Posts Tagged ‘eastern slopes’
Death by “Data Deficient”: The Disappearance of Wolverines in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes
BY GILLIAN CHOW-FRASER
Olaus Murie once wrote, “I wonder if there is another inhabitant of northern wilderness that so excites the imagination.”1 The species he was referring to? None other than the wolverine.
More than 60 years later, the same thought ran through my mind as I tracked through the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Would this be the day? Would I be able to catch even a brief glimpse of a wolverine’s bushy tail in the distance?
Read MoreTrails Act Heading in the Wrong Direction
The UCP government has proposed legislation to govern trails on public land in Alberta.
Read MoreSpace: A Frontier No Longer?
BY LORNE FITCH
Outer space may still be a frontier, but the space we call wilderness is getting increasingly crowded. The refrain I hear, from people who remember the Eastern Slopes from a previous era, echoes Yogi Berra’s enigmatic statement that “No one goes there, it’s too crowded.” I know I’m reluctant to visit there now, based on my memories of a place much quieter, with less traffic and fewer people.
Read MoreAlberta’s Coal Policy Reinstated
Today’s announcement demonstrates that grassroots voices can make a real difference in ensuring that Alberta’s special places remain protected.
This is s a welcome reprieve for future development in the Eastern Slopes. We urge concerned citizens to continue to press for a full stop on exploration and development activities until public consultation is completed and appropriate protections are in place.
Read MoreCoal at What Cost? Alberta’s Endangered Whitebark Pine Under Threat From Benga’s Proposed Coal Mine
Kelsey Fleming reviews the implications of the Benga coal mine on Alberta’s endangered whitebark pine.
Read MoreRed Deer River Naturalists requests public consultations on proposed coal developments
The Red Deer River Naturalists Society has requested that the government reopen the public consultation processes for the North Saskatchewan River Regional Plan and enable the public to comment on the cumulative effects of coal development.
Read MoreProvince Pushes the Pause Button on Coal Development
Energy Minister Sonya Savage has announced that the province will cancel 11 recently issued coal leases and pause future lease sales in the Eastern Slopes.
Unfortunately, a pause is not the same as a stop.
Read MoreSociety of Grasslands Naturalists Raises Concerns About Land-Use Decisions in the Eastern Slopes
The Society of Grassland Naturalists has raised concerns about land-use decisions in the Eastern Slopes. They urge the premier to adopt an integrated approach to planning that involves public consultations.
Read MoreA Fisheye View of Cumulative Effects in Alberta’s Southern East Slopes
BY SARAH MILLIGAN
The southern East Slopes region is both busy and ecologically significant. However, no landscape can provide an inexhaustible supply of benefits to humans. And in the southern East Slopes region, there are growing indications that a tipping point has been reached.
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