| Another National Park Reserve for Canada's North | 11 April 08 |
 A new national park reserve for the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) is being celebrated by the people of Tulita Dene, Metis and conservation organizations. Naats'ihch'oh National Park Reserve, meaning "stands like a porcupine" in Slavey - a local Dene language - and will be 1.5 times the size of Prince Edward Island.Canada's environment Minister John Baird announced the 1.9 million acre national park reserve has been granted interim protection. The park reserve will be adjacent to Nahanni National Park Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Dehcho region. "This year's conservation withdrawals in the Northwest Territories are some of the largest in North American history. These are globally significant commitments, and demonstrate that Canada's is taking action to protect the internationally important Boreal regions" said Steve Kallick of the Pew Environment Group's International Boreal Conservation Campaign. The landscape is made up of an alpine plateau along one of the country's most spectacular northern rivers. The park encompasses important habitat for the endangered mountain caribou, Dall's sheep, mountain goats, moose and grizzly bear. Canada's government has announced five major parkland expansions in the Far North. Environmental groups are applauding the government's action to preserve land with mounting pressure facing N.W.T. in coming decades from industrial development including pipelines, mines, and oil and gas wells. View April 7, 2008 Canadian Boreal Initiative press release View April 7, 2008 CBC article View April 7, 2008 Reuters article View April 8, 2008 Globe and Mail article Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site - Nahanni National Park View February 26, 2008 Government of Canada Order of Withdrawl for Disposal of Territorial Lands Sources: Canadian Boreal Initiative, CBC, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, UNESCO |
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