Alberta adds two new spaces, 1,400 hectares to provincial parks system

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Alberta is including greater than 1,400 hectares to the province’s parks system with the addition of two new parks and three expansions, however the deregulation of 12 smaller areas is inflicting concern amongst some advocacy teams.

The province introduced the creation of Kleskun Hills Provincial Park — comprising 1,000 hectares of uncommon grassland ecosystems north of Grande Prairie — and La Biche River Provincial Recreation Space (PRA) west of Lac La Biche — and the enlargement of three different websites — on Thursday.

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“The enlargement of the provincial parks system creates alternatives for Albertans to go to and recognize a few of Alberta’s most spectacular landscapes. The modifications we’re making will improve the flexibility to entry and luxuriate in our province’s out of doors areas with out impacting leisure use,” mentioned Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, in a information launch late Thursday.

The province says the boundary modifications will improve recreation and tenting alternatives and defend uncommon ecosystems. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), a conservation advocacy group, says the additions are finally welcome information.

“We hope that this can be a sign of extra to come back,” mentioned Kecia Kerr, the manager director of CPAWS’s northern Alberta department in a Thursday information launch. “There are numerous different alternatives to extend habitat protections resembling areas beforehand recognized by way of land use planning, areas proposed by communities, and much-needed safety of habitat for notably susceptible populations of species in danger.”

Province delists 12 websites

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Nonetheless, the province additionally delisted 12 smaller PRAs — totalling about 50 hectares in numerous areas throughout Alberta. Ten of the websites are decommissioned freeway relaxation stops or flood-damaged areas which were closed for at the very least a decade, some for upwards of 20 years.

The websites in query have been on the chopping block earlier than, saved when the federal government reversed its 2020 “Optimizing Alberta Parks” plan that sought to nix 164 areas from the province’s parks system — upended partly by the Defend Alberta Parks marketing campaign CPAWS helped manage. Whereas the newly delisted websites weren’t a spotlight of that marketing campaign, CPAWS nonetheless said Alberta Parks must be correctly funded in order that decommissioning websites isn’t essential.

“The response of our members and the general public in search of readability on these current modifications reveals that Albertans are nonetheless watching intently. It’s essential that the federal government makes these selections transparently and in session with Albertans,” mentioned Katie Morrison, govt director of CPAWS’s southern Alberta chapter, within the launch.

Moreover, 4 of the websites delisted Wednesday had been marked for deregulation within the 2014 South Saskatchewan Regional Plan, a land-use plan for a portion of southern Alberta. CPAWS criticized the federal government for following by way of on the delistings however not the designation of latest protected areas additionally instructed by the decade-old plan.

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“If the Authorities of Alberta is transferring ahead on delisting areas recognized in land-use plans, we are able to simply as readily transfer ahead on defending areas as proposed in those self same plans. We stay up for the province making progress on this entrance, too,” mentioned Morrison.

Large Elbow PRA within the Kananaskis space is among the many websites being delisted, however it exists inside the boundary of Don Getty Provincial Park. The province says the location will stay a part of that park and no disruption is predicted for the backcountry campground.

Orders trigger social media confusion

Banff-Kananaskis NDP MLA Sarah Elmeligi mentioned the brand new park additions are “good to see,” however she’d prefer to see extra consideration given to enhancing websites as a substitute of eradicating them.

“There are such a lot of provincial recreation areas throughout the province. A lot of these simply have to be upgraded to supply tenting alternatives, quite than dying these gradual deaths after which being closed for 10 years after which ultimately being delisted and elevating all these questions and pink flags for Albertans,” Elmeligi, the NDP’s critic for tourism, sport and recreation, instructed Postmedia on Thursday.

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The deliberate modifications brought on a stir on social media Wednesday evening as the federal government’s orders in council that initiated the modifications had been revealed on-line earlier than any announcement was made. Elmeligi mentioned higher communication is required from the provincial authorities, noting that considerations arose shortly amongst some as the knowledge unfold on social media with none offered context.

“Individuals began to get very involved once more, despite the fact that it was fewer websites, despite the fact that it perhaps wasn’t the websites that they had been involved about in 2020,” she mentioned. “The social media response was really shocking to me, but in addition, I believe it actually demonstrates that individuals don’t belief this authorities to make selections on behalf of the individuals in a constructive means, particularly in terms of parks. I don’t assume that Albertans belief the UCP in terms of parks, so that they’re paying consideration.”

Elmeligi additionally mentioned the federal government wants to supply data on standards used within the decision-making course of for the boundary modifications and comply with by way of on guarantees to develop Alberta parks and tenting alternatives within the 2024 price range.

Final yr, the province introduced plans to speculate $211.3 million by 2026 in Alberta’s parks and public lands, together with $500,000 for brand new campgrounds.

mrodriguez@postmedia.com

X: @MichaelRdrguez

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