The Local Good is taking their monthly Green Drinks Edmonton event online. From the event page:
Grab a beverage and join us for a panel discussion and Q&A with local experts on food and climate change. Read more about Online Panel: Food and Climate Change
A quarter section of public land, SE 31-9-13-W4, located near Taber is slated for auction on March 31, 2020. The provincial government should be proactively avoiding any further losses of native prairie landscapes. With less than 2% of Alberta’s native prairie grasslands protected, we need this piece left as is under public land management. Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) is calling for this public land sale to be withdrawn. Read more about Public Land Sale Opposed
Edmonton – A new public opinion survey shows the vast majority of Albertans oppose the changes to Alberta parks announced with the 2020 provincial budget.
On March 2, 2020 Alberta Environment and Parks announced the full or partial closure of 20 parks and the removal of 164 parks from the Alberta Parks System resulting in the loss of 39 percent of Alberta’s parks and removal of the protections to conservation values and quality of recreation experience that are provided through a parks designation. Read more about Strong Majority of Albertans Oppose Government Changes to Parks
Following the Alberta government's decision to sell a quarter section of public land near Taber, the Alberta Wilderness Association has published their responsestating that
The level of public engagement in the management of public lands has been an AWA concern for more than 50 years, and we believe that this proposed sale of public land in Taber illustrates the deficiencies within the current management framework that provide no transparency, hinder public participation, and enable an unacceptable standard for monitoring and managing public lands.
Read the full letter on the AWA website Read more about AWA Letter of Opposition to the Sale of Public Lands in Taber
From the CPAWS Southern Alberta website:
The Alberta Government announced they are eliminating or privatizing 184 sites from the Alberta Parks system, including 20 parks that will be completely or partially closed immediately. Other impacts include closing visitor centres, discontinuing popular groomed cross-country ski trails, shortening the operating season for many campgrounds and increasing camping and service fees at all sites. Read more about Defend Alberta’s Parks!
For over 50 years CPAWS Southern and Northern Alberta chapters have been collaborating with industry, government, Indigenous partners, communities, and like-minded organizations to protect our invaluable parks and wilderness areas and connect Albertans to nature through sustainable outdoor recreation. We are very concerned with the recent announcement from the Government of Alberta on a drastic change to our parks and recreation areas. Read more about CPAWS Statement on Alberta Parks Closures and Privatization
Edmonton/Calgary – CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta chapters are deeply concerned over the fate of parks and conservation in Alberta after budget announcements on Thursday. The budget of Fall 2019 saw a substantial 9.7% cut to the Alberta Parks budget, and this additional 10% cut in the 2020 budget will further degrade the ability of Alberta Parks to properly manage the areas designated to protect Alberta’s natural heritage. Read more about CPAWS concerned with cuts to parks and protected areas in Alberta’s 2020 budget
Edmonton — CPAWS welcomes the announcement by Teck Resources Limited CEO, Don Lindsay, that the company has withdrawn their application for the Frontier oil sands mine. In Teck’s letter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Don Lindsay cites the need to address policy frameworks for tackling climate change and expresses urgent need to reduce global carbon emissions through carbon pricing and legislated caps for oil sands emissions. Read more about Teck announces withdrawal of Frontier oil sands mine project proposal
From the AWA website:
The Canadian Wildlife Service is proposing to amend the Migratory Bird Regulations to include a Sandhill crane hunt within the province of Alberta. AWA does not support this proposed amendment as there is no definitive scientific evidence to demonstrate that this hunt would be sustainable, and not negatively impact the Sandhill crane population in the long-term. AWA has also expressed concern over the potential risk this hunt could have on Whooping cranes; the eastern flyway is used by both crane species, which could increase the risk of misidentification by hunters to Whooping cranes.
AWA’s letter to the Canadian Wildlife Service is posted here.
Write the Canadian Wildlife Service at [email protected] to let them know what you think about the proposed amendments. The deadline for comments is Sunday, February 16, 2020. Read more about Action Alert: Proposed Establishment of Hunting Sandhill Cranes in Alberta
This month the Government of Canada will approve or reject the massive 290 sq-km Teck Frontier oil sands mine project in northern Alberta. This project is a serious danger to our boreal forest and poses risks that cannot be ignored. If approved, the mine will threaten Wood Buffalo National Park, key species at risk, and Canada’s ability to reach its climate commitments. Nature can’t afford to support this project.
Read more about Action Alert: Tell the Government to REJECT Teck Frontier Mine
