Joint Position Statement of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee
and Friends of the West Country
The West Country has traditionally been known for its world-class trout streams. They continue to be fished by fly fisherpersons from around the world. These streams are extremely productive because the oldgrowth pine forests shade the waters and keep them cold; and the forest floor mosses, natural bogs and wild grasses filter the water and keep it pure.
These trout-rich streams, found along the West Country's eastern slopes, are in a "Protection Forest" which has theoretically been protected by government policy for decades. Now, despite this designation, Sunpine is logging in this spectacular country, in the very shadow of the Rocky Mountains. Its clearcut logging not only threatens water quality and trout fishing but also present and future tourism.
Even though Alberta's protected areas policy, Special Places 2000, has generally failed to provide adequate conservation for Alberta's natural ecosystems, local people are still given a powerful say in selecting which areas are to be protected and the form of protection.
The Western Canada Wilderness Committee and the Friends of the West Country do not envision the proposed 750,000 ha Bighorn Country Wildlands Recreation Area as being an area preserved exclusively for its ecological and wilderness values. We see it as a place where hikers, fisherman, nature tourists, photographers, horseback riders and ATV users may co-exist. All can enjoy the Bighorn Country. By being inclusive, not exclusive, we know that the vast majority of local people will support our Bighorn proposal.
Although ATVs have the capacity to negatively impact the environment, we much prefer them to clearcutters in the Bighorn Country. The impacts of horses and ATVs are akin to scratches and bruises, while the impacts of clearcutting are akin to the amputation of arms and legs. Bighorn Country needs the support of all outdoor recreationists to make its protection a reality.
