An environmental organization has announced a landmark agreement with the federal and British Columbia governments, along with various private and public sector collaborators, to safeguard 45,000 hectares, equivalent to 450 square kilometers, of forested land in the province. The Nature Conservancy of Canada revealed that this initiative ranks as one of the largest private land conservation endeavors in the country and integrates into a network of protected regions in the Rockies extending into Montana.
This conservation effort focuses on the Kootenay Forest Lands situated in southeastern British Columbia, within the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa Nation. The preserved area comprises high-altitude grasslands hosting a unique and endangered ecosystem, featuring old-growth forests, 930 kilometers of streams, and crucial habitats for grizzly bears, whitebark pine, bull trout, and bighorn sheep.
Noteworthy participants in this conservation pact include Elk Valley Resources, a subsidiary of Glencore involved in coal mining operations in the valley, and the endorsement of the Ktunaxa Nation. Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin emphasized in a statement that this project underscores Canada’s dedication to nature preservation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.