Defending Wild Alberta through Awareness and Action
Welcome
Our website provides awareness of Alberta's natural spaces and the need for action to protect our wildlife, wild lands, and wild waters for future generations.
This site is a wilderness portal to specific areas and issues in Alberta toward inspiring environmental citizenship.
Latest News
2012-02-03 AWA News Release: Beyond Monitoring - Responsible Management Needed for Oilsands Wildlife and Wetlands Impacts
Today, forty five years after the first tar sands mines started, the federal government has finally taken steps to introduce credible monitoring for contaminants and habitat degradation from oilsands development. Alberta Wilderness Association believes that long-overdue monitoring of Alberta’s oilsands impacts is a step in the right direction, but monitoring itself will not fix any of the issues which have so bedeviled the industry for the past few years.
2012-02-02 World Wetlands Day: Alberta’s Wetlands Need More Protection
There is no better time to think of the priceless benefits that Alberta's wetlands provide to us than today, World Wetlands Day. Why not talk to candidates about improving wetland protection in the upcoming election?
2012-02-02 Action Alert: Turning up the Heat on Alberta’s Forest Mis-Management
Public opposition to ill-planned clearcut logging programs in southern Alberta’s sensitive forests is steadily growing. Now is the time to increase the pressure on the Alberta government to listen to Albertans and to start bringing in sweeping changes to the way our forest are managed. Please consider these three options for adding your voice to the growing groundswell.
2012-02-01 Castle Logging Protest Camp Cleared by RCMP. Logging Opposition Continues
The battle to save the Castle from imminent clearcut logging continues. This morning, the RCMP moved in to clear the site near Beaver Mines where protesters have been camped out in opposition to the proposed Castle clearcut logging. The RCMP were there to enforce a Court Order to leave the protest site. Four of the 30 protesters declined to leave and were arrested. Meanwhile, the Court Order is being appealed in a provincial court. The case will be heard in the Calgary court Centre at 10:00 a.m. on Friday February 3.
2012-02-01 Where Have All The Children Gone? The Perspective of a Long-Time Calgary Naturalist and Volunteer
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Sean Nichols, describing a talk by Calgary naturalist Gus Yaki about "Nature deficit disorder."
2012-01-26 Bragg Creek Forum Sees Considerable Opposition to Local Clearcut Logging
On January 26, nearly 500 people attended a public meeting hosted by the Sustain Kananaskis Group in Bragg Creek, to hear about plans for clearcut logging near West Bragg Creek. If the proposed plans go ahead, more than 700 hectares of forest will be felled, with considerable impacts on skiing and hiking trails in the area, not to mention wildlife habitat and drinking water.
2012-01-25 Looking at Alberta: What Do the Sage-grouse See?
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Sean Nichols, describing a visit to some of the last remaining "critical habitat" for sage-grouse in Alberta.
2012-01-25 ENGO News Release: Will Alison Redford's Clearcuts Crush Bear Cubs in their Dens?
Joint news release from WildCanada Conservation Alliance, Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition and AWA. Conservationists today called upon Alberta premier Alison Redford to halt plans for winter logging would disturb, displace or even kill bears denning in the Castle Special Management Area...
2012-01-23 Castle Logging Protest Draws 150 Protesters
A large group of 150 protesters braved the elements in Beaver Mines on Sunday January 22 to protest the proposed clearcut logging plans in the Castle wilderness. Protesters gathered to speak out against the intensely unpopular logging plans, with machinery from Spray Lake Sawmills already on site in preparation for the clearcutting to begin.
2012-01-18 Connecting Youth to Nature at The Palisades Centre
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Niki Wilson
2012-01-18 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: Federal Minister Fails to Protect Sage-Grouse
The deadline (January 16, 2012) has now passed for Environment Minister Peter Kent to respond to our November petition, demanding that the federal government take the necessary steps to prevent the extirpation of the greater sage-grouse from Canada.
2012-01-13 Ranchlands School Tree Huggers Focus on Alberta Forests Forever
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Cathie Gould
2012-01-12 South Saskatchewan Regional Plan: AWA Recommendations
AWA comments on the draft land-use planning recommendations from the South Saskatchewan Regional Advisory Council. The Alberta government has promised a series of public meetings about these recommendations in spring 2012, and is asking for public comments until April 30, 2012.
2012-01-12 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: The Castle Needs Defenders!
At this very moment, logging machinery is beginning to move into the Castle, in preparation for the clearcutting of 120 hectares of forest. But there is still a chance for a last minute reprieve.
2012-01-11 CCWC News Release: Alberta Government Deaf to Citizens' Logging Concerns
News release from the Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition, about the imminent clearcut logging program in the Castle.
2012-01-09 A Tale of Two Banffs
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Jim Pissot, looks at the future of Banff National Park and "catering to commercialism, mission drift, and flirtation with frivolity over substance."
2012-01-04 Alberta's Public Land Crisis: The Fourth Annual Martha Kostuch Lecture
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Ian Urquhart. Describes Bob Scammell's November 18 Annual Martha Kostuch Lecture, entitled The Battle for No-Man's Land.
2011-12-16 Bow Valley Parkway Travel Restrictions
AWA offers its congratulations to Parks Canada on the recent decision to introduce enhanced travel restrictions on sections of Highway 1A, the Bow Valley Parkway.
2011-12-15 AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders: Time to Oppose “Contrived Thrill-Seeking Development” in Jasper National Park
Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders will be familiar with the proposal by Brewster (an Arizona-based entertainment company) to construct a huge glass walkway beside the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park. Opposition to this development, entirely inappropriate in such an important National Park, has been extensive. Parks Canada is now providing limited opportunity for the public to comment on one aspect of the development. Despite the fact that the consultation period is very restricted (closing date for comments is December 16, 2011) it is important that they hear from those people who believe that this proposal should be rejected immediately.
2011-12-14 Vol. 19 No. 6 Wild Lands Advocate
Lessons in Conservation from the Great Growling Grizzlies | Connecting Youth to Nature at The Palisades Centre | Ranchlands School Tree Huggers Focus on Alberta Forests Forever | Where Have All the Children Gone? - The Perspective of a Long-Time Calgary Naturalist and Volunteer | Tribal Parks | Looking at Alberta: What Do the Sage-grouse See? | Sustainable Forests, Sustainable Communities. The Future of Alberta's Southwestern Forests
