| Protect Parks From Mining | 27 November 15 |
Manitoba’s new protected areas strategy focuses on small ecological reserves and wildlife management areas (WMAs). It is unclear if the Manitoba government will act to protect parks and large regions of Manitoba’s boreal forest as it has been promising for years. Old provincial parks in Manitoba were often established over old mining and logging areas, where industrial roads allowed access to beautiful landscapes filled with clear lakes and forested ridges. These same mining areas have been subject to mining exploration for decades. More recently a new mine opened in Clearwater Lake Provincial Park. Provincial parks under the new Manitoba Parks Act are to provide protection of natural lands and waters and the quality of life for Manitobans. Parks preserve biological diversity. And biodiversity in protected and fully functioning natural ecosystems mitigates our climate, provide fresh water and clean our air. The Manitoba government still allows mining companies to claim land in provincial parks. There are over 750 claims in 13 of Manitoba's provincial parks, including Whiteshell, Nopiming, and Grass River. Forestry options have been removed from most park lands.
View November 26, 2015 Manitoba Government news release |
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