|
Conservation groups respond to bridge damage
Dear Editor:
We are dismayed that someone has taken
it upon themselves to vandalize a bridge being installed by the Quad
Squad. Despite speculation about “ecoterrorism”, there seems to be no
evidence that the vandal had an environmental motive. Nevertheless, we
wish to make absolutely clear that our groups in no way condone any such
action or behaviour.
While in the past we have had
differences with the Quad Squad, we recognize that their efforts to
bridge streams and maintain trails are done with the intention of
minimizing the environmental impacts of motorized recreation.
We thus have a shared interest in
environmental protection and encouraging responsible backcountry
recreational access.
We have long been proponents of
protection of the Castle Wilderness, and we now seek an opportunity to
do so in honour of conservation pioneers, the late Andy Russell and Kay
Riggall-Russell, and the Piikani First Nation. We recognize, however,
that responsible motorized recreation has a legitimate future in parts
of the Castle, the Crowsnest Pass, and the forest reserve to the north
of the Pass. Under Alberta legislation, some types of park designation,
including the wildland park and provincial park proposed for the Castle
Special Place do not exclude motorized recreation, but specifically
provide for the designation of motorized trails.
The securing of motorized access,
therefore, may be compatible, and perhaps even enhanced, by legal
protection of the Castle. Rather than allow the incident of bridge
vandalism to further incite anger, all parties should use this as an
occasion to move beyond past divisions and commence a dialogue about how
environmental concerns and motorized access can both be accommodated
within Southwest Alberta. We hope that members of the Quad Squad, and
others, will join with us in such a dialogue for the benefit of the
land, water, wildlife, residents, and visitors of the Southwest.
ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
Nigel Douglas, Conservation Specialist
CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY –
CALGARY/BANFF CHAPTER
Dave Poulton, Executive Director
CASTLECROWN WILDERNESS COALITION
Jillian Lynn Lawson, President
SIERRA CLUB OF CANADA
Dianne Pachal, Alberta WILD Director
YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
Sean Britt, Conservation Director
 |
