August 1, 2016
Historic Woodland Caribou Draft Range Plan Released
August 2016 Wildlands Advocate article, by Carolyn Campbell. In June 2016, the Alberta government released a draft of…
AWA believes that energy exploration and development must be regulated in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of wilderness values.
AWA’s mandate throughout its four decades has been the protection of intact, representative ecosystems across Alberta. In areas where economic development is integrated within a working landscape, AWA supports robust management, regulation, and enforcement strategies.
We believe in a fundamental need for wilderness that is free of industrial incursion; a network of legislated protected areas is currently the only framework under which this can be ensured. Outside of such areas, exploration and development must be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner. Full-field life-cycle planning must be required for all new developments including phase-out, remediation, and reclamation. Adequate reclamation liability must be assessed on a per-project basis that accounts for all remediation and reclamation costs, and does not leave Albertans vulnerable to major financial risks.
AWA believes Alberta’s wilderness and natural capital are non-renewable resources of immeasurable value, and must be considered as such and given priority in land-use planning. An overarching land-use plan is desperately needed in Alberta to set targets for all sectors, determine thresholds and establish priorities for land use throughout the province. Conservation areas must be designated with legal protection.
When considering land disturbance impacts, the cumulative footprint of all past, present and planned developments upon the landscape must be considered. Energy development does not take place in isolation: it occurs on a landscape also impacted by forestry, residential and recreational developments. The combined footprint of all of these activities must be considered in planning decisions.
Collectively, we know that the economic value of the ecosystem services performed by natural ecosystems for humankind far exceeds that of industrial development.
August 1, 2016
August 2016 Wildlands Advocate article, by Carolyn Campbell. In June 2016, the Alberta government released a draft of…
July 29, 2016
Alberta’s first caribou range plan has been released, and public comments are needed by August…
June 8, 2016
Today the Alberta government made a historic decision to protect extensive areas of four endangered…
June 1, 2016
June 2016 Wildlands Advocate article by Carolyn Campbell. Carolyn Campbell next takes you hundreds of…
May 4, 2016
Since its election a year ago, the Alberta government has deferred new energy leasing throughout…
April 1, 2016
April 2016 WildLands Advocate update by Esther Bogorov On March 21, 2016 the Alberta Energy…
March 21, 2016
The AER requested that Benga, a subsidiary of Riversdale, submit supplementary information that currently makes…
March 21, 2016
The AER emailed the Sustainability Manager of Benga, a subsidiary of Riversdale, regarding the deficiencies…
February 1, 2016
February 2016 Wild Lands Advocate article by Esther Bogorov Few scientists seek celebrity status. Fewer…
December 1, 2015
Wild Lands Advocate update from December 2015 by Brittany Verbeek, Conservation Specialist. Finally, the Alberta Energy…
December 1, 2015
Wild Lands Advocate update from December 2015 by Joanna Skrajny, Conservation Specialist. The Government of Alberta announced…
December 1, 2015
Wild Lands Advocate article from December 2015 by Brittany Verbeek, AWA Conservation Specialist. “This is the…