April 15, 1991, is the B.C. government's deadline for input on proposed additions to its parks and wilderness systems!
Click on image for detail.
Boundaries of the Parks Branch's park study areas and the Forest Service's proposed wilderness study areas were copied from a map kindly provided by the Planning Department of the B.C. Ministry of Parks on January 31, 1991
WILDERNESS/PARKS PLANS COMING TO TOWN A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL WCWC MEMBERS!
February could be a time of huge gains in the fight to protect B.C.'s most important wilderness areas, but only if you take time out to speak up in defence of wilderness! The B.C. Parks Ministry and the B.C. Forest Service are stumping around the province conducting a series of open houses and public meetings about proposed new provincial parks and Forest Service wilderness areas. It is crucial that all wilderness preservation advocates attend these meetings and make written submissions. This is the opportunity we've all been waiting for, a chance to complete B.C.'s protected wilderness and parks systems. Look at the map on the left to see the wilderness areas that Parks and Forest Service are proposing. We have also added some of the key proposed parks and wilderness areas that they, for some unknown reason, have left out of their plans.
What is the B.C. Parks Ministry proposing?
B.C. Parks is proposing that the current system of provincial parks be expanded with special emphasis on adding ecosystems not yet represented in the current parks system, preserving large scale natural areas and providing back country recreation opportunities. If public response is favourable, each newly proposed protected area would eventually become a class A provincial park. B.C. Parks has established 33 large study areas and 75 small study areas. Some key park proposals include an addition to the Brooks Peninsula recreation area, expansion of Strathcona, Garibaldi and Tweedsmuir parks, and creation of parks covering the Alsek/Tatshenshini area, the Kitlope Basin, Chilko Lake, and the Megin watershed.
What is the B.C. Forest Service proposing?
The B.C. Forest Service is proposing to create a number of Forest Service Wilderness Areas, a new type of protected area made possible under a 1987 amendment to the Forest Act. These protected areas would have roughly the same protection as Park Recreation Areas, that is they would have less protection than Class A Provincial Parks allowing mining prospecting and development to proceed. The Forest Service uses a wilderness ranking system that gives areas with low timber values a higher ranking. This means that wild places with big-tree low-elevation forests are not well represented in proposed Forest Service Wilderness study areas. Forest Service Wilderness areas must be at least 1,000 hectares in size with no roads. 59 study areas are proposed. Some key ones are the Stein/Lizzie Lake/Upper Nahatlatch, South Chilcotin, Chilliwack Lake-Radium Lake, Tenquille/Owl Lakes, Banks Island and the Ahnuhati watershed.
Where do you fit in?
Check out the information from the Forest Service-BC Parks brochure reprinted on this page. Note when the hearings come to your community and plan to attend. Post this page in a public place, highlighting the meeting time and place in your area. and encourage as many of your friends to attend the meeting and make written submissions. If you see that important local wilderness areas are not included in the proposals, demand that they be added, for example there is huge no-wilderness-zone that runs up the centre of the province all the way from Penticton to Prince George!
Also point out to the Parks/Forest Service the areas which we have marked on this map in light green, ones that were left out of the government proposal such as the upper Carmanah Valley, Walbran Valley, Khutzeymateen Valley, Yakoun Lake, Koeye Valley and lower Tsitika Valley, and which should be considered for preservation. If proposed boundaries do not include key parts of your local wilderness area, demand that the boundaries be expanded. Make sure that local native peoples' concerns are being addressed. You have until April 15 to send in additional written proposals. Please send a copy of all written proposals to the WCWC. Our Committee has almost 30,000 members. Let's work together to complete B.C.'s wilderness system now!
