CPAWS welcomes Baird’s personal commitment to conservation in the north

CPAWS welcomes Environment Minister John Baird\'s personal commitment to protecting large areas in the Northwest Territories, including expanding Nahanni National Park Reserve.

On January 31st the Minister addressed First Nations Chiefs and conservation groups, including CPAWS, at a reception in Ottawa. In his remarks, Minister Baird committed to moving forward with his colleagues on:

• expanding Nahanni National Park Reserve;
• permanently protecting Sahoyue ehdacho National Historic Site on the shores of Great Bear Lake with the community of Deline;
• The "Ramparts," a sacred place for the people of Fort Good Hope, and a nationally-significant wetland proposed for protection as a National Wildlife Area;
• The "Horn Plateau", a unique ecological and cultural landscape for the Dehcho First Nations and a proposed National Wildlife Area;
• A proposed national park in the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, as well as conserving surrounding lands in the Akaitcho Territory;

CPAWS will be working to ensure that the federal government takes concrete action soon to fulfill these commitments.