Top 10 of 2010

What follows were AWA’s top 10 “picks” for 2010: These were the issues that drove us, and the successes that sustained us. These were the images that memorialized our successes over the year and crystallized the goals that we strove to meet: the wild lands, wildlife and wild water that we all work to protect. These are ten windows into the stories that give our work meaning.

1. Grizzlies: Listed as Threatened. Now what?

   The grizzly bear is one of the most majestic and awe-inspiring wildlife species in Alberta, the perfect symbol of Alberta's untamed wilderness. But the grizzly is nevertheless under enormous pressure in the province.  AWA’s Save the Grizzly campaign – www.savethegrizzly.ca – was an important focus of AWA’s grizzly work, and a bold new satirical campaign – No More Grizzlies – was also launched.  A new website (www.nomoregrizzlies.com) and a series of provocative radio and web-based advertisements garnered considerable media and public interest and no doubt had a degree of influence on the government’s decision to list the bears as threatened.

   Now for the real work – protecting grizzly bear habitat.

            
   
   

2. Our Future is Bright

   Sometimes education is about adults educating children, and sometimes it is the other way around! One group of elementary school children proudly presented AWA with a series of endangered species pamphlets which they had prepared; another group from another school wrote letters to the Alberta government to protect more wetlands in the province and one student initiated a petition and submitted more than 60 signatures to the government in support of protecting wetlands. What an inspiration they are to us all.

    
   
   

3. Caught in a Perfect Storm

   Alberta’s reindeer are dwindling – the Banff herd was so small it was completely extirpated in an avalanche and even though they have been recognized as threatened in Alberta since 1985, their habitat continues to disappear, and their numbers dwindle.

   A new Alberta Caribou ‘policy’, which does nothing to protect severely threatened woodland caribou, is one more nail in the coffin for this beleaguered species. An open-door policy on tar sands development, and – until it was withdrawn – proposed changes to protected areas legislation in Bill 29, guaranteed doom for woodland caribou in north-eastern Alberta and created the perfect storm.

   Only a concerted effort to save the remaining herds from industrial development will save them from sliding into extinction in Alberta. We must commit to no new industrial development in existing protected areas in the tar sands. “The newly identified conservation areas in the Lower Athabasca must see existing leases withdrawn and renegotiated. The situation is desperate.”

   
   
   

4. Healthy, Abundant Water

   AWA’s vision for healthy abundant water is that “For the well-being of all living things, Alberta has healthy, natural ecosystems in its river headwaters. There is plentiful clean water for all Albertans; province-wide awareness and stewardship of water as a precious, life-giving resource; and effective, ecosystem-based management of Alberta’s watersheds, groundwater, river valleys, lakes, and wetlands.”

   Healthy wetlands absorb, slowly release and purify our water, and provide critical wildlife habitat. We have already lost 2/3 of our central and southern wetlands, and an unknown area of northern wetlands. Albertans support a ‘no net loss’ wetland policy. Yet a proposed provincial policy rejects ‘no net loss’, because of unfounded claims by oil sands mines that they, alone amongst Alberta industries, cannot afford it.

         
   
   

5. Yahoo for Wild Alberta!

   With a grant from Mountain Equipment Co-operative, AWA partnered with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) to introduce recent immigrants to Alberta’s natural regions.  Part of this introduction came via the classroom and part came via a field trip to Dry Island Buffalo Jump.  AWA’s initiative “Newcomers to Wild Spaces” was a great success, one we hope will grow to include a program in Edmonton in 2011.

   “For me, getting to the top of the hill was amazing; feeling the breeze and the peacefulness of this place was so emotional.”

    

   
   
   

6. Watching and Watchdogging

    

   Wilderness and Wildlife Defenders are people who sign up to receive regular updates on wilderness issues, and who take the time to speak out in defence of our wilderness and wildlife. These folks are responsible for a number of major successes in Alberta in 2010, including the halting of a secretive deal to sell of 16,000 of native prairie public land, and the withdrawal of the notorious Bill 29, which would have seriously undermined protection of Alberta’s entire protected areas network.

   Wilderness and Wildlife Defenders are a group of dedicated wilderness advocates committed to direct action by phone, letters and email.  They are individuals who sign up to receive regular updates on wilderness issues, and who take the time to speak out in defence of our wilderness and wildlife. Click here to add your voice to the growing chorus of Wilderness and Wildlife Defenders.

    

    
   
   

7. 39 Males Left to Dance

   AWA won a precedent-setting case this year and critical habitat for sage-grouse has been identified. It has been a great first step and now we continue our struggle to ensure the well-being of these magnificent birds. The risk is imminent. “This will be the first case where the oil and gas industry has caused the extirpation of a species from Alberta,” comments University of Alberta scientist Mark Boyce. The cause is clear: “That area is just being riddled and fragmented into little tiny pieces by gas development.” And yet still nothing is done. “We've known this is a serious problem for five years. But the province has failed or refused to do anything about it.”

   Can we save the spectacular sage-grouse before it is too late?

    

    
   
   

8. Potatogate: Wild, Native Prairies, not Potato Chips!

    

   People Power really does work! In fall 2010, in a secretive deal, 16,000 acres of public land – scarce native grassland near Bow Island, known to be habitat for a number of endangered species – stood to be sold off to a private company. If the sale had gone ahead, the irreplaceable prairie would have been ploughed up and turned into a low value potato crop. But AWA raised the alarm, and an army of supporters and public lands advocates across Alberta made such a noise that the deal fell through at the 11^th hour. What a testament to the power of people!

    
   
   

9. Celebrating Earth Day

   AWA’s Annual Earth Day event held at the Calgary Tower is a signature event, held to increase public awareness of wilderness, wildlife and wild water in Alberta. The Climb and Run for Wilderness attracts participants from 2 to 93 years old, with a diverse range of athletic abilities. A family day, a corporate challenge day, a fun time, and a serious opportunity to test one’s personal best are all combined in this event. 

   The event is known as the best Earth Day event in western Canada and attracts more than 1500 individual participants and 150 volunteers annually. Conservation groups and vendors set up displays throughout the Calgary Tower mall to help participants learn about their work.

   In the month prior to the climb day, AWA holds a Mural Painting competition that has produced an amazing gallery of murals on the walls of the stairwell. With almost 100 murals featuring wild lands, wildlife and wild water, the opportunity for artists to showcase their talents and for climbers to feel refreshed and inspired, the mural competition yields one of the signature aspects of the Climb and Run for Wilderness.

        

        

        
   
   

10. Out and About in Wild Alberta

    AWA’s hikes program continues to be the summer’s outreach highlight.  An ongoing success, this program offers members, staff, and the general public an opportunity to visit Alberta’s Wild Spaces; to learn more about their importance, the issues at hand, and AWA’s work in the area. This year’s program covered ten of AWA’s Areas of Concern, featuring ten day trips, two overnight backpack trips and one bus tour.

         

The following graph shows how you responded to these stories, and which you picked as your favourites: