Keep The Beaver Hills Wild

Keep The Beaver Hills Wild

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Keep the Beaver Hills Wild.

That’s the slogan of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s, (NCC) new marketing and fundraising campaign.

The land conservation non-profit organization is asking people to get involved in the opportunity to “make conservation history” by donating funds to help secure and steward the natural areas and species within the Beaver Hills region which covers approximately 1,400 square kilometers.

“The campaign to Keep the Beaver Hills Wild will not be accomplished by NCC alone, there are many other land trusts and environmental organizations that operate in this area. Restoration is not a quick process and can take many years so NCC prefers to focus on habitat that is already intact and try to keep it that way, but re-wilding a developed or cultivated property may take years,” stated Carys Ricahrds, Communications Manager for NCC.

She went on to say, “The Beaver Hills are literally an island of nature in a sea of modified land. They were created by retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age and are different in composition than the lands that surround them. They are physically elevated, and because the soil is created from glacial deposit it has not been ideal for agriculture. This is why this area has remained relatively wild while so much of the surrounding landscape has been converted for other uses.”

In 2016 the area became a designated the biosphere reserve and world heritage site by UNESCO. It includes a mix of urban and rural residents within the counties of Strathcona, Leduc, Lamont, Beaver, and Camrose.

According to NCC, the ecosystem is recognized worldwide as an example of sustainable balance between conservation and development. The area also includes Elk Island National Park and Miquelon Lake Provincial Park that plays host to approximately 300,000 visitors annually from around the globe.

John Lounds, President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, said, “We are at immediate risk of losing this remarkable natural wonder forever.” According to NCC, the long-term survival of hundreds of species depends upon unrestricted access to wildlife corridors. To date, no less than four large areas within the Beaver Hills have been deemed internationally important bird and diversity areas.

In June, NCC secured the purchase of Ball Berg Property, 80 acres (32 hectares) bordering Ministik Game and Bird Sanctuary, Illerbrun, 80 acres (32 hectares) in proximity to existing conservation sites, and Astotin Lake, 156 acres (63 hectares) located directly west of Elk Island National Park. Restoration of Golden Ranches is currently in progress as they are planting native trees and shrubs to a field to restore it back to its natural state.

“For many years, local residents, municipalities, and more than 30 organizations have been advocating and investing in the conservation of the Beaver Hills, and now they are counting on members of the general public to commit to preserving the area,” added Richards.

The Beaver Hills biosphere has been internationally recognized for promoting management, research, and education around conservation and its balance with sustainable human use. Currently, there are over 701 biosphere reserves in 124 countries around the world. Alberta has two biospheres, Beaver Hills and Waterton Lakes National Park.