Close X
Sunday, October 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. establishes largest provincial park in a decade to protect threatened caribou

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Jun, 2024 11:32 AM
  • B.C. establishes largest provincial park in a decade to protect threatened caribou

A major provincial park expansion will create a protection zone of almost 2,000 square kilometres for caribou and other species in northeastern British Columbia.

The Ministry of Environment says in a statement that the addition to the Klinse-za Park will make it the largest provincial park established in the province in a decade.

The park addition is the result of a partnership in 2020 between the province and the Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations, where they agreed to help stabilize and protect the threatened southern mountain caribou.

Klinse-za Park is located just west of Chetwynd, B.C., almost 1,100 kilometres north of Vancouver.

The province says the number of caribou in B.C. fell by more than 55 per cent in the last century, mostly due to human-caused habitat disturbance, and there are fewer than 4,000 of the southern mountain species left.

The expanded park will also protect other at-risk species, such as fishers, bull trout, grizzly and wolverines, as well as sacred cultural sites for Treaty 8 First Nations in the area.

"The teachings were to leave no trace nor impact as you pass through the lands," Chief Roland Willson of West Moberly First Nations said in a statement. "Times have changed and others have come seeking natural resources for economic development: forestry, oil and gas, large-scale hydroelectric, mining, and so on. They leave a much different footprint." 

The federal government has provided $46 million toward compensating industries and tenure holders affected by the park expansion, in addition to another $10 million to boost an economic diversification trust locally.

MORE National ARTICLES

New Westminster Police looking for suspect in bear spray assault

New Westminster Police looking for suspect in bear spray assault
Police searched the area for someone matching the suspect description, and provided aid to the victim. Despite searches of the surrounding area, no one matching the suspect description could be found.

New Westminster Police looking for suspect in bear spray assault

Ottawa to fast-track weapon purchases: Anand

Ottawa to fast-track weapon purchases: Anand
Anand announced the plan Thursday at the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, one of Canada's largest defence conferences, saying the new weapons are needed now for Canadian troops in Latvia and other parts of Europe.    

Ottawa to fast-track weapon purchases: Anand

COVID-19 impact on mental health limited: study

COVID-19 impact on mental health limited: study
Senior author Dr. Brett Thombs, a researcher at McGill University, said that coverage of the pandemic has mostly focused on snapshots of people whose mental health has deteriorated and people have generalized that to the overall population.

COVID-19 impact on mental health limited: study

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond stripped of B.C. award

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond stripped of B.C. award
The association says board members believed Turpel-Lafond's representations about her professional accomplishments and Cree heritage when it granted the award recognizing substantial contributions to civil liberties in B.C. and Canada.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond stripped of B.C. award

B.C. government orders probe of Prince George RCMP

B.C. government orders probe of Prince George RCMP
The independent commission that ensures the impartial examination of complaints about the RCMP already issued an interim report to the RCMP commissioner about the matter and Farnworth's office says the commissioner agreed with the report's findings and recommendations.

B.C. government orders probe of Prince George RCMP

Surrey Council approves contract for 152 Street Road Widening Project

Surrey Council approves contract for 152 Street Road Widening Project
During Monday night’s meeting, Surrey Council also awarded a $594,278 Consultant Construction Agreement to McElhanney Ltd., and approved the expenditure of $850,000 payable to BC Hydro for the relocation and modification of BC Hydro infrastructure necessary for the project.

Surrey Council approves contract for 152 Street Road Widening Project