Nature Canada

Some boreal to be protected from tarsands industry


In early August 2009, the provincial government of Alberta unveiled the “Terms of Reference for Developing the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan.” This important document is supposed to guide the future protection of nature in this ecologically rich section of the boreal forest underlain extensively with bitumen which the hungry power shovels and steam drills are anxious to exploit.

In this document, a goal of 20 percent conservation land (boreal forest) will be protected with consideration of increasing that goal. According to the document, six percent “currently contributes to conservation objectives”(1) whereas 10 percent does not conflict with “mineral tenure” totalling 16 percent. That would mean four percent would have to be removed from active oil, gas or mineral claims, likely meaning compensation for the claimants.

The plan is based on increased bitumen exploitation by about 20 percent per year to move from current production of approximately 1.3 million barrels per day to about 4 million barrels per day. The plan alludes to exploring “the feasibility of meeting a conservation scenario higher than 20 percent, while achieving the stated economic objectives” (with respect to production).

As with all planning initiatives, the ‘devil will be in the details.’ For example, it is unclear how the expansive Wood Buffalo National Park – a large area of the lower Athabasca that is already protected – fits into the calculations. Wood Buffalo Park is the only natural breeding area for Whooping Cranes in the world.

Nor is it apparent how aboriginal interests and land claims will be considered and incorporated. Judging from an article in The Ecologist, at least one First Nations band, the Beaver Lake Cree, is still opposing the conversion of the boreal forest to an industrial landscape.

However, after several years of apparent inaction, it appears at last that the Alberta government is poised to protect some of this intensely threatened section of the boreal forest. This deserves some credit in a province where the oil and gas industry has a strangle-hold on power.

For organizations and agencies within Alberta trying to protect nature, it is a David versus Goliath scenario at best. That said, it is certainly time that progress be made as more foreign capital is poised to flow into the region and the oil and gas companies start tooling up for the next phase of stripping the boreal forest away to get at more bitumen. We cannot protect something once it is gone.

Photograph: Carnivous pitcher plant grows in boreal bogs in northern Alberta by Ted Cheskey

(1) P.14, Terms of Reference for Developing the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, Government of Alberta, 2009

Want to Help?

Canada’s wilderness is the world’s envy. It’s our duty to keep our true north strong and green.

Donate