Support for Boreal World Heritage Site Grows |
07 December 04 |
 The 3rd World Conservation Congress (WCC) and the Government of Manitoba are the most recent additions to the list of supporters of the Atikaki/Woodland Caribou/First Nations Accord World Heritage Site (WHS) nomination.In late November 2004, the World Conservation Congress, in Bangkok, Thailand, adopted a recommendation to protect and conserve Canada's boreal forest regions. The Canadian government supported the recommendation, and national and international organizations, including the Canadian Boreal Initiative, Poplar River First Nation, CPAWS Wildlands League and the Natural Resources Defense Council built support for the recommendation at the Congress. Local support from local environmental organizations; the Boreal Forest Network, the Manitoba Wilderness Committee, and Manitoba Wildlands, have also supported the First Nation-nominated potential boreal WHS since it was first brought to the public's attention in 2002 by the First Nations. On December 3, 2004, the Manitoba Government formally announced its support for the WHS nomination, in a protected areas announcement that also featured the newly established Manigotagan Provincial Park. Both the Town of Manigotagan and Hollow Water First Nation gave their consent for protection of Manigotagan River corridor. The Manitoba Government announcement was attended by representatives from all four of the Manitoba First Nations signatory to the Protected Areas Accord, who initiated the WHS nomination. Stan Struthers, Minister of Conservation made the announcement and closed with this comment, "the future of the east side of Lake Winnipeg is something this government takes very seriously. Working with our First Nation and community partners we want to ensure the area is protected with minimal impact from economic opportunities, opportunities that must be conducted in a strictly sustainable way." View the December 2, 2004 press release by the Boreal Forest Network, Manitoba Wilderness Committee, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Manitoba Wildlands View the November 25, 2004 Manitoba Wildlands news item on the World Conservation Congress resolution View the Government of Manitoba December 3, 2004 press release View the Manitoba Government Protected Areas Initiative web page for Manigotagan River Provincial Park View Senator Spivak comments, December 7, 2004, Canadian Senate View Pauingassi First Nation Chief Harold Crowe December 3, 2004 Speaking Notes Sources: Manitoba Wildlands, Government of Manitoba |
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