Wood Buffalo National Park
Photo by: Wikimedia Commons
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has requested Canada to invite a reactive monitoring mission to conduct an indepth investigation of how Wood Buffalo National Park, in Alberta, is being impacted by hydroelectric and oil and gas development.
The park was listed as a world heritage site over 30 years ago for its globally unique and important ecosystems.
Unesco's decision followed a petition from Mikisew Cree First Nation, in December, to place Wood Buffalo National Park on the list of world heritage sites in danger.
"We are deeply concerned about the existing impact of industrial activity and climate change on the park and the new threats posed by megaprojects upstream of the Peace-Athabasca Delta. We thank the World Heritage Committee for taking Mikisew's concerns seriously," Mikisew chief Steve Courtoreille said.
At the thirty-ninth session of the World Heritage Committee in Bonn, Germany, Unesco also requested that Canada undertake a strategic environmental assessment of the potential cumulative impacts of all developments on the park.
After acknowledging the threats to Wood Buffalo National Park from hydroelectric dams, oil sands development and proposed openpit mining near the park, the organisation also requested that Canada not take any decision related to development projects that would be difficult to reverse.
"We have been stunned by the support we have received in Bonn from members of the international community. We look forward to assisting the joint Unesco/ International Union for Conservation of Nature field mission as it investigates the threats facing Wood Buffalo National Park and the Peace-Athabasca Delta in the coming months,” Mikisew delegation in Bonn head Melody Lepine noted.
Mikisew was grateful for the wide support its petition had received from other indigenous groups, former Parks Canada officials, eminent scientists and researchers, and numerous nongovernmental organisations, including the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS).
CPAWS park programme director Alison Woodley added that the society applauded the leadership of Mikisew Cree First Nation in bringing the serious threats facing Wood Buffalo to the attention of Unesco. “[We] urge the Canadian and Alberta governments to act quickly to implement the World Heritage Committee's recommendations.”