required to ensure responsible oilsands development. Many elements of the regional plan remain incomplete or works-in-progress. Read More
Aug
21
2012
Just $20 per Truckload of Non-merchantable Timber for Castle Clearcut Trees
Pincher Creek, AB - Twenty dollars. That’s how much grizzly bear habitat and trout spawning streams are worth to the Alberta Government. Twenty dollars is the amount of money that the Alberta government receives in royalties for each truckload of non-merchantable timber removed from the Castle. Read More
Aug
16
2012
Federal government misses caribou protection deadline… again
After missing a mandatory legal deadline to submit a draft recovery strategy for woodland caribou by four years, the federal government has also failed to produce a final recovery strategy for woodland caribou on time. Read More
Aug
14
2012
Castle Logging Decision Ignored Fish & Wildlife, and Alberta Public
Details Revealed in Newly-released Freedom of Information Documents
ALBERTA - Newly-released documents reveal that the Alberta government’s decision to go ahead with deeply unpopular clearcut logging in the Castle Special Place, west of Pincher Creek, Alberta – despite widespread public opposition – was made by Forestry staff in a seeming vacuum. Fish and Wildlife staff were given minimal opportunity for input, and documents show that input was ignored. Extensive public opposition to the logging, which saw rallies, a protest camp and even arrests, was also discounted. Read More
Jul
31
2012
One of Alberta's Last Remaining Wilderness Gems Desperately in Need of Protection
Extreme trail erosion, due to high water levels and unsustainable levels of motorized recreational activity, has preempted the closure of some parts of the Bighorn Backcountry to motorized users. Current levels of damage and degradation are so extreme it is hard to imagine the trails will be usable for the 2012 season. Read More
Jul
31
2012
Forestry Deal Pre-empts North SK plan
The Government of Alberta has quietly signed a new 20 year Forest Management Agreement (FMA) with Sundre Forest Products, apparently bypassing the imminent North Saskatchewan planning process. The deal will make watershed and wildlife conservation more difficult in the FMA’s 5600 km2 area of North Saskatchewan and Red Deer River forested headwaters that affects the water security of over a million Albertans downstream. Read More
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