New Alberta parks make unprotected B.C. stand out 'like sore thumb'
Alberta's NDP government just created two new parks, protecting 100,000 hectares next to B.C. border
Environmentalists in the Kootenays say it's time British Columbia stepped up and matched its neighbours to the east.
Alberta's NDP government just created two new parks in the Rocky Mountains, covering 100,000 hectares of the Castle Wilderness area, on the border with B.C.
Non-profit environmental group Wildsight now wants B.C. to match Alberta in the nearby Flathead River Valley, where environmentalists have long dreamed of a new park.
"Now really more than ever we have the Flathead, which stands out like a sore thumb as a big, unprotected area adjacent to other protected areas," said Ryland Nelson, Southern Rockies Program Manager.
The B.C. government did remove mining from the Flathead, but many environmentalists say that's not enough and Wildsight is pushing for full protection.
"If you look at a map, the southeastern portion of B.C. is devoid of any protected areas, while being completely surrounded by protected areas," said Nelson.
"It's time B.C. stepped up and protected the crown of the continent."