When it comes to environmental and social justice, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lost on what to do. We hope to inspire you, and offer you concrete and manageable ways to make a difference. At Alberta Wilderness Association, one of our top priorities is advocating for nature, whether for specific wild areas or wildlife. One important way we do this is by making sure the province’s leadership hears what we and other Albertans have to say. If enough members of the public advocate for the well-being of nature, the more likely change could happen.
Make your voice heard
Below, you’ll find a list of letter-writing campaigns on a variety of nature-based issues in the province. Each only take a few minutes to fill out. We encourage you to use these letters as a starting point and to customize it wherever you see fit. If writing doesn’t feel like your strong suit, please send a letter anyway using the template only! Every letter matters. We also have a list of provincial and national contacts in case you need them for later.
The Government of Alberta is considering legalizing harvest preserves – private “hunting” enclosures where farmed elk and deer would be released for paid “hunts.” The government is completely ignoring the risks associated with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and the potentially catastrophic consequences for Alberta’s wild deer, elk, and caribou populations. CWD is a highly contagious and fatal disease affecting species of the deer family (cervids). It spreads through bodily fluids and can persist in the environment for years, contaminating soil, water, and plants. Once introduced to a new area, it is nearly impossible to remove. |
Coal mining hurts our headwaters and ecosystems. Tell the government you object to the recent removal of the moratorium on coal projects in the Eastern Slopes, and to stop the so-called “advanced projects” being permitted through Alberta’s regulatory system. |
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Grizzly bears are listed as threatened in Alberta. The government’s decision to allow grizzly bears to be hunted again is unacceptable and must be reversed immediately. Hunting grizzly bears has not been allowed in the province since 2006, when population estimates showed their numbers had dwindled to fewer than 700 bears. Though grizzly bears have been recovering more recently, human-caused conflicts remain the leading cause of grizzly bear death. The province’s most recent estimates of the Alberta grizzly population are between 856 and 973 individuals. considered stable. |
Bison have been on these lands for centuries, but they are currently listed as livestock in Alberta. The government must list free-roaming bison as wildlife to improve conservation and management. |