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The Lower Athabasca Regional Plan will identify and set resource and environmental management outcomes for air, land, water and biodiversity, and guide future resource decisions while considering social and economic impacts.
DUC encourages Albertans to participate in the public consultation for the Land-use Framework, Lower Athabasca Regional Plan.
Related links
Alberta Land-use Framework website
DUC’s Western Boreal ProgramDUC urges participation in Alberta Land-use Framework public consultations
Edmonton, Alta., September 8, 2010 — Development impacts on wetlands and water quality are key issues on the minds of Albertans these days. That’s why the public consultation sessions for the Alberta Land-Use Framework, Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (LARP), couldn’t have come at a better time. This is likely the only opportunity Albertans will have to provide input into the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan. DUC encourages you to voice your support for wetland conservation in the Lower Athabasca, a region experiencing rapid developmental growth.
“This area is well recognized for its oil and gas and other natural resources,” said Eric Butterworth, manager of provincial and territorial operations for DUC’s Western Boreal Program. “It is also a region rich in wetlands, which are natural habitat for a significant number of North America’s waterfowl and boreal songbirds. It’s important that we ensure land-use planning in this area is done with the health and conservation of these natural wetlands in mind.”
Boreal wetlands are varied in type and inter-connected over large areas, meaning that once they are removed from the landscape they are difficult, if not impossible, to restore. When we allow such wetlands to be lost, we also lose important habitat for biodiversity, ground water recharge potential, ecotourism opportunities, flood and drought reduction, carbon sequestration and important social and cultural benefits like hunting and trapping, particularly for Aboriginal communities that rely on these practices for their livelihood.
“The high connectivity of wetlands in the boreal forest means that the health and water quality of wetlands downstream is directly dependent on upstream activities,” said Butterworth. “In the Lower Athabasca Region, which is dominated by boreal forest wetlands, DUC supports conservation of as close to 40 per cent of the region as possible.”
It is of utmost importance that DUC members and volunteers, and supporters of Alberta’s wetlands participate in this public consultation process. Your voice is crucial in ensuring the Government of Alberta develops a land-use framework that includes conservation of wetlands in the Lower Athabasca.
Attending one of the consultations is the best way to show the provincial government that wetlands are important to you. If you would like more details or are unable to attend, but would still like to voice your support for wetlands, please review the wetlands workbook and fill out the questionnaire by October 8 on the Land-use Framework website.
Public consultation sessions for the Land-use Framework, Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, are scheduled during September 2010 and run from 4 to 8 p.m. The remaining consultation dates are provided below.
For information about the vision document and workbookk, visit landuse.alberta.ca
| September 27 | Athabasca | Athabasca Regional Multiplex 2 University Drive |
| September 28 | Edmonton | Ramada Hotel 11834 Kingsway Ave |
| September 29 | Calgary | Glenmore Inn 2720 Glenmore Trail SE |
For more information, contact:
Anh Hoang,
a_hoang@ducks.ca
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel: (403) 476-1879
