Nahanni Breakthrough
CPAWS’ Nahanni Forever campaign has taken a giant leap forward. On August 8th, 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister John Baird flew north to Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories to announce that the federal government has placed 28,800 km2 of land under interim protection specifically for the purpose of expanding the national park. When added to the lands protected in the current 4766 km2 park, almost 85% of the South Nahanni Watershed and Nahanni karstlands -- an area larger than Vancouver Island -- is now protected. Once the park boundaries are officially expanded by act of Parliament, Nahanni will become one of Canada's three biggest national parks.
The Nahanni watershed straddles the traditional territories of the Dehcho First Nations (85% of the watershed area) and the Sahtu Dene and Metis (15% of the watershed). The Prime Minister’s announcement effectively protects the Dehcho area of the watershed and the adjacent Nahanni karstlands until October 2008 while the formal park expansion process is completed. Protecting the Nahanni watershed is a goal CPAWS shares with the Dehcho First Nations, who have also been working towards this goal for many years. In the Sahtu region discussions to protect the remaining 15% of the watershed are proceeding through a separate process, and signs are positive there too.
Lots more work needs to be done to ensure this next step translates into permanent protection for the watershed. The announcement does not affect existing mining rights in the watershed, including the Prairie Creek mine. These still need to be stopped. And this fall there will be public consultations held on the proposed new boundaries, during which we need to show overwhelming support for protecting the entire South Nahanni Watershed.
If you would like more details on the Nahanni campaign, please see: www.cpaws.org
Not only will our win on Nahanni save one of the world's greatest natural treasures, it will also move us a step closer towards our goal of protecting at least 50% of Canada's lands and waters.
By the numbers:
Total size of South Nahanni watershed and adjacent karstlands:Approx 40,000 sq km
Current Nahanni National Park Reserve (permanent protection):
4766 sq km
Aug 8 announcement (lands set aside for national park expansion):
28,800 sq km
Lands still to be protected in the watershed (Nahanni Headwaters in Sahtu region):
6,500 sq km